Ver. 1. Then the Lord said unto Moses.] Pardoning the faults of his prayer, God grants him a gracious answer. So he dealt with David, “For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heartiest the voice of nay supplication when I cried unto thee.” (Psalms 31:22)
Ver. 2. I am Jehovah.] Αυταυτος (Scaliger’s word); that do Press (Gregory’s word); that have being of myself, give being to all things else, and in special to my promises, to “perform with my hand” what I have “spoken with my mouth”; (1 Kings 8:15) only God expects that men put his promises in suit by their prayers, as here, and burden him with them, as that martyr said. Scalig., De Subtilit. Sic.—? Peresse; qui est per se.
Ver. 3. By the name of God Almighty.] [See Trapp on “Ge 17:1”] The sense is this, saith Cameron, Quantum illis sufficiebat tantum indulsit, non indulsit quod erat summum. He gave them enough, but not the main. But by my name JEHOVAH.] That is, by the import of this his name, the full performance of his promises. God was known to the patriarchs by this name Jehovah, quoad esse De, but not quoad esse rei. Camer, De Eccles.
Ver. 4. To give them the land of Canaan.] And a better thing with it, the kingdom of heaven. (Hebrews 11:10,16)
Ver. 5. I have also heard the groaning.] He heareth “the young ravens that cry” (Psalms 147:9) unto him but by implication only, and with a hoarse voice unfit to move pity (whence also they have their name in the Hebrew— ברע). How much more his own covenanters!
Ver. 6. And I will bring you out.] A great deliverance; but nothing to that which Christ hath wrought for us from the tyranny of sin and terror of hell.
Ver. 7. And I will be to you a God.] This is the top of any man’s happiness, to have God for his God. What can such a man want? (Psalms 23:1) As he in Plutarch said of the Egyptians, that though they had no music nor vines among them, yet they had gods. Plut., Συμπος.
Ver. 8. And I will bring you.]. [See Trapp on “Ex 5:4”]
Ver. 9. But they hearkened not.] The ear, which tastes words as the mouth doth meat, was so filled with choler, that they could relish no comfort. It is ill sowing in a storm, giving physic in a fever fit. The easiest medicines or waters are troublesome to sore eyes: so here. Quicquid recipitur, recipitur ad modum recipientis.
Ver. 10. And the Lord.] Whose “soul was now grieved for the misery of Israel,” as Judges 10:16. [See Trapp on “Jud 10:16”]
Ver. 11. Go in, speak unto Pharaoh.] “Whether he will hear, or whether he will forbear.” (Ezekiel 2:5) Speak when God bids us, though it may seem to little purpose: we have lost many a worse labour. The man of God “must be patient”—ανεξικακον, tolerant—“to all,” yea, to “those that oppose,” proving “if at any time God will give them repentance,” &c. (2 Timothy 2:25)
Ver. 13. And the Lord spake unto Moses.] Notwithstanding his former equivocation, and the people’s peevishness. Men’s wickedness cannot interrupt the course of God’s goodness.
Ver. 14. These be the heads.] This is a digression, to show the descent of Moses and Aaron. Digressions in divine discourses are not always and absolutely unlawful. God’s Spirit sometimes draws aside the doctrine, to satisfy some soul which the preacher knows not: and sparingly used, it quickeneth attention.
Ver. 15. The son of a Canaanitish woman,] Whom it was not lawful for him to marry; but he was a headlong and headstrong, bold and fierce fellow; (Genesis 34:25 49:7) bound by Joseph (Genesis 42:24) as one that had been most forward to sell him to the Midianitish merchants. Simeon also is left out in Moses’s blessing. (Deuteronomy 33)
Ver. 16. Of the sons of Levi.] Upon this family he insists, and therefore hastens to it. Speak ever to the purpose.
Ver. 20. Jochebed his father’s sister.] See Exodus 2:1.
Ver. 21. Korah.] That ringleader of rebels, Numbers 16:1. Moses and he were first cousins.
Ver. 23. Elisheba.] Or, Elizabeth, a prince’s sister. (Numbers 2:3) Our English Elizabeth was by a French duchess said to be the most glorious and most happy woman that ever swayed sceptre.
Ver. 24. And the sons of Korah.] There were of his sons, that died not, (Numbers 16:11) departing, as it seems, from their father’s tents, as all were counselled. (Numbers 16:24-26) Of them came Samuel the prophet, Heman the music master, and other the sons of Korah so oft mentioned in the titles of Psalms.
Ver. 25. These are the heads of the fathers of the Levites.] And particularly of Moses, concerning whose original, heathen writers, but especially Taeitus—whom therefore Tertullian calleth, mendsdorum loquacissimum, a loud and lewd liar—telleth many untruths. This “the Scripture foresaw,” as Galatians 3:8.
Ver. 26,27. These are that Aaron and Moses: And again, These are that Moses and Aaron.] That famous couple. This is better than “This is that Dathan,” (Numbers 26:9) and “This is that Ahaz.” (2 Chronicles 28:22) They are stigmatised with a mark of infamy: these are eternised for good, to all posterity.
Ver. 27. These are that Moses and Aaron.] Before it was Aaron and Moses. It made no matter which was first set: they had their several precellencies; but were so well agreed, that there was no striving for the pre-eminence. [See Trapp on “Ex 6:26”]
Ver. 29. That the Lord spake unto Moses.] Here, after the digression, as touching his own genealogy, Moses returns to the story left off at Exodus 6:13, as Rab. Solomon noteth.
Ver. 30. Of uncircumcised.] See Exodus 6:12”.