Exodus 4:10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 4:10-17

Moses still continues backward to the service for which God had designed him, even to a fault; for now we can no longer impute it to his humility and modesty, but must own that here was too much of cowardice, slothfulness, and unbelief in it. Observe here, I. How Moses endeavours to excuse himself from the work. 1. He pleads that he was no good spokesman: O my Lord! I am not eloquent, Exod. 4:10. He was a great philosopher, statesman, and divine, and yet no orator; a man of a clear head, great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:10

And Moses said unto the Lord ,.... Notwithstanding the above miracles, he seems unwilling to go on the Lord's errand to Pharaoh and to the Israelites, and therefore invents a new objection after all his other objections had been sufficiently answered: I am not eloquent ; or "a man of words" F19 איש דברים "vir verborum", Paguinus, Montanus, Piscator, Ainsworth. , that has words at command, that can speak well readily, and gracefully; such an one, he intimates, was proper to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:10

I am not eloquent - דברים איש לא lo ish debarim , I am not a man of words; a periphrasis common in the Scriptures. So Job 11:2 , שפתים איש ish sephathayim , a man of lips, signifies one that is talkative. Psalm 140:11 , לשון איש ish lashon , a man of tongue, signifies a prattler. But how could it be said that Moses was not eloquent, when St. Stephen asserts, Acts 7:22 , that he was mighty in words as well as in deeds? There are three ways of solving this difficulty: Moses... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:10

Verse 10 10.O my Lord. Moses catches at every word of escape, so as to force himself from the task imposed on him, not that he desires to refuse the command, but because he trembles at its importance. It is this distrust of his own powers which makes him so hesitating and timid. The remedy was obvious, that he should assure himself, since he well knew that he was undertaking nothing rashly, that God, whose command he obeyed, would supply him with ample strength. In this, then, lay the fault,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-10

A trilogy of signs. In reply to his complaint that the people would not believe him, nor hearken to his voice, God gave Moses three signs. These are to be viewed— I. AS ATTESTATIONS OF HIS DIVINE COMMISSION ( Exodus 4:5 , Exodus 4:8 ). Divine power is supernaturally exercised in proof of Moses' title to speak with Divine authority. This is a clear case of the use of miracles as credentials of a mission, and confutes those who reason that this view of miracles has no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

The reluctance of Moses to undertake the part of leader, indicated by his first reply at his first calling, "Who am I that I should go?" etc. ( Exodus 3:11 ), was not yet overcome. God had promised that he would succeed; but he did not see how he could succeed, either with the people or with Pharaoh. It was not enough for him that God had declared, "They (the people) shall hearken unto thy voice" ( Exodus 3:18 ); he does not, cannot believe this, and replies: "Behold, they will not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:1-17

Divine supplements for human infirmity. "Now therefore go, and I will be with thee," etc. ( Exodus 4:12 .) It is not at all clear whether the four objections urged by Moses against receiving the Divine commission were presented at one interview with the manifested God, or whether the controversy recorded Ex 3:1-4:17, occupied weeks or months. The probabilities are in favour of some considerable time. See Exodus 4:10 , and specially in the Hebrews In dealing with this particular plea,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:10

And Moses said, O my Lord . The phrase used by Moses is full of force. It is "vox dolentis et supplicantis" (Noldius). Joseph's brethren use it to the steward of Joseph's house, when they expect to be fallen upon and taken for bondsmen ( Genesis 43:20 ); Judah used it ( Genesis 44:18 ) when pleading with Joseph for Benjamin; Aaron when pleading for Miriam ( Numbers 13:11 ); Joshua when expostulating with God about Ai ( Joshua 7:8 ). There is a deprecatory idea in it, as well as a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:10

Slowness of speech a drawback on ministerial fitness, but not a disqualification. It is remarkable that both Moses, the great prophet of the First Covenant, and St. Paul, the "chosen vessel" for the publication of the Second Covenant, were ineffective as speakers; not perhaps both "in presence base," but certainly both "in speech contemptible" ( 2 Corinthians 10:1 , 2 Corinthians 10:10 ). Speakers and preachers should lay the lesson to heart, and learn not to be overproud of the gift... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:10-12

The fourth difficulty: Moses alleges defect of utterance. The third time-is often represented in Scripture as the final and decisive time ( 1 Samuel 3:8 ; Matthew 26:44 , Matthew 26:45 , Matthew 26:75 ; John 21:17 ; 2 Corinthians 12:8 ). But Moses is not yet either satisfied or even silenced. As fast as one difficulty is swept away, his fearful and fertile mind has another ready to take its place. He began with himself, in stating his objections and difficulties, pleading then... read more

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