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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:1-6

The years of the life of Moses are remarkably divided into three forties: the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second a shepherd in Midian, the third a king in Jeshurun; so changeable is the life of men, especially the life of good men. He had now finished his second forty, when he received his commission to bring Israel out of Egypt. Note, Sometimes it is long before God calls his servants out of that work which of old he designed them for, and has been graciously... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:7-10

Now that Moses had put off his shoes (for, no doubt, he observed the orders given him, Exod. 3:5), and covered his face, God enters upon the particular business that was now to be concerted, which was the bringing of Israel out of Egypt. Now, after forty years of Israel's bondage and Moses's banishment, when we may suppose both he and they began to despair, they of being delivered and he of delivering them, at length, the time has come, even the year of the redeemed. Note, God often comes for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:6

Moreover he said, I am the God of thy fathers ,.... Of every one of his fathers next mentioned: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ; with whom the covenant respecting the land of Canaan, and the promise of the blessed seed the Messiah, was made: this again shows that the Angel of the Lord that now appeared was God himself, Jehovah the Son of God. Our Lord makes use of this text to prove the resurrection of the dead against the Sadducees, God being not the God of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:7

And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt ,.... Or, "in seeing I have seen", which not only denotes the certainty of it, as we express it; but the clear, distinct, and full sight he had of it, with sympathy towards them, an affectionate concern for them, and a fixed, settled, determination in his mind to deliver them; he had long took notice of, and had thoroughly observed their affliction, and was afflicted with them in it, and was bent upon their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:8

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians ,.... Which must be understood consistent with the omnipresence of God, who is everywhere, and strictly speaking cannot be said to remove from place to place, or to descend; but such a way of speaking is used, when he gives some eminent display of his power or goodness, as here in a wonderful manner he appeared in a burning bush, and manifested himself in a way of grace and kindness to his people, signifying that he would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:9

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me ,.... See Exodus 2:23 , and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them ; which is repeated to observe the great notice he took of it; and the reason of his descent and appearance in this wonderful manner, as well as of the urgent necessity of Moses's going to deliver the people from their oppression. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:10

Come now therefore ,..... Leave thy flock, thy family, and the land of Midian: and I will send thee unto Pharaoh : this Pharaoh, according to Eusebius, was Cenchres, the successor of Achoris; but according to Bishop Usher F21 Annal. Vet. Test. p. 19. , his name was Amenophis, who immediately succeeded Ramesses Miamun, under whom Moses was born. Clemens of Alexandria F23 Stromat. l. 1. p. 320. relates from Apion, and he, from Ptolemy Mendesius, that it was in the times of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:6

I am the God of thy father - Though the word אבי abi , father, is here used in the singular, St Stephen, quoting this place, Acts 7:32 , uses the plural, Ὁ Θεος των πατερων σου , The God of thy Fathers; and that this is the meaning the following words prove: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. These were the fathers of Moses in a direct line. This reading is confirmed by the Samaritan and by the Coptic. Abraham was the father of the Ishmaelites, and with him... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:7

I have surely seen - ראיתי ראה raoh raithi , seeing, I have seen - I have not only seen the afflictions of this people because I am omniscient, but I have considered their sorrows, and my eye affects my heart. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:8

And I am come down to deliver them - This is the very purpose for which I am now come down upon this mountain, and for which I manifest myself to thee. Large - land - Canaan, when compared with the small tract of Goshen, in which they were now situated, and where, we learn, from Exodus 1:7 , they were straitened for room, might be well called a large land. See a fine description of this land Deuteronomy 8:7 . A land flowing with milk and honey - Excellent for pasturage, because... read more

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