Exodus 4:1-5 BSB

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 4:1-9

I. Moses objects that in all probability the people would not hearken to his voice (Exod. 4:1), that is, they would not take his bare word, unless he showed them some sign, which he had not been yet instructed to do. This objection cannot be justified, because it contradicts what God had said (Exod. 3:18), They shall hearken to thy voice. If God says, They will, does it become Moses to say, They will not? Surely he means, ?Perhaps they will not at first, or some of them will not.? If there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:1

And Moses answered and said ,.... In reference to what Jehovah had declared to him in the latter end of the preceding chapter: but, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice ; this seems to contradict what God had said to him, Exodus 3:18 that they would hearken to his voice; but it can hardly be thought, that so good a man, and so great a prophet as Moses was, would directly fly in the face of God, and expressly contradict what he had said. To reconcile this it may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:2

And the Lord said unto him ,.... Not reproving him for contradicting him, or showing any diffidence of what he had said; but rather as approving the hint he gave of having some sign or miracle wrought, to command from the Israelites an assent unto him, as commissioned of God to deliver them: what is that in thine hand ? which question is put, not as being ignorant of what it was, but to lead on to what he had further to say, and to the working of the miracle: and he said, a rod ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:3

And he said, cast it on the ground ,.... That is, the rod or staff: and he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent ; not in appearance only, but in reality, it was changed into a real living serpent; for God, who is the author of nature, can change the nature of things as he pleases; nor is it to be supposed that he would only make it look to the sight as if it was one, by working upon the fancy and imagination to think it was one, when it was not; no doubt but it was as really... read more

John Gill

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

And the Lord said to Moses, put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail ,.... Which to do might seem most dangerous, since it might turn upon him and bite him; this was ordered, partly that Moses might be assured it was really a serpent, and not in appearance only; and partly to try his courage, and it suggested to him, that he need not be afraid of it, it would not hurt him: the above learned doctor observes F12 De Vita Mosis, l. 1. 614. , that he is commanded to take it by the tail;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:5

That they may believe ,.... The elders and people of Israel; for this miracle was wrought not for the confirmation of Moses's faith; for, as Aben Ezra observes, the sign of the burning bush was given to him to confirm his faith, that it was God that appeared to him, and called him to this work; but this was wrought to confirm the faith of the Israelites in his divine mission: that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:1

They will not believe me - As if he had said, Unless I be enabled to work miracles, and give them proofs by extraordinary works as well as by words, they will not believe that thou hast sent me. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:2

A rod - מתה matteh , a staff, probably his shepherd's crook; see Leviticus 27:32 . As it was made the instrument of working many miracles, it was afterwards called the rod of God; see Exodus 4:20 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:3

A serpent - Of what sort we know not, as the word נחש nachash is a general name for serpents, and also means several other things, see Genesis 3:1 ; : but it was either of a kind that he had not seen before, or one that he knew to be dangerous; for it is said, he fled from before it. Some suppose the staff was changed into a crocodile; see Clarke on Exodus 7:10 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

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

He put forth his hand, and caught it - Considering the light in which Moses had viewed this serpent, it required considerable faith to induce him thus implicitly to obey the command of God; but he obeyed, and the noxious serpent became instantly the miraculous rod in his hand! Implicit faith and obedience conquer all difficulties; and he who believes in God, and obeys him in all things, has really nothing to fear. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 4:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:3

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:3

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

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