Exodus 4

Exodus 4:3

IT became] So God would confirme to Moses, and others the truth of his word: which was to be apprehended through faith in spirit, by the omnipotency of his working, which might be perceived by sence both powers being inseparable in God. Now the end of this particular transmutation of the rod into a serpent, seemeth to be, to shew that Moses should be healthfull to the Israelites, to guide and governe them, which was signified by the rod: And that he should bee deadly to the Egyptians, which was agreeable to the serpent.

Exodus 4:6

Put now] It seemeth that this second signe hath the same sence as the other, his hand being sound and powerfull for the children of Israel, but a sore one against the Aegyptians.

Exodus 4:8

Thy voice] To the voice of thy first signe the Hebrew hath it,

Exodus 4:10

Nor since] It seemeth he hath a regard to that first calling: Exodus 2:11-12. Acts 7:25. since which time were fourty yeares being expired and his impediment of speech, not being amended by any miraculous help from God, he thought, and argued from thence that God would have eased him of that commission, which was incompatible with that defect Slow of speech] Faltering, stuttering, stammering in speech.

Exodus 4:13

Send I pray] Through this mine inabilitie I am perswaded to believe, that thou hast not indeed chosen me for this great work, but that thou usest these speech 〈…〉to me to prove me, or for some other hidden 〈◊〉 give him then the charge thereof whom thou hast destined thereunto, and made capable of it seeing that Gods gift, is the foundation of the calling. Many have thought that he meant the Messias himself, whom alone he thought to be capable of bringing such a thing to passe.

Exodus 4:14

I know] This is given for a remedy to his defect of tongue Behold] This is set down for a signe of Gods guiding this businesse in the whole course of it: for by an inward motion he caused Aaron to come so farre to meet him, that he might have time to instruct him, concerning this their common commission.

Exodus 4:15

Put words] Declare them unto him, and instruct him fully of them, that he may have them ready at a need.

Exodus 4:16

In stead] Thou shalt be in my stead towards him, in revealing my will unto him, and power to command him.

Exodus 4:17

Do signes] Not only that signe in the third verse, but also all the others which are meant: Exodus 3:20. see Exod. 7. 9. 19. and 8. 16. 17. Now the power of working miracles was not included in the rod, nor bound unto it, but God of his free will joyned his operation thereunto as he doth to any externall signe or meanes, which he ordaineth.

Exodus 4:18

Ietho] The Italian hath it, Ieter] which is the same Jethro.

Exodus 4:19

All the men] As well that Pharaoh, under whom thou slewest the Aegyptian, as also his courtiers, which were thine enemies and evill willers.

Exodus 4:20

His sons] Gershom: Exodus 2:22. and Eliezer: Exodus 18:4 Rod of God]ordained and consecrated by God: who had promised to cooperate with his power to the usin of it: see Exodus 17:9.

Exodus 4:21

Put in thy hand] Ordained, and put the execution of them into thy hands.Willharden] God is not, nor cannot any way be the cause of sin, in any part, or kind, nor yet of the hearts rebellion. But he looseth the reines to his enemies malitiousnesse, who are already rebellious, and hardened, without repressing or correcting of it, and by his just judgement delivereth them into the power of Satan, to worke effectually in them: in such wise, that all Gods commands, counsells, exhortations, and other good workes produce nothing in them: but a greater contumacy; even as when one contrary doth not overcome, or tame the other, it kindleth and strengtheneth it the more.

Exodus 4:22

My sonne] Namely by grace and adoption: Jeremiah 31:20. Romans 9:4 My first borne] He who amongst all nations is to me most deare, and by mee most esteemed, and hath the prerogative of dominion, and a double portion of both the temporal, and spirituall blessing. See Genesis 25. 31. and 27. 27. 29. Wherefore there is no reason why he should remaine in bondage.

Exodus 4:24

Met him] This was done by some apparition, in which Gods Angel was seen threatning Moses with death, and telling him the reason of it, which was for having neglected to circumcise one of his sonnes, or both; which happened by some unknown occasion, either by reason of their mothers tendernesse who was a Madianite, among which nation circumcision peradventure had heen left off, though there remained some piety and service of the true God amongst them.

Exodus 4:25

Zipporah] The administration of the Sacrament by the hand of a woman, was an extraordinary act, and beyond the common rule of the Church, and therefore must be no president A sharp stone] the Italian ha h it a int] According to the old fashion, to make use of sharpned stones in stead of knives, especially if incisions were to be made in mens bodies. See Joshua 5:2-3. Yet others translate it there, sharpe knives Cast it] As in spight and reproach, that shee should wound her sonne, to save her husbands life A bloudy] That is to say, whose religion forceth me to be cruell to my child.

Exodus 4:26

Then she sayd] This seemeth to shew, that after Moses his danger was past, Zipporah yet stil remaned speaking, and thinking evill of the Sacrament of Circumcision, and thence it is presumed, that Moses sent her back againe to her father, and that he afterwards brought her back againe to her Husband. Exodus, the eighteenth Chapter and the fifth verse Circumcision] The Italian hath it,Circumcisions] Of her two sonnes, either because they were both circumcised at that time, or because the one having beene circumcised before, shee reproveth Moses, for that he had not done the same to the other, and to all those that had been born unto him before.