Ex. 3 Moses keeping Jethro’s flock, cometh to mount Horeb, Ex. 3:1. There God appears to him in a burning bush, Ex. 3:2. Moses beholds it, Ex. 3:3. God calls to him out of the burning bush, Ex. 3:4; cautions him what to do, Ex. 3:5–6. God seeth their afflictions, Ex.

1401 Jethro was either the same with Reuel, or his son, who, upon his father’s death, succeeded into his office. See Ex. 2:18. To the backside of the desert, to its innermost parts, which were behind Jethro’s habitation, and the former pastures, whither he went for fresh pastures.

The angel of the Lord; not a created angel, but the Angel of the covenant, Christ Jesus, who then and ever was God, and was to be man, and to be sent into the world in our flesh, as a messenger from God.

He doubles the name, partly to show kindness and familiarity, and principally to make Moses more attentive to the business before him.

Draw not nigh hither; keep thy distance; whereby he checks his curiosity and forwardness, and works him to the greater reverence and humility. Compare Ex. 19:12, Ex. 19:21, Josh. 5:15. Put off thy shoes: this he requires as an act and token, 1.

The God of thy fathers, engaged to them by covenant or promise, which I am now come to perform. He was afraid to look upon God, as other excellent servants of God have been, through the sense of their own meanness and sinfulness, and of God’s majesty and holiness. See Gen. 16:13, Gen.

I have surely seen; Heb. In seeing, I have seen, i.e. I have seen and observed it diligently, accurately, and certainly; for so much the doubling of the verb signifies.

I am come down: this word notes God’s manifestation of himself and his favour, and giving help from heaven. See Gen. 18:21. It was a good land and a large, not only comparatively to Goshen, where they now dwelt, and to the number of the Israelites at that time; but absolutely, if you take the Land…

The cry of the children of Israel; either in prayer, or rather forced by their oppressions, as the next clause explains it.

What a mean, inconsiderable person am I! how unworthy and unfit for that employment! He was more forward in the work forty years ago, by reason of the fervours of his youth, his inexperience in affairs, the advantage of his power and interest in the court, by which he thought he could and should…

This shall be a token unto thee; either, 1. This vision; or, 2. The fulfilling of this promise, that I will be with thee by signs and wonders, and a strong hand; or rather, 3. This which here follows, that he and Israel should serve God there.

Since I must go to them in thy name, and thou hast variety of names and glorious titles, and some of them are ascribed to idols, not only by the Egyptians, but by too many of thy own people; what name shall I use, whereby both thou mayest be distinguished from false gods, and thy people may be…

I am that I am; a most comprehensive and significant name, and most proper for the present occasion, It notes, 1. The reality of his being; whereas idols are nothings, 1 Cor. 8:4, all their divinity is only in the fancies and opinions of men. 2.

The Lord, Heb. Jehovah; a word of the same root and signification with I am. See Ex. 6:3. This he adds, because God was best known to the Israelites by that name; and to show, that though he had given himself a new name, yet he was the same God.

The elders; either by age, or rather by office and authority. For though they were all slaves to the Egyptians, yet among themselves they retained some order and government, and had doubtless some whom they owned as their teachers and rulers, as. heads of tribes and families, &c.

Hath met with us; hath appeared to us, expressing his displeasure for our neglect of him, and declaring his will that we should do what follows. Three days’ journey; to Sinai, which, going the nearest way, was no further from Egypt; for here God had declared he would be served, Ex. 3:12. Quest.

I am sure; I know it infallibly beforehand. No, not by a mighty hand; though he see and feel the miraculous and dreadful works of a strong, yea, almighty hand, yet he will not consent to your going; which the history makes good.

I will give this people favour, so that they shall readily grant what the Israelites desire. See Ex. 12:36.

Whether this was just or no, see Poole “Ex. 12:36”.