Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
1. Moses keepeth Iethros flocke. …, God appeareth to him in a burning bush. 9, He sendeth him to deliver Israel. 14, The Name of God is declared. 15, His message to Israel, 18, and to the king of Egypt. 19, The kings resistance, Egypts plagues, and Israels departure with rich spoiles, are foretold.
AND Moses was feeding the flocke of Iethro his father in law, the Priest of Midian: and he led the flocke behind the wildernesse; and came to the mountaine of God, to Horeb. And the Angell of Iehovah appeared unto him, in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bramble-bush: and hee saw, and behold the bramble-bush burned with fire, and the bramble-bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will turne aside now, and see this great sight, why the bramble-bush is not burnt. And Iehovah saw that hee turned aside to see; and God called unto him out of the midst of the bramble-bush, and said, Moses, Moses, and hee said, Loe here I am. And hee said, Draw not nigh hither; put thy shooes from off thy feet, for the place the which thou standest upon is holy ground. And he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaak, and the God of Iakob: and Moses hid his face, for he feared to look upon God. And Iehovah said, Seeing I have seene the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their out-cry because of their taske-masters, for I know their sorrowes. And I am come downe to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land, unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milke & honey, unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Chethite, and the Amorite, and the Pherizzite, and the Evite, and the Iebusite. And now, behold, the out-cry of the sonnes of Israel is come unto me, & I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppresse them. And now come, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh; and bring thou forth my …le the sonnes of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should goe unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring … sons of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee, and this shall be unto thee a signe that I have sent thee; when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, yee shall serve God at this mountaine. And Moses said unto God; Behold, when I come unto the sonnes of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses; I am, that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the sonnes of Israel; I am, hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the sonnes of Israel; Iehovah the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaak, and the God of Iakob, hath sent mee unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memoriall to generation and generation. Goe and gather together the Elders of Israel, and say unto them, Iehovah, the God of your fathers hath appeared unto mee, the God of Abraham, of Isaak and of Iakob, saying, Visiting I have visited you, and that which is done to you in Egypt. And I have said, I will bring you up, out of the affliction of Egypt, unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Chethite, and the Amorite, and the Pherizzite, and the Evite, and the Iebusite; unto a land flowing with milke and honey. And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the Elders of Israel, unto the King of Egypt; and you shall say unto him, Iehouah the God of the Hebrewes hath met with us, and now let us goe, wee beseech thee, three daies journey into the wildernesse, that wee may sacrifice to Iehovah our God. And I doe know that the king of Egypt will not grant you to goe, no not by a mighty hand. And I will send out my hand, and smite Egypt, with all my marvels which I will doe in the midst thereof, and after that he will send you away. And I will give this people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians, and it shall be when you goe, yee shall not goe empty. But every woman shall aske of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and garments; and yee shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters, and ye shall spoile the Egyptians.
Annotations.
IEthro] in Greeke Iothor: he was also named Hobab, and was the son of Ragouel … Exod. 2. 18. Num. 10. 29. Iudg. 4. 11. He is called also …er, Exod. … 18. Now God taketh Moses (as afterward hee did David) from the folds of sheepe, to … Iakob his people, and Israel his possession, Psal. 78. 70. 71. and 77. 21. priest] in the Chaldee, prince: See Exod. 2. 16. The sonne succeeded in his fathers office, for it is likely that Raguel was now dead, this being 40. yeeres after Moses his comming thither, Exod. 2. 21. Act. 7. 30 behinde] to the backe side: the Greeke saith, under the wildernesse; the Chaldee, to a place of good pasture in the wildernesse. A wildernesse (so named of going wild, that is, astray therein) as is shewed on Gen. 21. 14. was a place where cattell used to bee fed, as here and Luk. 15. 4. 1 Sam. 17. 28. mount of God] so called, because it was great and high, as Psal. 36. 7. and was sanctified of God, by his appearing there now, vers. 5. and after when God came down upon it, to give his law, Ex. 18. 5. and 19. 3. 17. 18. So in 1 King. 19. 8. The Chaldee calleth it, the mount where the glory of the Lord was revealed. Horeb] or Choreb: which signifieth Drinesse (for this wildernesse was waterlesse, Deut. 8. 15.) it was called also mount Sinai, Act. 7. 30. Exod. 19. 1. 18. of the Bramble-bushes there growing: or of this vision there appearing.
Vers. 2. Angell] This was Christ, who in vers. 6. calleth himselfe the God of Abraham; named an Angell; as before in Gen. 48. 16. therefore Moses blessing Israel, mentioneth the good will of this dweller in the bush. Deut. 33. 16. where the Chaldee paraphrast addeth, him whose habitation is in heaven; meaning God. And other Rabbines acknowledged as much; R. Menachem, upon Exod. 3. saith, his Angell, in the opinion of some of our Rabbines, was Michael; and therefore hee saith the Angell of the Lord, and saith not the Angell of God, signifying the condition of mercies. See also the notes on Gen. 32. 24. where Michael, is shewed to bee Christ. Againe, R. Menachem there alledgeth; this Angell is that Angell the Redeemer, which said to Iakob, I am the God of Bethel: this is he (of whom it is said) and the Angell of his presence saved them: Gen. 48. 16. and 31. 11. 13. Esa. 63. 9. bramble-bush] In Hebrew Seneh, whereupon the mount, and wildernesse is called Sinai, of the store of brambles that grew there: or of this bush and vision So in Pirkei R. Eliezer, c. 41. it is said, from the beginning of the world, this mount was called Horeb: and when God appeared unto Moses, out of the midst of the bramble-bush, of the name of the bramble (Seneh) it was called Sinai. consumed] Hebr. eaten up, in Greeke, burnt up: fire is usually said to eat, that is, to consume, Lev. 6. 10. The flame is said to burne up the mountaines, trees, &c. Psal. 83. 15. Ioel 1. 19. and is therefore used to signifie great afflictions from the hand of God, Esa. 30. 30. Lam. 2. 3. But here God (who is called a consuming fire, Deut. 4. 24.) consumeth not the bush, (a figure of the Church of Israel, afflicted in Egypt) but dwelleth with good will therein, as Moses mentioneth the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, Deut, 33. 16. And so hath promised to Israel, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: Esa. 43. 2. This God himself openeth to Moses, in vers. 7. 8. and it agreeth with that vision shewed to Abraham, in Gen. 15. 13. 17. And the Hebrew Doctors so understood this vision, saying, God dwelt in the bramble-bush: and the bramble-bush was affliction & anguish, & al thorns and briars. And why dwelt hee in the midst of affliction and anguish? but because he saw Israel in great affliction he also dwelt with them in the midst of affliction, to confirme that which is said (in Esa. 63. 9.) In all their affliction, it was afflicted. Pirkei R. Eliezer, c. 40.
Verse 3. great sight] or, vision: whereat Moses wondred, and drew neere to consider it, Act. 7. 34. not burnt:] the Ierusalemy Thargum addeth, is greene and not burnt.
Vers. 4. unto him] and what God said unto him, the same he hath spoken to us; as our Lord himselfe explaineth it; Have ye not read, that which was spoken unto you by God? Mat. 22. 31. 32. And although God spake thus to Moses, yet hee writing these things for the Church, it is said, that Moses shewed them, and he called the Lord, the God of Abraham: Luke 20. 37.
Vers. 5. thy shooes] the putting off of shooes, was used for a signe of giving up ones right unto another, Deut. 25. 9. Ruth 4. 7. also for a signe of mourning and humiliation, Ezek. 24. 17. 23. 2 Sam. 15. 30. Esa. 20. 2…4. and consequently of sanctification before God; putting off uncleannesse, as the change and washing of other garments also signified, Gen. 35. 2. Ex. 19. 10. Eccles. 4. 17. Psal. 119. 101. Ephes. 6. 15. All which may be implied in this precept, that Moses in all humility and holinesse, should now resigne up him-selfe unto God, and service of him. The like was commanded Iosua, Ios. 5. 15. By Stephens relation, GOD had manifested himselfe by the words following in the next verse, before he commanded this thing: see Act. 7. 32. 33. From this precept unto Moses, the Iewes gathered a generall rule, that whosoever standeth in the holy place, must put off his shooes: Pirkei R. Eliezer. c. 40. So from that precept in Lev. 19. 30. yee shall reverence my sanctuary, they conclude, that this belongeth to the reverence of it, that no man come in there, with his shooes on his feet. Maimony in Beith habchirah (or Temple) c. 7. S. 1. 2 is holy ground] Hebr. it is ground of holinesse: sanctified by the presence and apparition of God, who maketh the heavens, earth, and places where his glory is revealed, to be holy, and reverently to respected of his people, Psal. 20. 7. and 48. 2. Ios. 5. 15. Gen. 28. 16. 17. 2 Chron. 8. 11. So the mount whereon Christ was transfigured, is called the holy mount, 2 Pet. 1. 18. Therefore death was threatned to all that came into the holy place of the tabernacle, where God appeared; except such, and so sanctified, as the law did appoint, Lev. 16. 2. 3. &c.
Vers. 6. I am] The word am, is added by the Holy Ghost, in Matth. 22. 32. though for brevity sake, it is omitted here in the Hebrew, and also in the Greeke, Mark. 11. 26. and often thorowout the Scriptures. thy father] the Holy Ghost expoundeth this, thy fathers: Act. 7. 32. and the words following confirme it. See Gen. 3. 2. God of Abraham] to whom the land of Canaan was first promised, Gen. 12. 1. 7. the affliction of his seed in Egypt; prophesied; and the deliverance from the same, now to be performed: Gen. 15. 13. 16. Exod. 3. 8. And because God is not the God of the dead but of the living, our Saviour from this speech proveth, that Abraham and others dead to the world; yet lived unto God, and their bodies should bee raised againe from the dead, Matth. 22. 31. 32. Luk. 20. 37. 38. hid] in Greeke, turned away: this hiding was in conscience of his owne infirmity, and of Gods majestie, so that Moses trembled and durst not behold; Act. 7. 32. Elias covered his face with his mantle, 1 King. 19. 13. and the Seraphims covered theirs with their wings, Esa. 6. 2. See also Iob 13. 20. Luk. 5. 8. Esa. 6. 5. to looke] so the Greeke also translateth it, referring it to the last word feared. It may also be Englished, from looking, or, that he might not looke, referring it to the former, he hid his face. For God, the Chaldee translateth, the glory of the Lord.
Vers. 7. seeing I have seene] that is, I have surely seene: the like phrase is in Gen. 2. 17. Gods seeing and hearing, implied a mercifull regard and pittying of their miserie: Psal. 106. 44. 45. Gen. 29. 32. therefore the people, when they understood this, gave thanks to God, Exod. 4. 31. Some of the Hebrewes (as the Zohar upon this place) expounded it thus: Seeing for the good of Israel; I have seene, for vengeance upon those that oppresse them. In this sense Zacharie said at his death, The Lord see it, and require it: 2 Chron. 24. 22. their taskemasters] or, his taskmaster; speaking of the people as of one man: see the notes on Gen. 22. 17. Taskmasters, here properly are Exactors; and is generally used for such as require and exact, either money, as in 2 King. 23. 35. or any debt, Deut. 15. 2. or otherwise doe oppresse any, Esa. 53. 7. Here the Greeke translateth it workmasters; the Chaldee, rulers. They figured spirituall tyrants also, from whom will deliver his people; Esa. 9. 4. and 14. 2. and 60. 17.
Vers. 8. am come downe] to wit, in this vision: as the Chaldee translateth, I doe appeare, (or, am revealed.) See Gen. 11. 5. them] Hebr. him: that is, the people. The Greeke translateth it them: so doth the Holy Ghost, in Act. 7. 34. the hand] that is, the power and dominion: as Gen. 16. 6. and 32. 11. So Christ came to deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, Luk. 1. 74. whereof this now was a type. milke and honey] under which, all other blessings are comprehended; there was no lacke of any thing, Deut. 8. 7. 8. 9. Of this country, see the notes on Gen. 12. 5. and as the land figured out a heavenly country; so milke and honey signified spirituall blessings in Christ, Song 4. 11. Psal. 19. 11. Esa. 55. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 2. This praise of the land, is often mentioned by this phrase, as in Exod. 13. 5. and 33. 3. Lev. 20. 24. Deut. 6. 3. and 11. 9. Ios. 5. 6. Ier. 11. 5. Ezek. 20. 6. And the Israelites upon the first view, acknowledged it so to be, Num. 13. …. and yeerely professed the same, by Gods co…nt, Deut. 26. 9. 15. Yet the rebellious despised it, and called Egypt, a land that floweth with milke and honey: Num. 16. 13. 14. Canaanite] that is, as the Greeke and Chaldee translate, Canaanites, Chethites, &c. See Gen. 10. 16. and 15. 20. So after, verse 17.
Vers. 10. send thee] The secret inspiration which Moses had before from God, (Exod. 2. 11. Acts 7. 25.) is here become an open calling and full commission; and hee whom the Israelites had refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and deliverer, by the hand of the Angel, which appeared to him in the bramble-bush: Act. 7. 35. This sending of Moses, is also mentioned as a merciemercy of God, Psal. 105. 26. Mich. 6. 4. Hos. 12. 13. unto Pharaoh] the Greeke addeth, king of Egypt: in Act. 7. 34. it is, I will send thee into Egypt. bring thou] in Greeke, thou shalt bring. See the notes on Gen. 20. 7.
Vers. 12. Certainly] or, Because I will be: the Chaldee saith, because my word shall be thine helpe. this] the present apparition of my glory in the bush, which thou seest: or, this, that followeth, ye shall serve God at this mount. The first was a signe to st engthen Moses in his businesse with Pharaoh, Exod. 5. 22. 23. the latter, to confirme him against the many rebellions of Israel, mentioned in Num. 11. 10. 11. 14. 15. Deut. 9. 22. 23. 24. at this] or, by this mount. This was fulfilled when at mount Sinai, the law being given, the tabernacle was made, and sacrifice and other service performed unto God, Exod. 19. and 25. &c. which being a mount in the wildernesse, in Arabia; the worshippers & children thereof were in bondage, as was Agar, and figured the old Testament and those under the same, by Moses law; Gal. 4. 24. 25. Now wee by Christ are not come thither, but unto mount Sion, where all the house of Israel, and all in the land are to serve the Lord: Heb. 12. 18. 22. Ezek. 20. 40. Rev. 14. 1.
Vers. 13. what is his name?] This may imply, after what manner, and to what end, God had now appeared; whether for merciemercy, or judgement. For God by names manifesteth his workes, as after appeareth in Exod. 6. 3. So the Hebrews teach (in Elle shemoth rabba upon this place) that when God judgeth his creatures, hee is called Elohim (God;) when he warreth against the wicked, hee is called Sabaoth (Lord of hosts;) when he doth merciemercy unto the world, he is called Iehovah; as in Exod. 34. 6. Iehovah, Iehovah, God mercifull and gracious.
Vers. 14. I am that I am] The Hebrew, Ehjeh asher ehjeh, properly signifieth I will bee that I will be: the Greek translateth, I am he that Is. And God is called, He that Is, that was, and that will bee, Rev. 16. 5. where this name Ehjeh, is opened, as also the name Iehovah, whereof see Gen. 2. 4. Exod. 6. 3. It implieth Gods eternall and unchangeable Being in himselfe (before whom, all nations are as nothing, Esa. 40. 17.) and the constant performing of all his words, to be now and for ever that which he was before, to Abraham, Isaak and Iakob: verse 15. So, Iesus Christ yesterday and to day, the same, and for ever: Heb. 13. 8. The Rabbines doe thus also explaine this name, in Elle shemoth rabba, upon this text. The blessed God said …to Moses. say … them, … have beene, and I the same now, and I the same … time to come, &c. I …,] or, I will be, hath sent, &c. The Chaldee paraphrase called Ionathans, giveth both expositions: I …e that was and hereafter will be, hath sent me unto you.
Vers. 15. my memoriall] or, the memoriall of mee that whereby I will be remembred and mentioned alwaies. To this the Prophets referre us, as in Hos. 12. 5. Iehovah God of hosts; Iehovah is his memoriall: and Iehovah thy name is for ever: Iehovah, thy memoriall, is to generation and generation, Ps. 135. 13. and 102. 13. and generation] or of generation; that is, all generations (or ages.) The Chaldee supplieth the word and (as the Hebrew elsewhere doth in Psal. 135. 13.) saying, to every generation and generation.
Vers. 16. Elders:] or Senatours: in Greeke the senate: such were not onelyonly aged men, but teachers and governours of the people, as among other nations: See Gen. 50. 7. By the Elders, things were orderly communicated with the multitude, as Exod. 12. 3. 21. and 19. 3. 7. visiting] the Greeke translateth, with visitation; that is, surely or carefully visited, and that in mercy; as Gen. 21. 1. Albeit from the word twise repeated, some of the Hebrewes gather a visitation in mercy concerning Israel; and a visitation in judgment, concerning the Egyptians, for their afflicting of Israel, (as was promised in Gen. 15. 14.) R. Menachem, on Exod. 3.
Vers. 17. Egypt] or, the Egyptians, as vers. 8. and as the Greeke translateth here. Canaanite] that is, Canaanites, Chethites, &c. See verse 8.
Vers. 18. met with us] that is, appeared unto us, and so called and commanded us to offer him sacrifice. Men are said to meet with God, by praier, and hee to meet them, by appearing and speaking unto them; as in Num. 23. 3. 4. 15. 16. where the Greek translateth it appeare. Here the Greeke version is, he hath called us, three dates journey] Hebr. three daies way. This was, to mount Horeb, where they should serve God, verse 12. which it seemeth was b… three daies journey from Egypt, had they gone the direct way: but because of troubles and feares, they were led about, Exod. 13. 17. 18. so that they came not thither till the third monethmonth, Exod. 19. 1. Of the mysterie of this number, three, see the notes on Gen. 22. 4. wildernesse:] the globe of the earth is of three parts, inhabited land, sea, and wildernesse; which is a place of wilde beasts, Mark. 1. 13. without inhabitant, without way to goe in, without water; even the shadow of death it selfe, Ier. 2. 6. Deut. 8. 15. Psal. 107. 4. 5. into such a place must Israel goe, because they might not sacrifice to God in Egypt, Exod. 8. 25. 26. Such was the place of Christs tentation 40 daies, Luk. 4. 1. 2. and of Israel… 40 yeeres, Deut. 8. 2. where God fed and guided them, as he did also the woman that fled into the wildernesse, from the presente of the serpent, Rev. 12. 14.
Vers. 1…. no not] Hebr. and not: meaning, though he should be s…tten with many plagues, yet hee would not let them goe willingly. Or and not, may … here for If not, that is, but by strong hand, as the Greeke here translateth it: the Chaldee also saith, but for strong feare. For tenne plagues were sent on Pharaoh, before hee would let them goe; Exod. 11. 1 So and, is put for if, in Exod. 4. 23. Num. 12. 14.
Vers. 20. my hand] the Chaldee saith, the plague of my strength; that is, my strong plague.
Vers. 21. grace] that is, favour▪ the Hebrew phrase is, the grace of this people; which the Greeke translateth, will give grace to this people, that is, will cause them to be favoured. The Chaldee saith, I will give this people to mercies: (as in Psal. 106. 46.) See the like in Gen. 39. 21. Exod. 11. 2.
Vers. 22. jewels] or, instruments vessels. Thus the promise made to Abraham in Gen. 15. 14. was now to be fulfilled. spoile] So Ezek. 39. 10. they shall spoile those that spoiled them.