8 And I am come down H3381 to deliver H5337 them out of the hand H3027 of the Egyptians, H4714 and to bring H5927 them up out of that land H776 unto a good H2896 land H776 and a large, H7342 unto a land H776 flowing H2100 with milk H2461 and honey; H1706 unto the place H4725 of the Canaanites, H3669 and the Hittites, H2850 and the Amorites, H567 and the Perizzites, H6522 and the Hivites, H2340 and the Jebusites. H2983
In the same H1931 day H3117 the LORD H3068 made H3772 a covenant H1285 with Abram, H87 saying, H559 Unto thy seed H2233 have I given H5414 this land, H776 from the river H5104 of Egypt H4714 unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates: H6578 The Kenites, H7017 and the Kenizzites, H7074 and the Kadmonites, H6935 And the Hittites, H2850 and the Perizzites, H6522 and the Rephaims, H7497 And the Amorites, H567 and the Canaanites, H3669 and the Girgashites, H1622 and the Jebusites. H2983
For the LORD H3068 thy God H430 bringeth H935 thee into a good H2896 land, H776 a land H776 of brooks H5158 of water, H4325 of fountains H5869 and depths H8415 that spring out H3318 of valleys H1237 and hills; H2022 A land H776 of wheat, H2406 and barley, H8184 and vines, H1612 and fig trees, H8384 and pomegranates; H7416 a land H776 of oil H8081 olive, H2132 and honey; H1706 A land H776 wherein H834 thou shalt eat H398 bread H3899 without H3808 scarceness, H4544 thou shalt not lack H2637 any thing in it; a land H776 whose stones H68 are iron, H1270 and out of whose hills H2042 thou mayest dig H2672 brass. H5178
Wherefore H3651 say H559 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 I am the LORD, H3068 and I will bring H3318 you out from under the burdens H5450 of the Egyptians, H4714 and I will rid H5337 you out of their bondage, H5656 and I will redeem H1350 you with a stretched H5186 out arm, H2220 and with great H1419 judgments: H8201 And I will take H3947 you to me for a people, H5971 and I will be to you a God: H430 and ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 your God, H430 which bringeth H3318 you out from under the burdens H5450 of the Egyptians. H4714 And I will bring H935 you in unto the land, H776 concerning the which I did swear H5375 H3027 to give H5414 it to Abraham, H85 to Isaac, H3327 and to Jacob; H3290 and I will give H5414 it you for an heritage: H4181 I am the LORD. H3068
Moreover thou gavest H5414 them kingdoms H4467 and nations, H5971 and didst divide H2505 them into corners: H6285 so they possessed H3423 the land H776 of Sihon, H5511 and the land H776 of the king H4428 of Heshbon, H2809 and the land H776 of Og H5747 king H4428 of Bashan. H1316 Their children H1121 also multipliedst H7235 thou as the stars H3556 of heaven, H8064 and broughtest H935 them into the land, H776 concerning which thou hadst promised H559 to their fathers, H1 that they should go in H935 to possess H3423 it. So the children H1121 went in H935 and possessed H3423 the land, H776 and thou subduedst H3665 before H6440 them the inhabitants H3427 of the land, H776 the Canaanites, H3669 and gavest H5414 them into their hands, H3027 with their kings, H4428 and the people H5971 of the land, H776 that they might do H6213 with them as they would. H7522 And they took H3920 strong H1219 cities, H5892 and a fat H8082 land, H127 and possessed H3423 houses H1004 full H4392 of all goods, H2898 wells H953 digged, H2672 vineyards, H3754 and oliveyards, H2132 and fruit H3978 trees H6086 in abundance: H7230 so they did eat, H398 and were filled, H7646 and became fat, H8080 and delighted H5727 themselves in thy great H1419 goodness. H2898
Our fathers H1 trusted H982 in thee: they trusted, H982 and thou didst deliver H6403 them. They cried H2199 unto thee, and were delivered: H4422 they trusted H982 in thee, and were not confounded. H954
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Abram, H87 after H310 that Lot H3876 was separated H6504 from him, Lift up H5375 now thine eyes, H5869 and look H7200 from the place H4725 where thou art northward, H6828 and southward, H5045 and eastward, H6924 and westward: H3220 For all the land H776 which thou seest, H7200 to thee will I give it, H5414 and to thy seed H2233 for H5704 ever. H5769
If H518 thou afflict H6031 them in any wise, H6031 and they cry H6817 at all H6817 unto me, I will surely H8085 hear H8085 their cry; H6818 And my wrath H639 shall wax hot, H2734 and I will kill H2026 you with the sword; H2719 and your wives H802 shall be widows, H490 and your children H1121 fatherless. H3490 If thou lend H3867 money H3701 to any of my people H5971 that is poor H6041 by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, H5383 neither shalt thou lay H7760 upon him usury. H5392 If thou at all H2254 take H2254 thy neighbour's H7453 raiment H8008 to pledge, H2254 thou shalt deliver H7725 it unto him by H5704 that the sun H8121 goeth down: H935 For that is his covering H3682 only, it is his raiment H8071 for his skin: H5785 wherein shall he sleep? H7901 and it shall come to pass, when he crieth H6817 unto me, that I will hear; H8085 for I am gracious. H2587 Thou shalt not revile H7043 the gods, H430 nor curse H779 the ruler H5387 of thy people. H5971 Thou shalt not delay H309 to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, H4395 and of thy liquors: H1831 the firstborn H1060 of thy sons H1121 shalt thou give H5414 unto me. Likewise H3651 shalt thou do H6213 with thine oxen, H7794 and with thy sheep: H6629 seven H7651 days H3117 it shall be with his dam; H517 on the eighth H8066 day H3117 thou shalt give H5414 it me. And ye shall be holy H6944 men H582 unto me: neither shall ye eat H398 any flesh H1320 that is torn of beasts H2966 in the field; H7704 ye shall cast H7993 it to the dogs. H3611
And I will send H7971 an angel H4397 before H6440 thee; and I will drive out H1644 the Canaanite, H3669 the Amorite, H567 and the Hittite, H2850 and the Perizzite, H6522 the Hivite, H2340 and the Jebusite: H2983 Unto a land H776 flowing H2100 with milk H2461 and honey: H1706 for I will not go up H5927 in the midst H7130 of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked H7186 H6203 people: H5971 lest I consume H3615 thee in the way. H1870
And they spake H559 unto all the company H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 The land, H776 which we passed H5674 through to search H8446 it, is an exceeding H3966 H3966 good H2896 land. H776 If the LORD H3068 delight H2654 in us, then he will bring H935 us into this land, H776 and give H5414 it us; a land H776 which floweth H2100 with milk H2461 and honey. H1706
And that ye may prolong H748 your days H3117 in the land, H127 which the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto your fathers H1 to give H5414 unto them and to their seed, H2233 a land H776 that floweth H2100 with milk H2461 and honey. H1706 For the land, H776 whither thou goest in H935 to possess H3423 it, is not as the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 from whence ye came out, H3318 where thou sowedst H2232 thy seed, H2233 and wateredst H8248 it with thy foot, H7272 as a garden H1588 of herbs: H3419 But the land, H776 whither ye go H5674 to possess H3423 it, is a land H776 of hills H2022 and valleys, H1237 and drinketh H8354 water H4325 of the rain H4306 of heaven: H8064 A land H776 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 careth for: H1875 the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 thy God H430 are always H8548 upon it, from the beginning H7225 of the year H8141 even unto the end H319 of the year. H8141 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken H8085 diligently H8085 unto my commandments H4687 which I command H6680 you this day, H3117 to love H157 the LORD H3068 your God, H430 and to serve H5647 him with all your heart H3824 and with all your soul, H5315 That I will give H5414 you the rain H4306 of your land H776 in his due season, H6256 the first rain H3138 and the latter rain, H4456 that thou mayest gather H622 in thy corn, H1715 and thy wine, H8492 and thine oil. H3323 And I will send H5414 grass H6212 in thy fields H7704 for thy cattle, H929 that thou mayest eat H398 and be full. H7646 Take heed H8104 to yourselves, that your heart H3824 be not deceived, H6601 and ye turn aside, H5493 and serve H5647 other H312 gods, H430 and worship H7812 them; And then the LORD'S H3068 wrath H639 be kindled H2734 against you, and he shut up H6113 the heaven, H8064 that there be no rain, H4306 and that the land H127 yield H5414 not her fruit; H2981 and lest ye perish H6 quickly H4120 from off the good H2896 land H776 which the LORD H3068 giveth H5414 you. Therefore shall ye lay up H7760 these my words H1697 in your heart H3824 and in your soul, H5315 and bind H7194 them for a sign H226 upon your hand, H3027 that they may be as frontlets H2903 between your eyes. H5869 And ye shall teach H3925 them your children, H1121 speaking H1696 of them when thou sittest H3427 in thine house, H1004 and when thou walkest H3212 by the way, H1870 when thou liest H7901 down, and when thou risest up. H6965 And thou shalt write H3789 them upon the door posts H4201 of thine house, H1004 and upon thy gates: H8179 That your days H3117 may be multiplied, H7235 and the days H3117 of your children, H1121 in the land H127 which the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto your fathers H1 to give H5414 them, as the days H3117 of heaven H8064 upon the earth. H776 For if ye shall diligently H8104 keep H8104 all these commandments H4687 which I command H6680 you, to do H6213 them, to love H157 the LORD H3068 your God, H430 to walk H3212 in all his ways, H1870 and to cleave H1692 unto him; Then will the LORD H3068 drive out H3423 all these nations H1471 from before H6440 you, and ye shall possess H3423 greater H1419 nations H1471 and mightier H6099 than yourselves. Every place H4725 whereon the soles H3709 of your feet H7272 shall tread H1869 shall be yours: from the wilderness H4057 and Lebanon, H3844 from the river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates, H6578 even unto the uttermost H314 sea H3220 shall your coast H1366 be.
And he hath brought H935 us into this place, H4725 and hath given H5414 us this land, H776 even a land H776 that floweth H2100 with milk H2461 and honey. H1706 And now, behold, I have brought H935 the firstfruits H6529 H7225 of the land, H127 which thou, O LORD, H3068 hast given H5414 me. And thou shalt set H3240 it before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and worship H7812 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God: H430 And thou shalt rejoice H8055 in every good H2896 thing which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath given H5414 unto thee, and unto thine house, H1004 thou, and the Levite, H3881 and the stranger H1616 that is among H7130 you. When thou hast made an end H3615 of tithing H6237 all the tithes H4643 of thine increase H8393 the third H7992 year, H8141 which is the year H8141 of tithing, H4643 and hast given H5414 it unto the Levite, H3881 the stranger, H1616 the fatherless, H3490 and the widow, H490 that they may eat H398 within thy gates, H8179 and be filled; H7646 Then thou shalt say H559 before H6440 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 I have brought away H1197 the hallowed things H6944 out of mine house, H1004 and also have given H5414 them unto the Levite, H3881 and unto the stranger, H1616 to the fatherless, H3490 and to the widow, H490 according to all thy commandments H4687 which thou hast commanded H6680 me: I have not transgressed H5674 thy commandments, H4687 neither have I forgotten H7911 them: I have not eaten H398 thereof in my mourning, H205 neither have I taken away H1197 ought thereof for any unclean H2931 use, nor given H5414 ought thereof for the dead: H4191 but I have hearkened H8085 to the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 my God, H430 and have done H6213 according to all that thou hast commanded H6680 me. Look down H8259 from thy holy H6944 habitation, H4583 from heaven, H8064 and bless H1288 thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 and the land H127 which thou hast given H5414 us, as thou swarest H7650 unto our fathers, H1 a land H776 that floweth H2100 with milk H2461 and honey. H1706
He bowed H5186 the heavens H8064 also, and came down: H3381 and darkness H6205 was under his feet. H7272 And he rode H7392 upon a cherub, H3742 and did fly: H5774 yea, he did fly H1675 upon the wings H3671 of the wind. H7307 He made H7896 darkness H2822 his secret place; H5643 his pavilion H5521 round about H5439 him were dark H2824 waters H4325 and thick clouds H5645 of the skies. H7834 At the brightness H5051 that was before him his thick clouds H5645 passed, H5674 hail H1259 stones and coals H1513 of fire. H784 The LORD H3068 also thundered H7481 in the heavens, H8064 and the Highest H5945 gave H5414 his voice; H6963 hail H1259 stones and coals H1513 of fire. H784 Yea, he sent out H7971 his arrows, H2671 and scattered H6327 them; and he shot out H7232 lightnings, H1300 and discomfited H2000 them. Then the channels H650 of waters H4325 were seen, H7200 and the foundations H4146 of the world H8398 were discovered H1540 at thy rebuke, H1606 O LORD, H3068 at the blast H5397 of the breath H7307 of thy nostrils. H639 He sent H7971 from above, H4791 he took H3947 me, he drew H4871 me out of many H7227 waters. H4325 He delivered H5337 me from my strong H5794 enemy, H341 and from them which hated H8130 me: for they were too strong H553 for me. They prevented H6923 me in the day H3117 of my calamity: H343 but the LORD H3068 was my stay. H4937 He brought me forth H3318 also into a large place; H4800 he delivered H2502 me, because he delighted H2654 in me.
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.