Exodus 6

1 with a strong hand. Probably, with eagerness and determination; as resolute in dismissing as he had been in retaining them.

3. Jehovah. See iii. 14. This name (JAHVEH) seems to have been used by the patriarchs with other names expressing the revealed perfections of God. See Gen. xiv. 22; xv. 2, 8; xxii. 14; xxiv. 7, 12; xxvii. 20; xxviii. 16; xxxii. 9; xlix. 18, etc. But the full significance of the name, as representing the Divine self-existence and unchangeableness, and especially God’s unfailing faithfulness, had never been made known to them as it was now about to be revealed to their descendants. Under the title of “EL-SHADDAL,” God Almighty, He had entered into covenant with Abraham and his posterity (Gen. xvii. 1). Now when He is about to fulfil one great promise of that covenant, He selects the title JEHOVAH (“The Eternal”) as the covenant-name of the God of Israel. So our Lord speaks of His “new name” (Rev. iii. 12).

7 take you to Me. By the renewal of the covenant about to take place on Sinai. See xix. 5.

9 they hearkened not. Mistrust made them deaf to the words of comfort. Their hopefulness when the message first reached them (iv. 31) is in striking contrast with this despair.

12 uncircumcised. Applied to that which is displeasing or unfit for use, “Hearts” (Lev. xxvi. 41); “ear” (Jer. vi. 10). Moses assumes some moral hindrance on his own part.

14 their fathers’ houses. This extract (vers. 14-27) from the genealogy of Jacob’s family (see Gen. xvi. 8-10) exhibits the relation of the leaders of Israel to those whom they delivered, and shows that God brought the people out of Egypt in the fourth generation, as He had promised (Gen. xv. 16).

20 father’s sister. This word may include many female relatives. The Septuagint and Syriac versions render it “cousin.”