Exodus 3:16-6:1

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 3:16

Go and gather the elders of Israel together ,.... Not all the ancient men among them, nor the "judges" of the people of Israel; for it does not appear there were such among them in Egypt, until they came into the land of Canaan, but the heads of tribes or families: and say unto them, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me ; in a flame of fire in the midst of a bush at Horeb: saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:16

Elders of Israel - Though it is not likely the Hebrews were permitted to have any regular government at this time, yet there can be no doubt of their having such a government in the time of Joseph, and for some considerable time after; the elders of each tribe forming a kind of court of magistrates, by which all actions were tried, and legal decisions made, in the Israelitish community. I have surely visited you - An exact fulfillment of the prediction of Joseph, Genesis 50:24 , God... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 3:16

Verse 16 16.Go and gather. Because it was not easy either to gather the whole people into one place, or for his commission to be heard by so great a multitude, Moses is commanded to begin with the elders, and to speak to them concerning their coming deliverance, that they may thus by their authority arouse the body of the people to a good hope. For their dismissal must be sought for from the king in the name of all, and all their minds prepared for departure; since, unless they had timely... 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 3:11-17

Hindrances to service and how God removes them. 1 . THE HINDRANCE FOUND IN THE SENSE OF OUR OWN WEAKNESS ( Exodus 3:11 , Exodus 3:12 ). 1 . Moses knew the pomp and pride of the Egyptian court. He remembered how Israel had rejected him when he was more than he was now. Once he had believed himself able for the task, but he was wiser now: "Who am I ?" etc. He might serve God in the lowly place he held, but not there. Moses in this the type of multitudes. God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:13-17

The second difficulty: the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-what is his name? Moses feels that when he goes among his brethren, one of their first questions will be as to the name of this God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Consider— I. HOW IT WAS THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A QUESTION WAS SUGGESTED TO HIS MIND . All the deities of the other nations had names, and doubtless the gods of Egypt were well known by name to the Israelites. Part of the glory of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:15-16

The Name. The request of Moses to know the name of the Being who had filled him with such unutterable awe ( Exodus 3:6 ), rested on ideas deeply rooted in ancient modes of thought. The "name" with us tends to become an arbitrary symbol—a mere vocable. But this is not the true idea of a name. A real name expresses the nature of that to which it is given. It is significant. This idea of the name is the ruling one in scientific nomenclature, where names are not imposed arbitrarily, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:16

Gather the elders . It is generally thought that we are to understand by "the elders" not so much the more aged men, as these who bore a certain official rank and position among their brethren, the heads of the various houses ( Exodus 6:14 , Exodus 6:25 ; Exodus 11:1-10 :21), who exercised a certain authority even during the worst times of the oppression. Moses was first to prevail, on them to acknowledge his mission, and was then to go with them to Pharaoh and make his representation... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 3:16

The Divine injunction to gather the elders. God here added another injunction to those which he had previously given ( Exodus 3:10 ), as to the modus operandi which Moses was to adopt. He was to go to the children of Israel, but not immediately or as the first step. Before making any appeal to them he was, in the first instance, to "gather the elders of Israel together." In this is involved a principle of very general application. When great designs are on hand, consultation should... read more

Group of Brands