Exodus 6

THen the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do unto Pharaoh: for with a strong hand Being compelled to do so by my powerful and terrible works. shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD.

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the Name of God Almighty, but by my Name JEHOVAH was I not known to them Quest. How is this true, when God was known to them and called by the name Iehovah, Gen. 15. 7. and 26. 24. &c. Ans. 1. He speaks not of the letters or syllables, but of the thing signified by that name. For that denotes all his perfections, and, amongst others, the eternity, constancy and immutability of his nature and will, and the infallible certainty of his word and promises. And this, says he, though it was believed by Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, yet it was not experimentally known to them: for they only saw the promises afar off, Heb. 11. 13. Ans. 2. This negative expression may be understood comparatively, as many others are, as Gen. 32. 29. Mat. 9. 13. 1 Cor. 1. 17. q. d. They knew this but darkly and imperfectly, which will now be made known more clearly and fully..

And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembred my Covenant.

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm (i. e.) My almighty power. A metaphor from a man that stretcheth out his arm and puts forth all his strength to give the greater blow., and with great judgments (i. e.) Punishments justly inflicted upon them, as the word judging and judgments is oft used, as Gen. 15. 14. 2 Chron. 20. 12. Prov. 19. 29..

And I will take you to me for a people (i. e.) For my people: you shall no longer be the people and slaves of the King of Egypt, but my people and servants, whom I will bless and preserve., and I will be to you a God To judge and deliver you.: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

And I will bring you in unto the land concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it you for an heritage. I am the LORD And therefore have authority and power to dispose of lands and kingdoms: as I please; and faithful to give you what I have promised..

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses, for anguish of spirit Their minds were so oppressed with their present burdens and future expectations, that they could not believe nor hope for any deliverance, but deemed it impossible, and having been once deceived in their hopes they now quite despaired, and thought their entertainment of new hopes or use of further endeavours would make their condition worse; as it had done. and for cruel bondage.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Go in, speak unto Pharaoh King of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me, how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips (i. e.) Of polluted lips. Uncircumcision, being a great defect and blemish, whereby men were rendred profane, contemptible, and unfit for many services and priviledges, may note any defect, whether moral and of the spirit, or natural and of the body. So here it notes Moses his inability to cloath Gods commands in such words as might prevail with Pharaoh. But this was a great weakness of faith, as if God could not effect his purpose, because the instrument was unfit.:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh King of Egypt to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

These be the heads of their fathers houses This genealogy he describes here to show the linage of Moses and Aaron, by whom this great work was to be effected. Only he premiseth in brief the genealogy of his two elder brethren, Reuben and Simeon, to make way for the third, which he intended more largely to insist upon. And he mentions them rather than any other, either to advance the favour of God in preferring that tribe before the descendants of their elder brethren: or to show that, although the parents were sharply censured and rather cursed then blessed by Iacob, Gen. 49. yet their posterity was not rejected by God, but received to mercy, and admitted to the same priviledge with their brethren.: The sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel, Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.

And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.

And these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their generations From each of which proceeded a distinct generation or family called by their fathers name.: Gershon and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.

The sons of Gershon, Libni and Shimi, according to their families.

And the sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron; and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.

And the sons of Merari: Mahali, and Mushi: these are the families of Levi, according to their generations.

And Amram took him Jochebed his fathers sister Or rather, kinswoman or co... sin, or neece: for so this Hebrew word is sometimes used, as appears from Ier. 32. 8, 9, 12. Obj. She is called the daughter of Levi, Exod. 2. 1. Ans. Even Neeces are oft called daughters, as we have showed. See Luk. 1. 5. and the notes on Exod. 2. 1. to wife, and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred, and thirty and seven years.

And the sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.

And Aaron took him Elishe... a daughter of Aminadab A Prince of the Tribe of, Numb. 1. 7. and.... 3. Marriages were not yet confined to their own Tribes, and when they were, the Levites seem to have had this priviledge, th... they might marry a daughter of any other tribe, because indeed the reason of that law did not concern them, there being no danger of confusion or loss of inheritance on their part. And especially there were many marriages made between the Tribes of Iudah and Levi, to signifie that both were united in Christ, who was to be both King and Priest. It is observable that Moses is here silent in his own progeny, but gives a particular account of his brothers, not only from his great humility and modesty, which shines forth in many other passages, but because it was of more concernment, and the honour of Priesthood given to Aaron was to be hereditary and peculiar to his seed, and therefore it was necessary they should be exactly known, whereas Moses his honour and government was only personal, and did not pass to his children., Sister of Naashon to wife, and she bare him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

And the sons of Korah: Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.

And Eleazar Aarons son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife, and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites, according to their families.

These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, according to their armies (i. e.) According to their numerous families, which were equal to great Armies, and which went out of Egypt, like several Armies in military order and with great power. See Exod. 12. 41, 51. and 13. 18. and 14. 8..

These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: These are that Aaron and Moses.

And it came to pass, on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,

That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD, speak thou unto Pharaoh King of Egypt, all that I say unto thee.

And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?