Bible Commentaries

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] God Almighty, but by my name ^a JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

(a) By which he signifies that he will perform indeed that which he promised to their fathers: for this name declares that he is constant and will perform his promise.

And I will ^b take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

(b) He means, concerning the outward calling, the dignity of which they lost later by their rebellion: but as for election to life everlasting, it is unchangeable.

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they p> p>

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hearkened {(c)} not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

(c) So hard a thing it is to show true obedience under the cross.

And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who [am] of ^d uncircumcised lips?

(d) Or barbarous and rude in speech and by this word

(uncircumcised) is signified the whole corruption of man's nature.

These [be] the heads ^e of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these [be] the families of Reuben.

(e) This genealogy shows whom Moses and Aaron came from.

And these [are] the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi [were] an hundred ^f thirty and seven years.

(f) For he was 42 years old when he came into Egypt and lived there 94 years.

And Amram took him Jochebed his ^g father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram [were] an hundred and thirty and seven years.

(g) This type of marriage was later forbidden in the law; (Leviticus 18:12).

And the sons of Izhar; ^h Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

(h) Moses and he were cousins, whose rebellion was punished in (Numbers 16:1).

And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of ⁱ Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

(i) Who was a prince of Judah, (Numbers 1:7).

These [are] that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their ^k armies.

(k) For their families were so great, that they might be compared to armies.

And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I [am] of ^l uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

(l) The disobedience both of Moses and of the people, shows that their deliverance came only from God's free mercy.