Exodus 4:20-24 KJV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:23

Let my son go, that he may serve me - Which they could not do in Goshen, consistently with the policy and religious worship of the Egyptians; because the most essential part of an Israelite's worship consisted in sacrifice, and the animals which they offered to God were sacred among the Egyptians. Moses gives Pharaoh this reason Exodus 8:26 . I will slay thy son, even thy first-born - Which, on Pharaoh's utter refusal to let the people go, was accordingly done; see Exodus 12:29 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:24

By the way in the inn - See Clarke's note on Genesis 42:27 . The account in this and the following verse is very obscure. Some suppose that the Exodus 4:23 ; is not a part of the message to Pharaoh, but was spoken by the Lord to Moses; and that the whole may be thus paraphrased: "And I have said unto thee, (Moses), Send forth שלח shallach , my son, (Gershom, by circumcising him), that he may serve me, (which he cannot do till entered into the covenant by circumcision), but thou hast... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:20

Verse 20 20.And Moses took his wife. By taking his wife and children with him, Moses clearly and freely professed, that he was returning to Egypt, to dwell there. The ass upon which he set them, is a plain proof how humble was his condition, and how slender his substance. For it is improbable that he left either money or silver vessels or precious garments with his father-in-law, so as to present himself to his people in poverty and nakedness. But as he had been content in the land of Midian... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:21

Verse 21 21.When thou goest to return. Moses had not previously enumerated the wonders; but from this verse we gather, that whatever we shall presently read to be done, was already commanded by God. There is then, no doubt, but that God had already advised him of his whole course of proceeding, lest he might yield to the obstinacy of the proud tyrant, and when two or three miracles had been wrought in vain, might cast away his rod, together with the charge committed to him. Now, therefore, God... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:22

Verse 22 22.Israel is my son, even my first-born. God thus refutes, by anticipation, the only pretext by which Pharaoh could justify his refusal to let the people go. For Jacob had spontaneously submitted himself and all his family to his government; he had then free power to retain the people, which, by the common law of nations, was subject to the dominion of Egypt. But if it be an act of impiety to violate the ordinance instituted by God, the demand of Moses might appear improper, that the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:23

Verse 23 23.And I say unto thee, Let my son go. This was not the beginning of the legation, but its final clause; for Moses warned the desperate man of his son’s death, when everything else had been tried in vain. The meaning is, then, that the obstinacy of the tyrant must not prevent Moses from pressing him even to this final act. Therefore this injunction was an exhortation to perseverance; as appears from the context, when God declares that he will punish the obstinacy of the tyrant, because... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:24

Verse 24 24.And it came to pass by the way. The expression, “the Lord met him,” is here used in a bad sense, for an adverse meeting, or hostile encounter; as though Moses should say that the hand of the Lord was against him to interrupt his journey. In what form He appeared we know not, except that the words pretty plainly imply that Moses was assured of His anger, so as to be aware that his death was near. For had he not been instructed by revelation or by an angel, it would not have at all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-21

The return. Weeks, perhaps months, intervened between the revelation at the bush and Moses' actual departure from Midian. Time was given for allowing the first agitation of his spirit to subside, for enabling him to take the just measure of the task entrusted to him, for the final overcoming of his involuntary reluctance. An interval is presupposed in Exodus 4:10 —"Neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant," and is implied again here. Events were not yet quite ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-23

True faith and its joy. I. THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH . 1 . Note Moses' swift compliance with God's command. He tarried no longer: "He went and returned, and said, let me go." He does not seek advice. He does not even wait for a convenient opportunity of urging his request. We must wait neither upon time nor men. If God has spoken, we must obey. 2 . His wise reticence. He said nothing of what he had seen and heard. These experiences are a holy place where the soul meets alone... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-25

If Moses had, as we have supposed, been accepted into the Midianitish nation, he would need permission to withdraw himself from the tribal head. This head was now Jether, or Jethro, Moses' connexion by marriage, perhaps his brother-in-law, perhaps a less near connexion. Nations and tribes were at this time anxious to keep up their numbers, and jealous of the desertion even of a single member. Jethro, however, made no opposition to the return of Moses to Egypt, even though he designed to be... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-25

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