E5��G��4:29,30. Communication to the elders. �����H��4:31.��Result-belief and worship. ����G��5:1-3. Communication to Pharaoh. �����H��5:4-6:1. Result-unbelief and oppression.
�29:� And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the sons of Israel:
�30:� And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord (Yahaveh) had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the People.
�31:� And the People believed (cp. 4:1,8; 3:18): and when they heard that the Lord (Yahaveh) had visited the sons of Israel (see Gen.50:24,25 and Ex.2:24,25. Cp. 6:6, "redeem", with Luke 1:68), and that He had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
5)
1491 B.C.
�1:� And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh (This was in Zoan, cp. Ps.78:12,13, where Pharaoh had his palace. It could not have been written in Babylon, for there the kings were not seen, and were hidden behind their ministers. Here, in Egypt, the king was his own minister, and could be easily approached. Cp. 3:10), "Thus says Yahaveh Elohim (Lord God) of Israel, 'Let My People go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.' " (Note Yahaveh's sixfold demand and Pharaoh's sixfold objection:-
�����I. "Thus says Yahaveh Elohim"-5:1.
������1. "Who is Yahaveh?"-5:2. Question occ. only here)
�����II. "Let My People go"-5:1.
������2. "Go. Sacrifice in the Land"-8:25.
�����III. "We will go 3 days jorney into the wilderness"-8:27.
������3. "Go, only not very far away"-8:28.
�����IV. "Let My People go"-10:3.
������4. "Who are they that shall go?"-10:8.
�����V. All must go-10:9.
������5. Not so. Men, but no children or flocks-10:11
������6. Go. Children, but no flocks-10:24.
�����VI. Flocks too: "we kow not...till" &c.-10:25,26.)
�2:� And Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord (Yahaveh) (note the repitition of Pharaoh's "I" answered by Yahaveh's "I" 18 times in 6:1-8. #18=bondage), that I should obey His voice (put for commands uttered by it) to let Israel go? I know not the Lord (Yahaveh), neither will I let Israel go."
�3:� And they said, The God (Elohim) of the Hebrews has met with us (cp.3:2-10): let us go, we pray you, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice to the Lord (Yahaveh) our God (Elohim); lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword."
H��I��5:4-9. Pharaoh's order given. �����K��5:10-14. Evil case. ������L��5:16,16. Complaint: To Pharaoh. �������M��5:17. Answer. ����I��5:18. Pharaoh's order repeated. �����K��5:19. Evil case. ������L��5:20-23. Complaints: To Moses,20,21. By �����������������������Moses,22,23. �������M��6:1. Answer.
�4:� And the king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, hinder the people from their works? you get to your burdens."
�5:� And Pharaoh said, "Behold, the People of the land now are many, and you make them rest from their burdens."
�6:� And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters (=the chiefs of tribute) of the People, and their officers (=scribes, who kept account of work done), saying,
�7:� "You shall no more give the people straw to make brick (=tebn, an Egyptian word for chaff, or chopped straw; not our Eng. stubble), as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
�8:� And the tale (number=) of the bricks, which they did make before this time, you all shall lay upon them; you all shall not diminish any thereof (the suffix is Masc. and refers to the people, ="diminish your exactions from them"): for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our Elohim.'
�9:� Let there be more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words." (Man's estimation of Divine revelation)
�10:� And the chiefs of tribute of the People went out, and their scribes (Hebrews), and they spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I will not give you straw.
�11:� Go you all, get you straw where you all can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.' "
�12:� So the People were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather reeds instead of straw. (Shown in Egyptian pictures on the monuments)
�13:� And the chiefs of tribute hurried them, saying, "Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw."
�14:� And the scribes of the sons of Israel, which Pharaoh's chiefs of tribute had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Why have you all not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?"
�15:� Then the scribes of the sons of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal thus with your servants?
�16:� There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, 'Make brick:' and, behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."
�17:� But he said, "You all are idle, you all are idle: therefore you all say, 'Let us go and do sacrifice to Yehovah.'
�18:� Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you all deliver the tale of bricks."
�19:� And the scribes of the sons of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, "You all shall not diminish any from your bricks of your daily task."
�20:� And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
�21:� And they said to them, "the Lord (Yahaveh) look upon you, and judge; because you have made our savour to be abhorred (=to be stink) in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us."
�22:� And Moses returned to the Lord (Yahaveh), and said, "Lod (Yahaveh), why have You so suffered to be evil entreated to this People? why is it that You have sent me? (We, like Moses, are full of similar questions, to our sin and sorrow. See 4:21)
�23:� For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has suffered to be evil to this People; neither have You delivered Your People at all."
6)
�1:� Then the Lord (Yehovah) said to Moses, "Now shall you see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land."
E6��N���6:9-13. Commission and first results. ������O���6:14-27. Moses and Aaron. Gathering the "heads". ����N���6:28-7:5. Commission repeated. �����O���7:6,7. Moses and Aaron. Obedience and age. ����N���7:8-13. Commission and credentials. �����O���7:14-10:29. Moses and Aaron. Nine plagues ����������������������ineffectual. ����N4��11:1-12:30. Commission. Tenth plague effectual.
N���a��9-11. Mission. �����b��12-. Failure, alleged. �����b��-12.Failure, anticipated. ����a��13. Mission.
�9:� And Moses spoke so to the sons of Israel: but they listened not to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
�10:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) spoke to Moses, saying, (Heb. davar. This expression occurs in Ex. 20 "sundry times" and 7 "divers manners". Cp. 3:7. Lev.1:1. Num.1:1:-
�����I. To Moses alone, 13:1; 30:11,17,22,34; 31:1; 40:1.
�����II. To Moses to speak to Aaron, 7:19; 8:5.
�����III. To Moses to the sons of Israel, 14:1; 16:11; 25:1; 31:12.
�����IV. To Moses to speak to Pharaoh, 6:10,29; 8:1.
�����V. To Moses and Aaron, 7:8.
�����VI. To Moses and Aaron to speak to the congregation of ����������Israel, 12:1.
�����VII. To Moses and Aaron to give a charge to the sons �����������of Israel, and to Pharaoh, 6:13)
�11:� "Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land."
�12:� And Moses spoke before the Lord (Yahaveh), saying, "Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me;
how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who is of uncircumcised lips?"
�13:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
O���14-16. Sons of Israel (Reuben, Sineon, Levi). ����17-19. Sons of Levi (Gershom, Kohath, Merari). ����20-27. Sons of Kohath.
�14:� These are the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these are the families of Reuben.
�15:� And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.
�16:� 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 thirty and seven years. (Levi died 23 years after Joseph, 41 years before Moses[1612 B.C].
�17:� The sons of Gershon; Libni (=white), and Shimi, (=renowned) according to their families.
�18:� And the sons of Kohath; Amram (=an exalted people), and Izhar (=oil), and Hebron (=alliance), and Uzziel (=my strength is God): and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.
�19:� And the sons of Merari; Mahali (=sick) and Mushi (=yielding): these are the families of Levi according to their generations.
�20:� And Amram took him Jochebed (=whose glory is Yehovah, see Num.26:59) his 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.
�21:� And the sons of Izhar; Korah (=baldness), and Nepheg (=sprout), and Zichri (=memorable).
�22:� And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael (=who is what God is?), and Elzaphan (=whom God protects), and Zithri (=protection of Yahaveh).
�23:� And Aaron took him Elisheba (=God is her oath), daughter of Amminadab (=one of the prince's people), sister of Naashon (=enchanter), to wife; and she bare him Nadab (=liberal), and Abihu (=he, God, is my father), Eleazar (help of God), and Ithamar (=land of palms).
�24:� And the sons of Korah; Assir (=captive), and Elkanah (=God provided. The ancestor of Samuel. Cp. 1 Sam.1:24 and Num.26:11 &c.), and Abiasaph (=father of gathering, i.e. gathered): these are the families of the Korhites.
�25:� And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel (=contempt of God) to wife; and she bare him Phinehas (=mouth of brass): these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.
�26:� These are that Aaron and Moses (the order according to age and genealogy, see v.27), to whom Yahaveh said, "Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies."
�27:� These are they which spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron. (The order according to God's choice, see v.26.)
N2��c��6:28,29. Mission. �����d��6:30. Excuse-ineloquence. ����c��7:1-5. Mission.
1491 B.C.
�28:� And it came to pass on the day when Yahaveh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,
�29:� That the Lord (Yahaveh) spoke to Moses, saying, "I am the Lord (Yahaveh): you speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you."
�30:� And Moses said before the Lord (Yahaveh), "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?"
�6:� And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord (Yahaveh) commanded them, so did they.
�7:� And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
N���e��8,9. Command for miracle. �����f��10. Result. Obedience. ����e��11,12. Imitation of miracle. �����f��13. Result. Obduracy.
�8:� And the Lord (Yehovah) spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
�9:� "When Pharaoh shall speak to you, saying, 'Show a miracle for you' (="show us a sign"): then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod, and cast it before Pharaoh,' and it shall become a serpent (wrong translation, should be crocodile=Heb. thaunin )."
�10:� And Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord (Yahaveh) had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a crocodile.
�11:� Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers (Two sets of men mentioned. Pharaoh "called for the wise men, and for the magicians--and these also [the scribes of Egypt] did in like manner wth their secret arts". Two of these name by the Holy Spirit in 2 Tim.3:8, "Jannes and Jambres"): now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
�12:� For they cast down every man their rod, and they became crocodiles: but Aaron's rod (Fig. Ampliatio. The rod still called a rod, though it became a crocodile) swallowed up their rods. (And thus inflicted the first blow on the gods of Egypt.)
�13:� And He hardened Pharaoh's heart (Heb. here is "Pharaoh's heart was hardened", see 4:21), that he listned not to them; as the Lord (Yehovah) had said.
O���P���7:14-25. First Plague (Blood). Warning. �����Q���8:1-15. Second Plague (Frogs). Warning. ������R���8:16-19. Third Plague (Lice). No warning. ����P���8:20-32. Fourth Plague (Flies). Warning. �����Q���9:1-7. Fifth Plage (Murrain). Warning. ������R���9:8-12. Sixth Plague (Boils). No warning. ����P���9:13-35. Seventh Plague (Hail). Warning. �����Q���10:1-20. Eighth Plague (Locusts). Warning. ������R���10:21-27. Ninth Plague (Darkness). No warning.
(It will be noticed that the number 9 is connected with judgement, and that the 3rd plague of each 3 sets is without warning. To make the symmetry complete, Aaron was used in the infliction of the first 3, and Moses of the last 3.)
P���g��14-18. Liberation demanded (warning). �����h��19-21. Plague inflicted. ����g��22-. Plague imitated. �����h��-22-25. Liberation refused.
�14:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuses to let the People go.
�15:� You get to Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent (see Gen.3:1 and insert there) shall you take in your hand.
�16:� And you shall say to him, 'the Lord GodY(ahaveh Elohim) of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, 'Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness:' and, behold, up to this time you would not hear.
�17:� Thus says the Lord (Yahaveh), 'In this you shall know that I am the Lord (Yahaveh): behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river (probably the Nile canals), and they shall be turned to blood.
�18:� And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.' "
�19:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your rod, and stretch out your hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams (=the canals), upon their rivers (=the seven streams of the Delta), and upon their ponds (=lakes where reeds grow), and upon all their pools of water (=resevoirs of water), that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels (=channels) made of wood, and in channels made of stone."
�20:� And (9 "ands" vv.20,21. #9=judgement) Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord (Yahaveh) commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river (This first plague was directed against the Nile, an object of worship, which was thus polluted, and became a means of pollution to the people. Cp. 12:12), in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
�21:� And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
�22:� And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments (evidently from the water referred to in v.24):
and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he listen to them; as the Lord (Yahaveh) had said.
�23:� And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
�24:� And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
�25:� And seven days were fulfilled, after the Lord (Yehovah) had smitten the river.
Q���i��1-4. Liberation demanded (warning). �����k��5,6. Plague inflicted. �����k��7. Plague imitated. ����i��8-15. Liberation refused.
�5:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch forth your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.' "
�6:� And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
�7:� And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
�8:� Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Intreat the Lord (Yehovah), that He may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the People go, that they may do sacrifice to the Lord (Yahaveh)."
�9:� And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Explain yourself to me: when shall I intreat for you, and for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only?"
�10:� And he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "Be it according to your word: that you may know that there is none like unto the Lord (Yahaveh) our God (Elohim).
�11:� And the frogs shall depart from you, and from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people; they shall remain in the river only." (Note the "ands" = the completeness of the removal)
�12:� And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried to Yahaveh because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.
�13:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
�14:� And they gathered them together in many great heaps: and the land stunk.
�15:� But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not to them; as the Lord (Yahaveh) had said. (cp. 4:21)
R���l��16. Yahaveh's command given (no warning). �����m��17. Pague inflicted. �����m��18,19-. Imitation abortive. ����l��-19. Yahaveh's prophecy fulfilled.
�16:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice (=mosquito gnats) throughout all the land of Egypt.' " (Note that this 3rd plague, like the 6th and 9th, falls without warning.)
�17:� And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became mosquito gnats in mankind, and in beast; all the dust of the land became mosquito gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.
�18:� And the magicians attepted to do so with their enchantments to bring forth mosquito gnats, but they could not (not because a question of life, for the frogs had life. God suffered them to do so in the former case to show the limits of their power; and by contrast, to show that His power was unlimited): so there were mosquito gnats upon mankind, and upon beast.
�19:� Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God (Elohim)" (notice the Egyptians say "god", not Yehovah):
and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he listen not to them; as the Lord (Yahaveh) had said. (Cp. 4:11. Yahaveh, because in connection with His Word)
P���n��20-23. Liberation demanded (warning). �����o��24. Plague inflicted. �����o��25-31. Plague removed. ���n��32. Liberation refused.
(This plague was a severe blow to all idolatrous worship and worshippers. Cleanliess was imperative. For this cause the priest wore linen, and shaved daily. Moreover, it was destined to destroy the worship of Beelzebub, the god of flies, and to manifest his impotence.)
�20:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he comes forth to the water; and say to him, 'Thus saith the Lord (Yehovah), 'Let my people go, that they may serve Me.
�21:� Else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon you (Ellipsis supplied. But should not thus be limited. Heb. root shows that they were mixed: all sorts of insects), and upon your servants, and upon your people, and into your houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
�22:� And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am the Lord (Yahaveh) in the midst of the earth.
�23:� And I will put a division between My people and your people: tomorrow shall this sign be.' " (See 6:6 and 13:13. This is it which makes the division between those who are the Lord's People and those who are not. It is the Fig. Metonymy [of subject] by which the redemption is put for the judgement which was the sign of it. Cp. Ps.111:9; 130:7)
�24:� And the Lord (Yehovah) did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted (=laid waste) by reason of the swarm of flies.
�25:� And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, "Go you all, sacrifice to your God (Elohim) in the land." (Pharaoh's objection to Yehovah's second demand. Note Moses' reply, and the spiritual lesson as to our worship today. See 5:1)
�26:� And Moses said, "It is no proper place so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians (put for sacrificing cattle, which was abominated by the Egyptians) to the Lord (Yahaveh) our God (Elohim): lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?
�27:� We will go three days' journey into the wilderness (#3 = the number of Divine perfection. Yahaveh's 3rd demand. See 5:1), and sacrifice to Yahaveh our Elohim, as he shall command us."
�28:� And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you all may sacrifice to God (Elohim) your the Lord (Elohim) in the wilderness; only you all shall not go very far away: intreat for me." (Pharaoh's objection to Yahaveh's 3rd demand, v.25. Note the spiritual lesson as to our worship today, see 5:1)
�29:� And Moses said, "Behold, I go out from you, and I will intreat the Lord (Yahaveh) that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the People go to sacrifice to the Lord (Yehovah)."
�30:� And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord (Yahaveh).
�31:� And the Lord (Yahaveh) did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
�32:� And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the People go.