Exodus 3:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:16-22

Moses is here more particularly instructed in his work, and informed beforehand of his success. 1. He must deal with the elders of Israel, and raise their expectation of a speedy removal to Canaan, Exod. 3:16, 17. He must repeat to them what God had said to him, as a faithful ambassador. Note, That which ministers have received of the Lord they must deliver to his people, and keep back nothing that is profitable. Lay an emphasis on that, Exod. 3:17: ?I have said, I will bring you up; that is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:21

And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians ,.... That is, give the Israelites favour in their sight, a little before their departure, who should be ready to do anything for them, or bestow anything upon them; or however lend them what they would desire, being glad to be at peace with them, or get rid of them, for whose sakes they would perceive all those sore calamities came upon them, they were distressed with: and it shall come to pass, that when ye go, ye shall... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:21

Verse 21 21.And I will give this people favor. By this extreme exercise of His bounty He encourages the Israelites to contend and strive more heartily; since otherwise it would be hard for them to struggle with the great cruelty of the king. Therefore He promises them not only liberty, but also abundance of rich and precious things. But, inasmuch as this was hard to believe, that the Egyptians their bitterest enemies would become so kind and liberal as to exert such beneficence towards them,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:1-22

THE MISSION OF MOSES . After forty years of monotonous pastoral life, affording abundant opportunity for meditation, and for spiritual communion with God, and when he had attained to the great age of eighty years, and the hot blood of youth had given place to the calm serenity of advanced life, God at last revealed Himself to Moses "called him" ( Exodus 3:4 ), and gave him a definite mission. The present chapter is' intimately connected with the next. Together, they contain an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:16-22

The two messages. I. THE MESSAGE TO THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL ( Exodus 3:16-18 ). Moses was to go first to the elders of the people. First—before he went to Pharaoh; and first—before communicating with any of the people. This arrangement was— 1 . Necessary. The people's consent must be obtained to their own deliverance. God would have them co-operate with him— This applies to the higher Redemption. Men cannot be saved without their own consent. We must, in the sense... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:18-22

The coming liberation: God indicates the method of it. In this conversation between God and Moses, recorded in chaps, 3. and 4; we observe that God is occupied with something more than simply answering the questions of Moses. Answering these questions, he then goes on to give his own instructions besides. God's instructions to us, for right service, do not depend on our questions. These must be answered, that stumblingblocks may be taken out of the way; but when they are removed, then we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:18-22

I. THE REMOVAL OF MOSES ' FEAR . His mission will be successful. 1 . He will win the people's trust for God. They will not refuse to hear. 2 . Their elders will accompany him into Pharaoh's presence: his request will become the people's. 3 . The Lord will lead them out laden with the spoils of Egypt. Going on God's errand there is no possibility of failure. The fears which rise as we measure the greatness of the task and our own strength vanish when we look up into the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:21-22

The "spoiling of the Egyptians" has called forth much bitter comment. (See Kalisch, note on Exodus 3:22 .) It has been termed a combination of "fraud, deception and theft"—"base deceit and nefarious fraud"—"glaring villainy," and the like. The unfortunate translation of a verb meaning "ask" by "borrow" in Exodus 3:22 , has greatly helped the objectors. In reality, what God here commanded and declared was this:—The Israelite women were told on the eve of their departure from Egypt to ask... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:21-22

God brings good out of evil. Had Pharaoh yielded at the first, the Egyptians would have seen the departure of Israel with regret, and would have in no way facilitated it. The opposition of the king and court, the long struggle, the ill-usage of the Israelites by the monarch who so often promised to release them, and so often retracted his word, awoke a sympathy with the Israelites, and an interest in them, which would have been altogether lacking had there been no. Opposition, no struggle,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:13-22

The God of Israel (3:13-22)If Moses was to present himself to the people of Israel as the one who would lead them out of Egypt, he would need to convince them that he knew God’s purposes for them. But he doubted whether they would understand, since they did not know the character of him whom they vaguely called the God of their ancestors. In asking God for help in explaining his purposes to them, Moses was wanting to know not simply the name of God, but the character of the God who owned that... read more

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