12 And he said, H559 Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token H226 unto thee, that H3588 I have sent H7971 thee: When thou hast brought forth H3318 the people H5971 out of Egypt, H4714 ye shall serve H5647 God H430 upon this mountain. H2022
In the third H7992 month, H2320 when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were gone forth H3318 out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 the same day H3117 came H935 they into the wilderness H4057 of Sinai. H5514 For they were departed H5265 from Rephidim, H7508 and were come H935 to the desert H4057 of Sinai, H5514 and had pitched H2583 in the wilderness; H4057 and there Israel H3478 camped H2583 before the mount. H2022 And Moses H4872 went up H5927 unto God, H430 and the LORD H3068 called H7121 unto him out of the mountain, H2022 saying, H559 Thus shalt thou say H559 to the house H1004 of Jacob, H3290 and tell H5046 the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 Ye have seen H7200 what I did H6213 unto the Egyptians, H4714 and how I bare H5375 you on eagles' H5404 wings, H3671 and brought H935 you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey H8085 my voice H6963 indeed, H8085 and keep H8104 my covenant, H1285 then ye shall be a peculiar treasure H5459 unto me above all people: H5971 for all the earth H776 is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom H4467 of priests, H3548 and an holy H6918 nation. H1471 These are the words H1697 which thou shalt speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And Moses H4872 came H935 and called H7121 for the elders H2205 of the people, H5971 and laid H7760 before their faces H6440 all these words H1697 which the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 him. And all the people H5971 answered H6030 together, H3162 and said, H559 All that the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 we will do. H6213 And Moses H4872 returned H7725 the words H1697 of the people H5971 unto the LORD. H3068 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Lo, I come H935 unto thee in a thick H5645 cloud, H6051 that the people H5971 may hear H8085 when I speak H1696 with thee, and believe H539 thee for ever. H5769 And Moses H4872 told H5046 the words H1697 of the people H5971 unto the LORD. H3068 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Go H3212 unto the people, H5971 and sanctify H6942 them to day H3117 and to morrow, H4279 and let them wash H3526 their clothes, H8071 And be ready H3559 against the third H7992 day: H3117 for the third H7992 day H3117 the LORD H3068 will come down H3381 in the sight H5869 of all the people H5971 upon mount H2022 Sinai. H5514 And thou shalt set bounds H1379 unto the people H5971 round about, H5439 saying, H559 Take heed H8104 to yourselves, that ye go not up H5927 into the mount, H2022 or touch H5060 the border H7097 of it: whosoever toucheth H5060 the mount H2022 shall be surely H4191 put to death: H4191 There shall not an hand H3027 touch H5060 it, but he shall surely H5619 be stoned, H5619 or H176 shot H3384 through; H3384 whether it be beast H929 or H518 man, H376 it shall not live: H2421 when the trumpet H3104 soundeth long, H4900 they shall come up H5927 to the mount. H2022 And Moses H4872 went down H3381 from the mount H2022 unto the people, H5971 and sanctified H6942 the people; H5971 and they washed H3526 their clothes. H8071 And he said H559 unto the people, H5971 Be H1961 ready H3559 against the third H7969 day: H3117 come H5066 not at your wives. H802 And it came to pass on the third H7992 day H3117 in the morning, H1242 that there were thunders H6963 and lightnings, H1300 and a thick H3515 cloud H6051 upon the mount, H2022 and the voice H6963 of the trumpet H7782 exceeding H3966 loud; H2389 so that all the people H5971 that was in the camp H4264 trembled. H2729 And Moses H4872 brought forth H3318 the people H5971 out of the camp H4264 to meet H7125 with God; H430 and they stood H3320 at the nether H8482 part of the mount. H2022 And mount H2022 Sinai H5514 was altogether on a smoke, H6225 because H6440 H834 the LORD H3068 descended H3381 upon it in fire: H784 and the smoke H6227 thereof ascended H5927 as the smoke H6227 of a furnace, H3536 and the whole mount H2022 quaked H2729 greatly. H3966 And when the voice H6963 of the trumpet H7782 sounded H6963 long, H1980 and waxed louder H2390 and louder, H3966 Moses H4872 spake, H1696 and God H430 answered H6030 him by a voice. H6963 And the LORD H3068 came down H3381 upon mount H2022 Sinai, H5514 on the top H7218 of the mount: H2022 and the LORD H3068 called H7121 Moses H4872 up to H413 the top H7218 of the mount; H2022 and Moses H4872 went up. H5927 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Go down, H3381 charge H5749 the people, H5971 lest they break through H2040 unto the LORD H3068 to gaze, H7200 and many H7227 of them perish. H5307 And let the priests H3548 also, which come near H5066 to the LORD, H3068 sanctify H6942 themselves, lest the LORD H3068 break forth H6555 upon them. And Moses H4872 said H559 unto the LORD, H3068 The people H5971 cannot H3201 come up H5927 to mount H2022 Sinai: H5514 for thou chargedst H5749 us, saying, H559 Set bounds H1379 about the mount, H2022 and sanctify H6942 it. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Away, H3212 get thee down, H3381 and thou shalt come up, H5927 thou, and Aaron H175 with thee: but let not the priests H3548 and the people H5971 break through H2040 to come up H5927 unto the LORD, H3068 lest he break forth H6555 upon them. So Moses H4872 went down H3381 unto the people, H5971 and spake H559 unto them.
Take H3947 great H1419 stones H68 in thine hand, H3027 and hide H2934 them in the clay H4423 in the brickkiln, H4404 which is at the entry H6607 of Pharaoh's H6547 house H1004 in Tahpanhes, H8471 in the sight H5869 of the men H582 of Judah; H3064 And say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Behold, I will send H7971 and take H3947 Nebuchadrezzar H5019 the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 my servant, H5650 and will set H7760 his throne H3678 upon H4605 these stones H68 that I have hid; H2934 and he shall spread H5186 his royal pavilion H8237 over them.
And it shall be, when thou hast made an end H3615 of reading H7121 this book, H5612 that thou shalt bind H7194 a stone H68 to it, and cast H7993 it into the midst H8432 of Euphrates: H6578 And thou shalt say, H559 Thus shall Babylon H894 sink, H8257 and shall not rise H6965 from H6440 the evil H7451 that I will bring H935 upon her: and they shall be weary. H3286 Thus far are the words H1697 of Jeremiah. H3414
And when Gideon H1439 was come, H935 behold, there was a man H376 that told H5608 a dream H2472 unto his fellow, H7453 and said, H559 Behold, I dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and, lo, a cake H6742 H6742 of barley H8184 bread H3899 tumbled H2015 into the host H4264 of Midian, H4080 and came H935 unto a tent, H168 and smote H5221 it that it fell, H5307 and overturned H2015 H4605 it, that the tent H168 lay along. H5307 And his fellow H7453 answered H6030 and said, H559 This is nothing else save the sword H2719 of Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 a man H376 of Israel: H3478 for into his hand H3027 hath God H430 delivered H5414 Midian, H4080 and all the host. H4264
And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto God, H430 If thou wilt H3426 save H3467 Israel H3478 by mine hand, H3027 as thou hast said, H1696 Behold, I will put H3322 a fleece H1492 of wool H6785 in the floor; H1637 and if the dew H2919 be on the fleece H1492 only, and it be dry H2721 upon all the earth H776 beside, then shall I know H3045 that thou wilt save H3467 Israel H3478 by mine hand, H3027 as thou hast said. H1696 And it was so: for he rose up early H7925 on the morrow, H4283 and thrust H2115 the fleece H1492 together, H2115 and wringed H4680 the dew H2919 out of the fleece, H1492 a bowl H5602 full H4393 of water. H4325 And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto God, H430 Let not thine anger H639 be hot H2734 against me, and I will speak H1696 but this once: H6471 let me prove, H5254 I pray thee, but this once H6471 with the fleece; H1492 let it now be dry H2721 only upon the fleece, H1492 and upon all the ground H776 let there be dew. H2919 And God H430 did H6213 so that night: H3915 for it was dry H2721 upon the fleece H1492 only, and there was dew H2919 on all the ground. H776
And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses H4872 in the wilderness H4057 of Sinai, H5514 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 on the first H259 day of the second H8145 month, H2320 in the second H8145 year H8141 after they were come out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 saying, H559 Take H5375 ye the sum H7218 of all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 with the number H4557 of their names, H8034 every male H2145 by their polls; H1538 From twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that are able to go forth H3318 to war H6635 in Israel: H3478 thou and Aaron H175 shall number H6485 them by their armies. H6635 And with you there shall be a man H376 of every H376 tribe; H4294 every one H376 head H7218 of the house H1004 of his fathers. H1 And these are the names H8034 of the men H582 that shall stand H5975 with you: of the tribe of Reuben; H7205 Elizur H468 the son H1121 of Shedeur. H7707 Of Simeon; H8095 Shelumiel H8017 the son H1121 of Zurishaddai. H6701 Of Judah; H3063 Nahshon H5177 the son H1121 of Amminadab. H5992 Of Issachar; H3485 Nethaneel H5417 the son H1121 of Zuar. H6686 Of Zebulun; H2074 Eliab H446 the son H1121 of Helon. H2497 Of the children H1121 of Joseph: H3130 of Ephraim; H669 Elishama H476 the son H1121 of Ammihud: H5989 of Manasseh; H4519 Gamaliel H1583 the son H1121 of Pedahzur. H6301
And the LORD H3068 called H7121 unto Moses, H4872 and spake H1696 unto him out of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 saying, H559 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, If any man H120 of you bring H7126 an offering H7133 unto the LORD, H3068 ye shall bring H7126 your offering H7133 of the cattle, H929 even of the herd, H1241 and of the flock. H6629 If his offering H7133 be a burnt sacrifice H5930 of the herd, H1241 let him offer H7126 a male H2145 without blemish: H8549 he shall offer H7126 it of his own voluntary will H7522 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall put H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of the burnt offering; H5930 and it shall be accepted H7521 for him to make atonement H3722 for him. And he shall kill H7819 the bullock H1121 H1241 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and the priests, H3548 Aaron's H175 sons, H1121 shall bring H7126 the blood, H1818 and sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 round about H5439 upon the altar H4196 that is by the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150 And he shall flay H6584 the burnt offering, H5930 and cut H5408 it into his pieces. H5409 And the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest H3548 shall put H5414 fire H784 upon the altar, H4196 and lay the wood H6086 in order H6186 upon the fire: H784 And the priests, H3548 Aaron's H175 sons, H1121 shall lay H6186 the parts, H5409 the head, H7218 and the fat, H6309 in order H6186 upon the wood H6086 that is on the fire H784 which is upon the altar: H4196 But his inwards H7130 and his legs H3767 shall he wash H7364 in water: H4325 and the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 all on the altar, H4196 to be a burnt sacrifice, H5930 an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And if his offering H7133 be of the flocks, H6629 namely, of the sheep, H3775 or of the goats, H5795 for a burnt sacrifice; H5930 he shall bring H7126 it a male H2145 without blemish. H8549 And he shall kill H7819 it on the side H3409 of the altar H4196 northward H6828 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and the priests, H3548 Aaron's H175 sons, H1121 shall sprinkle H2236 his blood H1818 round about H5439 upon the altar. H4196 And he shall cut H5408 it into his pieces, H5409 with his head H7218 and his fat: H6309 and the priest H3548 shall lay them in order H6186 on the wood H6086 that is on the fire H784 which is upon the altar: H4196 But he shall wash H7364 the inwards H7130 and the legs H3767 with water: H4325 and the priest H3548 shall bring H7126 it all, and burn H6999 it upon the altar: H4196 it is a burnt sacrifice, H5930 an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And if the burnt sacrifice H5930 for his offering H7133 to the LORD H3068 be of fowls, H5775 then he shall bring H7126 his offering H7133 of turtledoves, H8449 or of young H1121 pigeons. H3123 And the priest H3548 shall bring H7126 it unto the altar, H4196 and wring off H4454 his head, H7218 and burn H6999 it on the altar; H4196 and the blood H1818 thereof shall be wrung out H4680 at the side H7023 of the altar: H4196 And he shall pluck away H5493 his crop H4760 with his feathers, H5133 and cast H7993 it beside H681 the altar H4196 on the east part, H6924 by the place H4725 of the ashes: H1880 And he shall cleave H8156 it with the wings H3671 thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: H914 and the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 it upon the altar, H4196 upon the wood H6086 that is upon the fire: H784 it is a burnt sacrifice, H5930 an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068
And Moses H4872 answered H6030 and said, H559 But, behold, they will not believe H539 me, nor hearken H8085 unto my voice: H6963 for they will say, H559 The LORD H3068 hath not appeared H7200 unto thee. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, What is that in thine hand? H3027 And he said, H559 A rod. H4294 And he said, H559 Cast H7993 it on the ground. H776 And he cast H7993 it on the ground, H776 and it became a serpent; H5175 and Moses H4872 fled H5127 from before H6440 it. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Put forth H7971 thine hand, H3027 and take H270 it by the tail. H2180 And he put forth H7971 his hand, H3027 and caught H2388 it, and it became a rod H4294 in his hand: H3709 That they may believe H539 that the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers, H1 the God H430 of Abraham, H85 the God H430 of Isaac, H3327 and the God H430 of Jacob, H3290 hath appeared H7200 unto thee. And the LORD H3068 said H559 furthermore H5750 unto him, Put H935 now thine hand H3027 into thy bosom. H2436 And he put H935 his hand H3027 into his bosom: H2436 and when he took H3318 it out, behold, his hand H3027 was leprous H6879 as snow. H7950 And he said, H559 Put H7725 thine hand H3027 into thy bosom H2436 again. H7725 And he put H7725 his hand H3027 into his bosom H2436 again; H7725 and plucked H3318 it out of his bosom, H2436 and, behold, it was turned again H7725 as his other flesh. H1320 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe H539 thee, neither hearken H8085 to the voice H6963 of the first H7223 sign, H226 that they will believe H539 the voice H6963 of the latter H314 sign. H226 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe H539 also these two H8147 signs, H226 neither hearken H8085 unto thy voice, H6963 that thou shalt take H3947 of the water H4325 of the river, H2975 and pour H8210 it upon the dry H3004 land: and the water H4325 which thou takest H3947 out of the river H2975 shall become blood H1818 upon the dry H3006 land.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 3
Commentary on Exodus 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Ex 3:1-22. Divine Appearance and Commission to Moses.
1. Now Moses kept the flock—This employment he had entered on in furtherance of his matrimonial views (see on Ex 2:21), but it is probable he was continuing his service now on other terms like Jacob during the latter years of his stay with Laban (Ge 30:28).
he led the flock to the backside of the desert—that is, on the west of the desert [Gesenius], assuming Jethro's headquarters to have been at Dahab. The route by which Moses led his flock must have been west through the wide valley called by the Arabs, Wady-es-Zugherah [Robinson], which led into the interior of the wilderness.
Mountain of God—so named either according to Hebrew idiom from its great height, as "great mountains," Hebrew, "mountains of God" (Ps 36:6); "goodly cedars," Hebrew, "cedars of God" (Ps 80:10); or some think from its being the old abode of "the glory"; or finally from its being the theater of transactions most memorable in the history of the true religion to Horeb—rather, "Horeb-ward."
Horeb—that is, "dry," "desert," was the general name for the mountainous district in which Sinai is situated, and of which it is a part. (See on Ex 19:2). It was used to designate the region comprehending that immense range of lofty, desolate, and barren hills, at the base of which, however, there are not only many patches of verdure to be seen, but almost all the valleys, or wadys, as they are called, show a thin coating of vegetation, which, towards the south, becomes more luxuriant. The Arab shepherds seldom take their flocks to a greater distance than one day's journey from their camp. Moses must have gone at least two days' journey, and although he seems to have been only following his pastoral course, that region, from its numerous springs in the clefts of the rocks being the chief resort of the tribes during the summer heats, the Providence of God led him thither for an important purpose.
2, 3. the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire—It is common in Scripture to represent the elements and operations of nature, as winds, fires, earthquakes, pestilence, everything enlisted in executing the divine will, as the "angels" or messengers of God. But in such cases God Himself is considered as really, though invisibly, present. Here the preternatural fire may be primarily meant by the expression "angel of the Lord"; but it is clear that under this symbol, the Divine Being was present, whose name is given (Ex 3:4, 6), and elsewhere called the angel of the covenant, Jehovah-Jesus.
out of the midst of a bush—the wild acacia or thorn, with which that desert abounds, and which is generally dry and brittle, so much so, that at certain seasons, a spark might kindle a district far and wide into a blaze. A fire, therefore, being in the midst of such a desert bush was a "great sight." It is generally supposed to have been emblematic of the Israelites' condition in Egypt—oppressed by a grinding servitude and a bloody persecution, and yet, in spite of the cruel policy that was bent on annihilating them, they continued as numerous and thriving as ever. The reason was "God was in the midst of them." The symbol may also represent the present state of the Jews, as well as of the Church generally in the world.
4. when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see—The manifestations which God anciently made of Himself were always accompanied by clear, unmistakable signs that the communications were really from heaven. This certain evidence was given to Moses. He saw a fire, but no human agent to kindle it; he heard a voice, but no human lips from which it came; he saw no living Being, but One was in the bush, in the heat of the flames, who knew him and addressed him by name. Who could this be but the Divine Being?
5. put off thy shoes—The direction was in conformity with a usage which was well known to Moses, for the Egyptian priests observed it in their temples, and it is observed in all Eastern countries where the people take off their shoes or sandals, as we do our hats. But the Eastern idea is not precisely the same as the Western. With us, the removal of the hat is an expression of reverence for the place we enter, or rather of Him who is worshipped there. With them the removal of the shoes is a confession of personal defilement and conscious unworthiness to stand in the presence of unspotted holiness.
6-8. I am the God … come down to deliver—The reverential awe of Moses must have been relieved by the divine Speaker (see Mt 22:32), announcing Himself in His covenant character, and by the welcome intelligence communicated. Moreover, the time, as well as all the circumstances of this miraculous appearance, were such as to give him an illustrious display of God's faithfulness to His promises. The period of Israel's journey and affliction in Egypt had been predicted (Ge 15:13), and it was during the last year of the term which had still to run that the Lord appeared in the burning bush.
10-22. Come now therefore, and I will send thee—Considering the patriotic views that had formerly animated the breast of Moses, we might have anticipated that no mission could have been more welcome to his heart than to be employed in the national emancipation of Israel. But he evinced great reluctance to it and stated a variety of objections [Ex 3:11, 13; 4:1, 10] all of which were successfully met and removed—and the happy issue of his labors was minutely described.