Ver. 1. Are these things so?] A Fire hearing Stephen should have, but his death was beforehand resolved on.
Ver. 2. The God of glory] Before whom seraphims (those heavenly salamanders) clap their two wings, as a double scarf, on their faces, as not able to bear his brightness, Isaiah 6:2; or as men are wont to clap their hands on their eyes, in a sudden flash of lightning. Sol reliqua sidera occultat, quibus et lumen suum faenerat, saith Pliny, ii. 6.
Ver. 3. Get thee out, &c.] Both Abraham’s great temptations began thus. [See Trapp on “Ge 12:1”] [See Trapp on “Ge 12:2”] [See Trapp on “Ge 12:3”] &c.
Ver. 5. No, not so much as] A holy proverb: Deuteronomy 2:5 “Even to the treading of the sole of the foot.” The first purchase that Abraham made was for a burial place.
Ver. 6. Four hundred years] Beginning at the birth of Isaac.
Ver. 7. And serve me in this place] Servati sumus ut serviamus, Luke 1:74. The redeemed (among the Romans) was to be at the service of the redeemer all his days.
Ver. 8-18. ] [See Trapp on “Ge 17:11”] [See Trapp on “Ge 37:28”] [See Trapp on “Ge 41:37”] [See Trapp on “Ge 42:1”] [See Trapp on “Ge 45:4”] [See Trapp on “Ge 45:16”] [See Trapp on “Ge 46:27”]
Ver. 19. Dealt subtilly] “Let us deal wisely,” saith he, Exodus 1:10 “subtilly,” saith this text, κατασοφισαμενος. The world’s wisdom is but subtilty, sophistry, fallacy. And God took this wizard in his own craftiness, 1 Corinthians 3:19; for your labouring men have the lustiest children.
Ver. 20. Exceeding fair] Passing pretty, a proper child, as the apostle hath it, Hebrews 11:23. Justin maketh mention of his beautiful personage; and by this, as by an instrument, God moved his parents first, and then the princess, to pity and preserve him. The Greek word αστειος, here rendered fair, signifies fine, trim, elegant, so as citizens are at the time when trimmed up in their bravery upon days of festivity.
Ver. 21. [See Trapp on “Ex 2:5”]
Ver. 22. And Moses was learned] See my Common Place of Arts. Lactantius saith of Tertullian, that he was in omni genere doctrinae peritus, skilful in all kinds of learning. Jerome saith of him, that his works contained cunctam seculi doctrinam, all the learning of the world; better may this be said of Moses and his writings.
Ver. 23. See Hebrews 11:24. [See Trapp on “Heb 11:24”] It came into his heart] sc. By an impulse of the Holy Spirit; for till then it seems he had slighted them; but now he began to be sick of the affliction of Joseph, whereby he was even broken to shivers, as the Hebrew word Shevarim signifies, Amos 6:6.
Ver. 24. And avenged him] Wherein haply he was too hasty to do justice before his time; which might cost him and cause him forty years’ exile in Midian.
Ver. 25. But they understood not] For by this time they through long and hard oppression (which makes even a wise man mad, Ecclesiastes 7:7) had well nigh forgotten the promise of deliverance out of Egypt; and having been born in hell (as the proverb is) they knew no other heaven.
Ver. 26. Sirs, ye are brethren] In this Egypt of the world, all unkind strifes should easily be composed, did we but remember that we are brethren.
Ver. 27. He that did the wrong] None so ready to except and exclaim, as the wrong doer; the patient replies not.
Ver. 28. Wilt thou kill me, &c.] If this Hebrew had been well pleased, Moses had not heard of his slaughter; now in choler all will out. If this man’s tongue had not thus cast him in the teeth with blood, he had been surprised by Pharaoh, ere he could have known the fact was known; now he grows jealous, flees and escapes. No friend is so commodious in some cases as an adversary.
Ver. 29. Then fled Moses] And by being banished, was the better fitted to be king in Jeshurun.
Ver. 30. See Exodus 3:2.
Ver. 31. He wondered at the sight] How many come to the ordinances to see and to be seen! they may hear that, with Moses here, that may do them good for ever.
Ver. 32. See Exodus 3:6.
Ver. 33. Put off thy shoes] Thy fleshly affections, and be wholly at my disposal, in the business whereabout I shall send thee.
Ver. 34. I have seen, I have seen] To my grief and regret. God is said to suffer in the sufferings of his people. The Father, Isaiah 63:9, the Son, Acts 9:4, the Holy Ghost, 1 Peter 4:14.
Ver. 35. By the hands] That is, by the authority and conduct. Hands are not here taken for service, but ruledom; and Christ is set above Moses, as Hebrews 3:5.