When Moses was grown— The event mentioned in this verse, must have happened many years after Moses was grown to man's estate. St. Stephen says, he was full forty years old, Acts 7:23. It seems to follow, from St. Stephen's account, that he was stirred up by some Divine impulse to visit his brethren, and to insinuate to them, that God, by him, would work their deliverance. It has been supposed, that the Egyptian, whom he slew through indignation at his brethren's wrongs, was one of the task-masters. It has been questioned how far the action of Moses was justifiable. Le Clerc observes, that as the Egyptian king authorised the oppression of the Israelites, it was fruitless to apply to him for redress of their grievances. The civil magistrate, who ought to have protected injured innocence, was himself become the oppressor; and, consequently, the society being degenerated into a confederacy in oppression and injustice, it was as lawful to use private force and resistance, as against a band of robbers and cut-throats. However, we are to remember, that the Divine Hand was in all this; and that thus the way was preparing for the grand deliverance of Israel from Egyptian oppression.
Related Commentaries of Exodus 2:11
Exodus 2:11
11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.