Exodus 3

Moseh feeding Jethros flock, v.1, etc. God appeareth unto him in a burning brambling bush, 2. and commissions him to deliver Israel,9. The Name of God is made known to him, 14.What Moseh was to say to the children of Israel, 15. and to Pharao likewise, 18. prediction of Pharao's obstinacy, 19. and the plagues of Egypt, 20. and the going forth of the Israelites with great riches, 21.

1. AND Moseh kept the flock of Jethro his father in law the Priest of Midian. [Above chap.2. 16,18. it is said, That Rebuel was Priest oc Chief in Midian ; now here is said of his son Jethro, who doubtless, after his death, succeeded him. Of the word here rendred Priest, see Gen.41. On verse 45.] and he led the flock behinde the wildernesse, and he came to the Mount of God, [thus called by reason of this divine apparition, and the LORDS giving his laws upon the same to Moseh, Exodus 18:5. and 19.3. and 1 Kings 19:8.] to Horeb. [Otherwise called Sinai, Exod.19.1. Acts 7:30.]

2. And the Angel of the LORD [This was the ORD himself, as appears, verse 4. and 6. Deuteronomy 33:16. Compare Gen.16. On verse 7.] appeared unto him in a flame of a fire, out of the midst of a bramble bush : and he saw, and behold, the bramble bush burned in the fire, and the bramble bush was not consumed

3. And Moseh said ; I will now turn [Heb. turn off] my self thitherward, and view that great Vision, [or, the great apparition, which was shewed forth there, not to the apprehension if the spirit, but to the outward sense of his bodily eyes.] why the bramble bush is not burned.

4. Then the LORD saw, that he turn'd himself thitherwards, for to view ; and God called to him out of the midst of the bramble bush, and said; Moseh, Moseh : and he said, Loe (here) I am.

5. And he said; Draw not near here : pull off thy shoes from off thy feet, [This served to excite Moseh to an holy humility ; as it did Josuah in another place, Jos.5.15.] for the place whereon thou standest, is holy land. (or, ground) [Heb. is earth of holinesse, viz. Made holy through the presence and apparition of God, without which it was but like other ground.]

6. Moreover he said; I am the God of thy father, the God of abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ; and Moseh hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. [See the like examples of fear, 1 Kings 19:13. Isa.6.2,5. See also Job13.20. Luke 5:8. proceeding from consideration of his own unworthiness and God transcendent Majesty.]

7. And the LORD said; I have very well seen [Heb. Seeing I have seen] the oppression of my people, which is in Egypt : and have heard their cry, by reason of their Drivers ; for their pains are known to me.

8. Therefore I am come down [See Gen.11.7. and 18.21. and 35.13.] to deliver it out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to carry them up out of this land, to a good and large land, [see Gen.13. 14,15.] to a land flowing with milk and honey : [understand and comprehend hereby all manner of temporal blessings.This affluence and abundance is often testified of the land of promise as Exodus 13:5. and 33.3. Leviticus 20:24. Deuter.6.3.] to that place of the Canaanites, and the Hethites, and the Pherezites, and the Hevites, and the Jebusites. [The Hebrew hath all these names in the singular number.]

9. And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel, is come unto me ; and I have likewise seen the oppression,wherewith the Egyptians do oppress them.

10. Therefore come now, and I shall send thee to Pharao : that thou mayest carry forth my people the children of Israel, out of Egypt.

11. Then said Moseh to God ; Who am I, that I should go to Pharao, and that I should carry forth the children of Israel, out of Egypt?

12. Then he said ; I shall assuredly be with thee ; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee [viz. This apparition of mine ; or, that which here follows immediately in the text.] when thou hast led forth this people out of Egypt , then ye shall serve God [i.e. offer up sacrifice, as appears verse 18. see the fulfilling thereof , Exod.19.] upon this mountain.

13. Then said Moseh to God ; Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and say to them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you : and they tell me ; what is his name? What shall I say then?

14. And God said to Moseh; I shall be (hee) that i shall be. Also he said ; Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, I SHALL BEE hath sent me unto you. [Oth. Read here, I am that I am, or, I shall be that I was ; and afterwards, I AM hath sent me, etc. The Hebrew words here and their severall significations wee agreeing with the Name JEHOVAH, which implieth, that God here sending Moseh, is etrnal in his being, faithful in his promises, and Almighty in the performance thereof. Compare Rev.1. 4, 8. and 16.15. Heb.13.8.]

15. Then God said farther to Moseh ; Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel ; The LORD God [See Genesis 2. on verse 4.] of your Fathers, the god of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you : that is my Name everlastingly ; and that is my Memorial, from Generation to Generation. [Heb. to Generation of Generation. As if God had said, By this name all Generations shall remember me : See Psalms 102:13. and 135. 13. Oth. This is my memorial forever, at all times, at all times.]

16. Goe, and assemble the eldest of Israel [Hereby are understood the Governours and Teachers of the people : these declared unto the people, what they understood by Moseh : See Exodus 12:3,21. and 19.3.] and say to them, The LORD your father's God hath appeared to me, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying ; I have faithfully visited you, [Hebrew, visiting I have visited you. See Genesis 21. on verse 1.] and that which is done unto you in Egypt.

17. Therefore I have said, I will carry you forth out of the oppression of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, [Hebrew, the Canaanite,etc.] and the Hethites, and the Amorites, and the Pherezites, and the Hevites, and the Jebusites : the land flowing with milk and honey.

18. And they shall hear thy voice, and thou shalt goe, thou and the eldest of Israel, unto the King of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him : The LORD, the God of the Hebrews hath met us,[i.e. appeared to us without our expectation ; and spake unto us, commanding us, what now we are presenting and requesting.] therefore let us go now (we pray) the way of three dayes (or, a three dayes journey) into the wildernesse [to wit, unto Mount Horeb, verse 12. which without lets and impediments by the way, was but a three dayes journey distant from Egypt.] that wee may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

19. Yet I know, that the King of Egypt will not let you goe : no not by a strong hand. [not for divers great and heavy plagues. See Exod.14.31.]

20. For i will stretch out [Heb. send, send forth] my hand, [i.e. my strong and smarting pladues.] and smite Egypt with all my wonders, [Hereby he understands the ten plagues, wherewith he was resolved to smite Egypt.] which i shall do in the midst of them : after that, [i.e. after the last, or tenth plague, viz. The slaying of the first-born.] he shall let you goe.

21. And i will give this people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians : [i.e. favour among them. See Gen.18. 3. so that they shall be willing and ready to lend unto the Israelites, before their going forth, whatsoever they shall desire at their hands.] and it shall come to passe, when ye shall go forth, ye shall not go forth empty. [according to Gods promise, Gen.15.14. Of the fulfilling whereof see below chap.12.35,36.]

22. But (each) woman shall ask of her neighbour, and the hostesse of her house, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garnents : them ye shall lay (or, put) upon your sons, and upon your daughters, and shall bereave the Egyptians. [This was no theft, nor sin : God having commanded the act, which is the owner Paramount of all, and likewise intended thereby to recompence his people by this means, their heavy labour hitherto.]