Exodus 2:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 2:11-15

Moses had now passed the first forty years of his life in the court of Pharaoh, preparing himself for business; and now it was time for him to enter upon action, and, I. He boldly owns and espouses the cause of God's people: When Moses was grown he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens, Exod. 2:11. The best exposition of these words we have from an inspired pen, Heb. 11:24-26, where we are told that by this he expressed, 1. His holy contempt of the honours and pleasures of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 2:11

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown ,.... To man's estate; some of the Jewish writers say he was eighteen, others twenty years of age F5 Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 5. 2. , but Stephen, who is most to be credited, says he was full forty years of age, Acts 7:23 , that he went out unto his brethren the Hebrews : whom he knew to be his brethren, either by divine revelation, or by conversing with his nurse, who was his mother; who, doubtless, instructed him while he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:11

When Moses was grown - Being full forty years of age, as St. Stephen says, Acts 7:23 , it came into his heart to visit his brethren, i.e., he was excited to it by a Divine inspiration; and seeing one of them suffer wrong, by an Egyptian smiting him, probably one of the task-masters, he avenged him and smote - slew, the Egyptian, supposing that God who had given him commission, had given also his brethren to understand that they were to be delivered by his hand; see Acts 7:23-25 .... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 2:11

Verse 11 11.And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown. Now did that faith which the Apostle celebrates begin to shew itself, when Moses, despising the pleasures and riches of the Court, chose rather to suffer the reproach of Christ, than to be accounted happy apart from companionship with the chosen people. Nor was it only love for his nation, but faith in the promises, which induced him to undertake this charge, by which he knew that he should incur the hatred of all the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:1-11

A child of providence. This section recounts the birth, deliverance, and upbringing at the court of Pharaoh, of the future Deliverer of Israel. In which we have to notice — I . AN ACT OF FAITH ON THE PART OF MOSES ' PARENTS . The faith of Moses' parents is signalised in the Epistle to the Hebrews ( Hebrews 11:23 ). Observe — 1. The occasion of its trial. The king's edict threatened the child's life. The ease of Moses was peculiar, yet not entirely so. No... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:11

When Moses was grown . "When he had become a .mall of vigour and intelligence" (Kalisch). He went out. The expression is emphatic, and accords with the view above exhibited — that a complete change in the life of Moses was now effected, that the court was quitted, with its attractions and its temptations, its riches and its pleasures; and the position of adopted child of a princess forfeited. He spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew. It is not certain that this was one of the "taskmasters" ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:11-12

§1. Moses as a would-be deliverer. Moses, as a would-be deliverer, shows us how zeal may outrun discretion. Actuated by deep love for his brethren, he had quitted the court, resigned his high prospects, thrown in his lot with his nation, and "gone out" to see with his own eyes their condition. No doubt he came upon many sights which vexed and angered him, but was able to restrain himself. At last, however, he became witness of a grievous — an extreme — case of oppression. Some Hebrew, we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:11-12

The choice of Moses. Underlying this episode of killing the Egyptian there is that crisis in the history of Moses to which reference is made so strikingly in the eleventh of the Hebrews — "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather," etc. ( Hebrews 11:24-27 ). Two views may be taken of the episode. Either, as might be held, the elements of decision were floating in an unfixed state in the mind of Moses, when this event... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:11-15

FIRST ATTEMPT OF MOSES TO DELIVER HIS NATION , AND ITS FAILURE . After Moses was grown up — according to the tradition accepted by St. Stephen ( Acts 7:23 ), when he was "full forty years old" — having become by some means or other acquainted with the circumstances of his birth, which had most probably never been concealed from him, he determined to "go out" to his brethren, see with his own eyes what their treatment was, and do his best to alleviate it. He had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 2:11-15

Unpurified zeal. We must certainly attribute the killing of the Egyptian, not to Divine inspiration, but to the natural impetuosity of Moses' character. At this stage Moses had zeal, but it was without knowledge. His heart burned with indignation at the wrongs of his brethren. He longed to be their deliverer. Something told him that "God by his hand would deliver them" ( Acts 7:25 ). But how to proceed he knew not. His plans had taken no definite shape. There was no revelation, and... read more

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