A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Exodus · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Verſ. 3. BƲt by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.]
This is not meant of the ſyllables and letters of theſe two names, as if the Patriarchs had n…ver heard of this name Jehovah, but onelyonly that of God Almightie (for the contrary is manifeſt, Gen. 22. 14. And Abraham called the name of that place, Jehovah-jireth, &c.) but it is meant of that which is ſignified by theſe names. This name Jehovah denoteth, both Gods eternall being in himſelf, and alſo his giving of being unto others, that is, the performance of his promiſes▪ and in regard of this he ſaith, that he was not known to their fathers by this name: They being ſuſtained by faith in Gods almightie power, reſted upon the promiſe, not enjoying the thing promiſed; but now to their children the promiſe ſhould be performed, and ſo they ſhould have full knowledge and experience of the efficacie of that name Jehovah. But withall we muſt know that this is onelyonly ſpoken comparatively: As the glorious miniſtration of the law is ſaid to have had no glory, in reſpect of the excellent glory of the Goſpel, 2. Cor. 3. 10. ſo the fathers are ſaid not to have known God by his name Jehovah in compariſon of that which their poſteritie knew.
Verſ. 9. But they hearkened not unto Moſes for anguiſh of ſpirit and for cruel bondage.]
That is, ſo grievous was the bondage and miſerie they lay under, and ſo oppreſſed they were with ſorrow by reaſon thereof, that they could not mind what Moſes ſaid to them, nor believe any thing that was ſpoken concerning their deliverance, as deeming their condition deſperate, and paſt hope of recoverie.
Verſ. 12. How then ſhall Pharaoh heare me who am of uncircumciſed lips?]
That is, if the Iſraelites would not regard what I ſaid to them, what hope can I have that Pharaoh ſhould mind my words, eſpecially conſidering that I am a man that have an imperfection in my ſpeech? for doubtleſſe it was with reſpect to his bad utterance that Moſes called himſelf a man of uncircumciſed lips. Becauſe circumciſion was with them the firſt badge of Gods people, and therefore thoſe that were not circumciſed were counted profane, and their uncircumciſion was counted a grievous blemiſh; hence it was that in a figurative kind of ſpeech they called thoſe things that had any naturall or morall blemiſh uncircumciſed, as a heart a mind or tongue uncircumciſed.
Verſ. 14. Theſe be the heads of their fathers houſes.]
Moſes his chief intention is no doubt to ſhew the naturall ſtock of himſelf and Aaron, that he was a true Iſraelite, of the tribe of Levi, though he was brought up in Pharaohs court, and afterward …led into the land of Midian; yet for order ſake he begins firſt with the children of Reuben and Simeon, Levies elder brethren.
Verſ. 16. And the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirtie and ſeven years.]
This expreſſe mention of their age is of great uſe in Chronologie, eſpecially for the opening of that ſpeech concerning Iſraels peregrination. Exod. 12. 40. The ſojourning of the Children of Iſrael who dwelt in Egypt was foure hundred a…d thirtie years. It is evident in the 30. chapter of Geneſis that Joſeph was not above foure years younger then Levi. If therefore Joſeph was 39 years old when Jacob went down into Egypt (as may be clearly gathered from Gen. 41. 46. becauſe Joſeph was thirtie years old when he ſtood before Pharaoh, and when the ſeven yea…s of plentie were gone, and two years of the famine, then Jacob came down into Egypt) conſequently Levi was then three and fourtie years old; and ſince he lived, as it is here ſaid, an hundred thirtie and ſeven years, it muſt needs follow that he lived in Egypt ninetie and foure years, or thereabouts.