Exodus 6:1 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

GOD'S FURTHER PATIENT PREPARATION

(vs.1-13)

The impatience of Moses and of the children of Israel could not hasten God to act out of impatience. He accomplished matters in His own wise way. He tells Moses, however, that he will see what God would do to Pharaoh, for not only would Pharaoh grudgingly let Israel go, but would use his power to drive them out of his land.

Moses needs reassuring, and God speaks to him of what He had repeated before, "I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but as Lord (Jehovah) I was not known to them." He is the same God who had proven faithful to the fathers of Israel, though they were not acquainted with the significance of His name "Lord" or "Jehovah." This is His name, not only in His great power and dignity, but in covenant relationship with His people, a God of goodness and compassion in dealing with the needs of Israel.

Connected with His name "Jehovah" therefore, He makes three assertions as to what He has done: (1) "I have also established My covenant;" (2) "I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel;"(3) "I have remembered My covenant" (vs.3-5). This is followed by seven "I wills." Because He is Jehovah, He says, (1) "I will bring you out;" (2) "I will rescue you;" (3) "I will redeem you; " (4) "I will take you to Me;" (5) "I will be to you a God;"(6) "I will bring you in;"(7) "I will give it (the land) to you" (vs.6-8). He concludes this as He had begun, "I am the Lord."

When Moses brought this message to Israel, however, they were so burdened with anguish that they were not disposed to listen (v.12). Thus also, when one is brought down with a painful conviction of his own guilt before God, he may feel there is really no hope for him in spite of the gospel being told him.

But God was not defeated. He gives Moses and Aaron a charge both for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh as to Israel's being brought out of Egypt (v.13).

LEVI CHOSEN FOR PRIESTHOOD

(vs.14-30)

Intervening at this place is a partial genealogy of the first three sons of Jacob. Reuben and Simeon are dismissed with only one verse dealing with each (vs.14-15). For Reuben speaks of the strength of the flesh (Genesis 49:3) which can have no place in the true service of God. Simeon stands for the cruelty and divisiveness of nature, which was shared by Levi also (Genesis 49:5-7), but Levi's name (meaning joined) seems to imply that in him evil was exposed and judged, specially since he had three sons, reminding us of resurrection, which is the only true basis of the fulfilment of God's covenant. These sons were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

The first son of Kohath was Aniram, who married Jochebed (vs.18-20), of whom Aaron and Moses were born. Others of the line of Levi are mentioned, then Aaron's wife and four sons (v.24), then his one grandson Phinehas also. The rest of the tribes of Israel are not considered here for God is focusing on the two chosen leaders of Israel, Moses and Aaron (vs.26-27). Verses 28-30 refer back to verses 10-12, 50 that the question of Moses there is answered in the beginning of Chapter 7

Related Commentaries of Exodus 6:1

Exodus 6:1-30

1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou 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.

2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:a

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

4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

7 And I will 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.

8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swearb to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguishc of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

12 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 uncircumcised lips?

13 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

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

17 The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.

18 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.

19 And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.

20 And Amram took him Jochebed 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, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

22 And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.

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

24 And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.

25 And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.

26 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 armies.

27 These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.

28 And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,

29 That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.

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