Exodus 6

Chapters Exodus 6:2 to Exodus 7:13 The second account (P) of the call and commission of Moses God, who had been known to the patriarchs as El Shaddai, reveals Himself to Moses as Jehovah (Yahweh), and bids him tell the Israelites that He has resolved to deliver them from their bondage, to make them His people, and to bring them into the land promised to their forefathers (Exodus 6:2-8). The people, hopeless and disheartened, refuse to listen to him (Exodus 6:9). He and Aaron are then commanded to demand the release of the people from the Pharaoh: upon his pleading his inability to speak, Aaron is appointed to be his spokesman with the king (Exodus 6:10-13; Exodus 6:28-30, Exodus 7:1-2). But God will harden the Pharaoh’s heart, that he will not listen to their request, and that he may be made to see and feel His might (Exodus 7:3-7). Moses and Aaron are empowered to work a portent, as a credential of their mission; but it is imitated by the Egyptian magicians, and the Pharaoh remains obdurate (Exodus 7:8-13). The narrative is interrupted by a genealogy of Moses and Aaron, Exodus 6:14-27. The phraseology of this narrative shews that it is derived from P; its contents shew that it does not describe the sequel of Exo 3:1 to Exodus 6:1, but is parallel to it, and that it gives a partly divergent account of the commission of Moses, and of the preliminary steps taken by him to secure the release of the people This will be apparent if the narrative be followed attentively, Exodus 3:1 to Exodus 6:1 describes the call and commission of Moses, the nomination of Aaron as his spokesman with the people, and three signs given to him for the satisfaction of the people, if they should demand his credentials. Moses and Aaron have satisfied the people (Exodus 4:30-31), but their application to the Pharaoh has proved unsuccessful (ch. 5), and something further is threatened (Exodus 6:1). The continuation of Exo 6:1 is, however, Exodus 7:14 : Exodus 6:1 to Exodus 7:13 is a parallel narrative of Moses’ call and commission, in which, unlike Exodus 4:31, the people refuse to listen to him (Exodus 6:9), and in which, upon Moses’ protesting his inability to plead, not, as in Exodus 4:10-16, with the people, but with the Pharaoh, Aaron is appointed to be his spokesman with him (Exodus 6:11-12; Exodus 6:29-30, Exodus 7:1-2). If the Pharaoh had already refused to hear him (as he would have done, had ch. 5–6 formed a continuous narrative), it is scarcely possible that Moses should allege (Exo Exodus 6:12) a different, à priori ground,—a ground, moreover, inconsistent with Exodus 4:31,—for his hesitation. The parallelism of details which prevails between the two narratives is remarkable: comp. Exodus 6:2-8 and Exodus 3:6-8; Exodus 3:14-15; Exodus 6:12 b (= 30) and Exo Exodus 4:10; Exodus 7:1 and Exodus 4:16; Exodus 7:4 f. and Exodus 3:19 f., Exodus 6:1.

Exodus 6:1

Exodus 6:1. Jehovah’s reply. He calms Moses with the assurance that he will now shortly see what will happen to the Pharaoh: he will soon not merely be willing to let the Israelites go, but will be eager to drive or thrust them (Exodus 11:1, Exodus 12:39) from his land. by a strong hand] compelled by the strong hand of Jehovah; cf. Exodus 3:19.

Exodus 6:2-8

2–8. God, who had appeared to the patriarchs as El Shaddai, reveals Himself to Moses by His name Yahweh; and bids him tell the Israelites that, having heard their groanings in bondage, He has resolved to fulfil the covenant made with the patriarchs, to deliver them from their sufferings, to make them His people, and to bring them into the land promised to their forefathers.

Exodus 6:4

4. I also established] without ‘have,’ the reference being to Genesis 17:7. Established means ‘set up,’ ‘concluded,’ not ‘gave effect to’: to ‘establish a covenant’ is a standing expression in P, Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9; Genesis 9:11; Genesis 9:17; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 17:19; Genesis 17:21 (elsewhere, in the same sense, only Ezekiel 16:60; Ezekiel 16:62). P never uses the ordinary Heb. expression, ‘cut a covenant’ (Exodus 23:32, Exodus 24:8, Exodus 34:19, &c.). my covenant] The covenant concluded with Abraham in Genesis 17:1-2; Genesis 17:7-8 (P) that, if Abraham walked blamelessly before God, He would multiply him, be a God to him and his seed after him, and give to his descendants the land of their sojournings, Canaan (cf. Genesis 28:4; Genesis 35:12,—both also P). the land of their sojournings] Genesis 17:8; Genesis 23:4; also Genesis 36:7; Genesis 37:1 (all P), Genesis 20:38†.

Exodus 6:5-8

5–8. And now He has heard the groanings of the patriarchs’ descendants in their bondage (v. 5); and bids Moses tell them that He is Yahweh, and as such will deliver them from Egypt (v. 6), will make them His people (v. 7), and bring them into the land promised to their fathers (v. 8).

Exodus 6:6

6. the burdens] Exodus 1:11, Exodus 2:11, Exodus 5:4-5. rid] an archaism for deliver (A.S. hreddan, to snatch away; Germ. retten, to deliver). So in AV. Genesis 37:22, Psalms 82:4 (RV. in both deliver); Psalms 144:7; Psalms 144:11 (RV. rescue); and in PBV. of the Psalms, Psalms 18:49; Psalms 71:1. bondage] Exodus 2:23; rendered ‘service’ in Exodus 1:14 (twice). redeem] The proper sense of the Heb. gâ’al is to resume a claim or right which has lapsed, to reclaim, re-vindicate: it is thus used Leviticus 25:25 ff. of the ‘redemption’ of a house or field, after it has been sold (cf. Jeremiah 32:7-8), and in the expression, the ‘avenger (gô’çl) of blood,’ properly the one who vindicates the rights of a murdered man: it is also often used metaphorically of deliverance from oppression, trouble, death, &c., as here, Exodus 15:13, Genesis 48:16, Hosea 13:14, Psalms 103:4, and especially in II Isaiah, of Yahweh’s reclaiming His people from exile in Babylon, Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 43:1, &c. On the syn. pâdâh, see on Exodus 13:13. a stretched out arm] not again till Deuteronomy 4:34. Six times in Dt. (usually with ‘a mighty hand’), and sometimes also besides. Cf. the verb in Exodus 7:5; also Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 9:12; Isaiah 9:17; Isaiah 9:21; Isaiah 10:4; Isaiah 14:26-27. judgements] Not the usual word. Exodus 6:6; Exodus 7:4; Exodus 12:12, Numbers 33:4 in P; 10 times in Ez. (e.g. Exodus 5:10; Exodus 5:15); and twice besides.

Exodus 6:7

7. and I will take you to me for a people] to be owned by Me, and enjoy My protection. The thought, as Exodus 19:5 (J), Deu_Exodus 26:18; cf. also Deuteronomy 29:13. The common expression is ‘and ye (or they) shall be to me a people,’ Jeremiah 7:23, Ezekiel 11:20 (and often in Jer. Ez.); Zech. 2:15, 8:8; Leviticus 26:12 (H). and I will be to you a God] to be revered by you, and also to be your all-powerful leader, protector, and benefactor. The correlative of the last expression: cf. Genesis 17:7-8, Exodus 29:45, Leviticus 11:45; Leviticus 22:33; Leviticus 25:38; Leviticus 26:45, Numbers 15:41 (all P or H); and together with that expression, Leviticus 26:12 (H), Deuteronomy 26:17; Deuteronomy 29:13, Jeremiah 7:23, Ezekiel 11:20 (and often in Jer. Ez.), Zechariah 8:8. and ye shall know, &c.] learn by what you witness and experience that I am Jehovah, your Deliverer; so Exodus 7:5; Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:18; Exodus 16:12; Exodus 29:46 (all P); cf. Exodus 31:13 b (H), and Exodus 10:2. Sentences of the type, ‘and ye (they, thou) shall know (viz. by some signal and impressive manifestation of power) that I am Yahweh,’ are extremely common in Ezek., a prophet who in other respects also displays many literary affinities with P, as Exodus 6:7; Exodus 6:10; Exodus 6:13-14, Exodus 7:4; Exodus 7:9, &c. (more than 50 times altogether): comp. LOT. p. 266 f. (ed. 6–8, p. 295).

Exodus 6:8

8. lifted up my hand] i.e. sware; the expression being derived from the custom of raising the hand to heaven when taking an oath. So Numbers 14:30 (P), Deuteronomy 32:40 (the Song); and esp. in Ezekiel 20:5-6; Ezekiel 20:15; Ezekiel 20:23; Ezekiel 20:28; Ezekiel 20:42; Ezekiel 36:7; Ezekiel 47:14; Psalms 106:26 (misrendered in PBV. ‘against’). Also, with a different verb for ‘lift up,’ Genesis 14:22. The reference is no doubt to Genesis 24:7 J (cf. Exodus 15:18 J). heritage] not the usual word (naḥ ?ãlâh), but môrâshâh: elsewhere only Deuteronomy 33:4 (the Blessing), and in Ezekiel 11:15; Ezekiel 25:4; Ezekiel 25:10; Ezekiel 33:24; Ezekiel 36:2-3; Ezekiel 36:5. I am Yahweh] a solemn asseverative formula, closing a Divine utterance. It occurs with remarkable frequency in the ‘Law of Holiness’ (Leviticus 17-26), as Leviticus 18:5; Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 19:12; Leviticus 19:14; Leviticus 19:16; Leviticus 19:18, &c.; sometimes also elsewhere in P, Exodus 12:12; Exodus 29:46 (with the addition of ‘their God’), Numbers 3:13; Numbers 3:41; Numbers 3:45. It is never found in J or E.

Exodus 6:9

9. Moses communicates the Divine message to the Israelites; but they are too much disheartened and demoralized by their sufferings to pay heed to it, or credit it. hearkened not] according to Exodus 4:31 (J), the people listened to Moses gladly. for impatience] the marg. is right; promises of deliverance had no meaning for them; they repelled them with impatience. See, with the corresponding verb or adj., Job 21:4 RV., Proverbs 14:29 b Heb., Micah 2:7 RVm.; and with ‘soul’ for ‘spirit,’ Numbers 21:4 RVm., Judges 10:16 Heb. Judges 16:16 Heb. The opposite is ‘long of spirit,’ i.e. patient, Job 6:11 RV. (lit. ‘make long my spirit’), Ecclesiastes 7:8. cruel (lit. hard) bondage] The same expression which in Exodus 1:14 (see the note) is rendered hard service (where slaves are referred to, ‘service’ and ‘bondage’ are naturally identical).

Exodus 6:10-13

10–13. Moses is bidden to demand of the Pharaoh the release of the Israelites. He objects that, if his own people have not listened to him (v. 9), much less will the Pharaoh do so.

Exodus 6:11

11. In P (cf. Exodus 7:2) an unconditional release of the people is asked for, not merely (as in J: see on Exodus 3:18 and Exodus 4:23) a temporary one, to hold a three days’ feast in the wilderness.

Exodus 6:12

12. In Exodus 4:10 (J) Moses urges his inability to persuade the people; here he urges that the Pharaoh is not likely to listen to him. of uncircumcised lips] i.e. lips closed in, which open and speak with difficulty. Cf. the same expression of the heart, when it is (in a figurative sense) closed in, and so impervious to good impressions (Leviticus 26:41, Jeremiah 9:26, Ezekiel 44:7; Ezekiel 44:9), and of the ear, when it is, metaphorically, in a similar condition, and hears imperfectly (Jeremiah 6:10). In substance, the meaning is the same as that of J’s ‘slow’ (lit. ‘heavy’) of mouth and tongue (Exodus 4:10 b). The answer to v. 12 does not follow till Exodus 7:1, where the way is prepared for it by the repetition in substance of vv. 10–12 in vv. 28–30.

Exodus 6:13

13. A summary statement, unconnected with v. 12, of the commission given to Moses and Aaron in vv. 2–6. The verse comes in abruptly; for Aaron has not in this connexion been mentioned before. No doubt, it is an addition of the compiler who inserted the genealogy, vv. 14–27 (the main object of which is to explain who Moses and Aaron were), and who intended this verse to introduce it.

Exodus 6:14-27

14–27. Genealogies are frequent in P (Genesis 5, 11, Genesis 25:12-16, Genesis 46:8-27, &c.); and here, at his first mention of Moses and Aaron, he is careful to define their position among the descendants of Jacob: they belonged to the tribe of Levi, which claimed descent from Jacob’s third son, Levi, and the particulars about the descendants of the two elder sons, Reuben and Simeon (vv. 14b–15), are introduced merely for the purpose of leading up to Levi, about which tribe more circumstantial particulars are given (vv. 16–25). The particulars in vv. 14, 15, 16a are identical with those given in the list of Jacob’s descendants who came down into Egypt, Genesis 46:9-11.

Exodus 6:15

15. See Genesis 46:10, Numbers 26:12 f. The clan Shaul must have had in it an admixture of Canaanite blood.

Exodus 6:16

16a. See Genesis 46:11, Numbers 26:57. Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the reputed ancestors of the corresponding clans, who, according to Numbers 3:21-33, 1 Chronicles 23:6 ff., and other late passages, exercised menial duties in connexion with the sanctuary. according to their generations (lit. begettings)] referring specially to their ages. So v. 19 (cf. Exodus 28:10), Genesis 10:32; Genesis 25:13 (all P), 1 Chronicles 5:7; 1 Chronicles 7:2; 1 Chronicles 7:4; 1 Chronicles 7:9; 1 Chronicles 8:28; 1 Chronicles 9:9; 1 Chronicles 9:34; 1 Chronicles 26:31. The word, in whatever connexion, is found only in P, Rth 4:18, and Chronicles. 16b. The age of Levi is not mentioned elsewhere.

Exodus 6:17-19

17–19. The sons of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Exodus 6:18

18. Amram, Izhar, &c.] Cf. Numbers 3:19, 1 Chronicles 6:2; 1 Chronicles 6:18; and for families regarded as descended from them, Numbers 3:27, 1 Chronicles 15:9-10; 1 Chronicles 23:18-20; 1 Chronicles 24:22-24; 1 Chronicles 26:23.

Exodus 6:19

19. Maḥ ?li and Mushi] Cf. Numbers 3:20; Numbers 3:33, 1 Chronicles 6:19.

Exodus 6:20-25

20–25. The descendants of Kohath’s sons.

Exodus 6:21

21. The family of Kohath’s second son, Izhar. Koraḥ ?] Moses’ and Aaron’s cousin: Numbers 16:1 ff. Nepheg and Zichri are not mentioned again.

Exodus 6:22

22. The family of Kohath’s fourth son, Uzziel. The family of his third son, Hebron, is passed by; presumably, though Hebronites are mentioned elsewhere (see on v. 18), there were no separate families which traced their descent to him. Mishael and Elzaphan] cousins of Moses and Aaron. See Leviticus 10:4; for Elzaphan, also, Numbers 3:30 (‘Elizaphan’), 1 Chronicles 15:8, 2 Chronicles 29:13.

Exodus 6:23-25

23–25. Of two of Kohath’s grandchildren, Aaron and Koraḥ ?, some further descendants are enumerated,—no doubt, on account of their later prominence in the history.

Exodus 6:24

24. Koraḥ ?’s family. It is stated in Numbers 26:11 that the sons of Koraḥ ? did not perish with their father (Numbers 16:32); and Koraḥ ?ites are mentioned in Numbers 26:58. In much later days the Koraḥ ?ites acted as gate-keepers in the Temple (1 Chronicles 9:19; 1 Chronicles 26:1-19), and also, probably (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:19; and the titles of Psalms 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, 88), assisted in some way in the worship of the Temple. For the names, see 1 Chronicles 6:22-23 (where, however, Elkanah is the son of Assir, and Ebiasaph [Abiasaph] the son of Elkanah), Exodus 9:19 (Ebiasaph).

Exodus 6:25

25. The family of Aaron’s son, Eleazar (v. 23). Puṭ ?iel] not mentioned elsewhere. Seemingly ‘an Egyptian name, of a type very common from b.c. 1000 onward, but with the Heb. El, “God,” instead of the name of an Egyptian deity, meaning “He whom God gave” ’ (F. Ll. Griffith); cf. Poṭ ?iphar = ‘He whom Ra gave’ (see DB. iv. 22). Phineḥ ?as] See Numbers 25:7-13 (P) [cf. Psalms 106:30], Exodus 31:6; Joshua 22:13; Joshua 22:30-32; Joshua 24:33; Eleazar’s successor in the priesthood, Judges 20:28. The name, like that of his grandfather, may be of Egyptian origin, and signify ‘the negro’ (i.e. the Ethiopian, Jeremiah 13:23). The name (Pi-neḥ ?as) is very common in Egyptian (EB. iii. 3304). heads of the fathers] for ‘heads of the fathers’ houses’ (v. 14); so Numbers 31:26; Numbers 32:28; Numbers 36:1, Joshua 14:1; Joshua 19:51; Joshua 21:1 (all P); and frequently in Chr. Ezr. Neh.

Exodus 6:26-27

26, 27. At the close of the genealogy the writer refers emphatically to Moses and Aaron, the two men on whose account the entire genealogy has been introduced.

Exodus 6:27

27. These were the men commissioned also to speak to the Pharaoh on behalf of Israel: cf. vv. 11, 13. The diffuseness, and repetitions (vv. 26, 27), are in P’s style: cf Genesis 9:16-17 (repetition of vv. 13–15), Genesis 17:26-27 (repetition of v. 23), Genesis 23:20 (see vv. 17, 18). It is to be observed that P consistently represents Moses, or his contemporaries, as being in the fourth generation (cf. Genesis 15:16) from on or other of Jacob’s sons: thus Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses (here, vv. 16, 18, 20); Levi, Kohath, Iẓ ?har, Koraḥ ?, (vv. 16, 18, 21, Numbers 14:1); Levi, Kohath, Uzziel, Mishael (Leviticus 10:4); Reuben, Pallu, Eliab, Dathan (Numbers 26:7-9). On the chronological question involved, see the Introd. p. xlv, and on Exodus 12:40.

Exodus 6:28-30

28–30. The stream of the narrative here, after its interruption by v. 13, and the genealogy, vv. 14–27, is resumed, v. 29 recapitulating the beginning and end of God’s words to Moses, vv. 2 and 11, and v. 30 repeating Moses’ objection in v. 12. Ch. Exodus 7:1-5 is thus really the sequel, and answer, to Exodus 6:12.