Ex. 4 Moses’s objection, Ex. 4:1. The answer, Ex. 4:2. God turns his rod into a serpent, Ex. 4:3–5. He adds another sign, Ex. 4:6–8. And lest they would not believe, water is turned into blood, Ex. 4:9. Moses’s objection, Ex. 4:10. God argues with him, Ex. 4:11. God’s command and promise, Ex. 4:12.

They will not believe me; which he conjectured both from reason, because the greatness and strangeness of the deliverance made it seem incredible; and their minds were so oppressed with cares and labours, that it was not likely they could raise them up to any such expectation; and from the…

It became a serpent, i.e. was really changed into a serpent; whereby it was intimated what and how pernicious his rod should be to the Egyptians.

The tail was the dangerous part; whereby God would try Moses’s faith, and prepare him for the approaching difficulties.

An imperfect sentence, to be thus completed, This thou shalt do before them, that they may believe. See the like in 2 Sam. 5:8, compared with 1 Chron. 11:6, Mark 14:49, compared with Matt. 26:56.

For whiteness. See Num. 12:10. Hereby God would suggest to them how soon he could weaken and destroy the hard and strong hand by which the Egyptians tyrannised over them.

To the voice of the first sign; to the voice or word of God delivered and confirmed by the first sign. For Moses did not make dumb shows before them, but acquainted them with the mind of God therein.

The river Nile, well known to Moses, and called so by way of eminency, as Euphrates also is. Shall become, Heb. shall be, even shall be, i.e. it shall assuredly be so.

I am not eloquent; not able to deliver thy message acceptably and decently, either to Pharaoh or to the Israelites. Since thy appearance to me, thou hast made some change in my hand, but none in my tongue, but still I am, as I was, most unfit for so high an employment.

By my Spirit to direct and assist thee what and how to speak. Whence Moses, though he still seems to have remained slow in speech, yet was in truth mighty in words as well as deeds, Acts 7:22, Matt. 10:19–20.

By one who is fitter for the work than I am. Heb. Send by the hand of him whom thou wilt send, i.e. should send; for the future tense oft signifies what one should do. See Gen. 20:9, Gen. 34:7, Mal. 1:6, Mal. 2:7.

He cometh forth to meet thee, by my instigation and direction; which, because I see thou art still diffident, I give thee for a new sign to strengthen thy belief that I will carry thee through this hard work.

Put words in his mouth, i.e. instruct him what to speak, and command him freely and faithfully to express it. See Isa. 51:16, Isa. 59:21.

To teach and command him. See Ex. 7:1.

Both those which I have already made thee to do, and others as I shall direct and enable thee.

He pretends only a visit, and so indeed it was, and that no very long one neither: he knew that he should certainly return to this place, and there meet with his father-in-law.

This seems to have been a second vision, whereby God calls him forth to the present and speedy execution of that command which before was more generally delivered. Which sought thy life, to wit, to take it away. See the like expression, 1 Sam. 22:23, 1 Kings 19:14, Matt. 2:20.

His sons, Gershom, Ex. 2:22, and Eliezer, Ex. 18:4, whom he intended to carry with him; but afterwards observing that they were like to be impediments to him in his great business, and being well assured that it would not be long ere he returned to them, he sent them back to Jethro, as may seem…

In thine hand, i.e. in thy power or commission, to be clone by thy hand, and the rod in it. I will harden his heart, that he shall he unmerciful to all the groans and pressures of the Israelites, inexorable to the requests of Moses, unmovable and incorrigible by all my words and works.

By my choice and adoption. They are most dear to me, and reserved by me out of all nations to be my peculiar people; and therefore I will no longer suffer thee to invade my right, nor them to live in the neglect of my service.

I say unto thee; I command thee; for saying is put for commanding, Luke 4:3, Luke 9:54; and in 1 Chron. 21:19, compared with 2 Sam. 24:19. I will slay thy son; by which plague, coming after the rest, thou wilt be enforced to do what I advise thee now to do upon cheaper terms.

Met him, i.e. appeared to him in some visible shape, and sought to kill him. Whom? Moses, spoken of and to before. He offered and endeavoured to kill him, either by inflicting some sudden and dangerous disease or stroke upon him, or by showing himself in some threatening posture, possibly as the…

Perceiving the danger of her husband, and the cause of it, and her husband being disenabled from performing that work, whether by some stroke or sickness, or by the terror of so dismal and unexpected an apparition to him, and delays being highly dangerous, she thought it better to do it herself as…

So he let him go; or, he, i.e. God, or the destroying angel sent from God, departed from him, i.e. from Moses, and removed the tokens of God’s indignation, the sickness or stroke laid upon him.

All of them whom they could easily and quickly bring together, or all that were in those parts. Of those elders, see Ex. 3:16, Ex. 24:1, Ex. 24:9, Num. 11:16.

Thus beginning to execute the office which God had put upon him, which was to be Moses’s mouth, or spokesman. i.e. Aaron did the signs as Moses’s minister, or by the command and direction of Moses.

Had visited, i.e. taken cognizance of their cause and condition, and resolved to deliver them, they bowed their heads and worshipped; acknowledging and adoring the kindness and faithfulness of God thereto.