PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1
George Rawlinson [1812-1902] · 322,442 words · 351 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 241
mnn (on eh. vii. 3). Phamoh is e.n illustration of.this. He wa.s unboundedly proud; and "pride," so.ys Millier, " is the basest and most glaring form that ·selfishness can assume." It is an egoistic sin; e. sin of the· will more than ,of the aaffections; a sin rooted In the centre of the personality. But Pharaoh wa.~ m…
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He had i;inned, sinned both against God, and against Moses and Aaron ; would they forgive him this once, only this once, and entreat God that he would take away from him thia death only? (vers. 16, 17.) Contrast this with ver. 10, or with ver. 28, and it can hardly be believed that we are looking on the same man, Ph…
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egregiously wrona. These are matters in which God has not given opportunity for knowledge; the depths of Pharaoh's personality are concealed from us. There is true and important knowledge to be gained, but it is in another direction. The marvellous, cxhaustless power of God is to be more prominent in our thoughts than …
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bR.St.ening, as with one consent, t-0 beg I\ timely submission from their master, 2. Tlie,'8 ,·s the extmordi11ai·y yi'.clrling of Pha,·aoh to these ea;postulations. Nothing less thnn extraordinary CI\D it be called. His yicldings hitherto have been under actual chastise- ment. He has w11ited for the blow to be stru…
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Ver. 2.-'l'he talea of a grandfather.-Jehovah tells Moses, as the represcut:itive of Isrncl, that those glorious Divine o.ctions in Egypt are to be matters of carefol instruc- tion in aHer nges. Each parent is to speak of them to his children, and each grand- parent to his gro.ndchildren. And is there not something par…
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fr!,olous _and unworthy their lives have been. At eighty they are as woll pleased with their notion that man has come into this world to enjoy himself as they were at eighteen. Whether we shall live into old age is not for us to settle, nor what our state of body nnd circumstances may be if we do so live, Bub one th…
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EXPOSITION Vers. 21-29-THE NINTH PLAGUE. The its extent, covering as it did "e.11 the land of ninth plague, like the third and the sixth, Egypt;" 2. In its intensity-" they saw not we.s inflicted without special warning. God one another" (ver. 23)-" darkness which may he.d e.nnoUDced, nfter the plague of boils, that b…
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DC!SS." The hyperbole is no doubt extreme; suggerled compromise. He h11d e.lrcady do- hut the !?"enerel sentiment of mankind he.s clared on a former occasion, " With our young apprm·ed the phrase. which exactly el..l'rcsses and ";th our old we will go; with our sons what m~n feel in absolut~ and complete dark- and w…
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and gloomy spirits of evil, whom God has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for final judgment (Jude 6), So Scripture speaks of man as divided into those who are "of ,the night and of darkness," and those who a.re " children of light and of the d<>,v" (1 lhcss. v. 6), . 'l_ '1'1rn; CHILDREN OF DARKNESS, THO…
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nny part 0f the request of Moses; but, if he must yield to some extent, he wouid snve hi~ dignity and his interest, be thought, by yielding less than what was demanded. Ou Juur occasions he makes four different offers. I. THEY MA y 'll'ORSHIP Gon WHEREVER THEY PLEASE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF EaYPT (eh. viii. 25). A foo…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 21-29.-112e plague of darkness. This was the third of the great pl3>:,"1.!es, and it ea.me, as in certain previous instances, unannounced. I. THE LAST OF THE ADMONITORY PLAGUES (vers. 21-24). The plagues, viewed as trials of Pharaoh's character, end with this one. The death of the f…
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is li"ht and li"ht continually streams forth from him; and without him the minds of men°a.r; in de~ darkness a.s to all that is best in knowledge and most substantial in ohope for the time to come. When_ we co~ider_ how much is said abou~ sp~itual light fl.Ild spiritual darkness in the Scnptures, 1t will be seen how ap…
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11aid, "We know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither.• He had been sent to Pharl\Oh to demand all, and he could take nothing less. Interesting questions arise here, but there is no information by which we can answer them. Pharaoh called to Moses (ver. 24)-but how came they together in this den…
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darkness; a kind of homceopathic treatment, which, if it do not cure, may kill. [lllu.,tration. '!'he frozen stream. Light fire upon the surface. Clouds and flame shut out tho sunlight more than ever, yet heat may melt the ice covering, and, if so, then light can enter. If not, when fire is extinguished, the ash-strewn…
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When he ahall let you go, he ahall aurely were to " v.ut them on their sons 11ud on their thrust you out altogether. The Hebrew "·ill daughters, ' it is clce.r that personal oruBJllcnte not bear this rendering. It runs distinctly are especially meant. thru,-" V'i"hen he she.ll let yon go altogether, Ver. 3.-And the …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-4.-The beginning of the end. I. THE STROKE STILL IN RESERVE (ver. lJ. God would bring on Pharaoh " one plague more." This would be effectual. It would lead him to let the people go from Egypt. So eager would he be for their departure, that he would even thrust them out in haste. Th…
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EXPOSITION. Vers. 4---8.-The writer returns here to his declaration, which showed that he e.cted in the accollllt of the List interview between Moses matter merely e.s God's instrument--" Thus and Pharaoh, repeating the introductory words sa.ith Jehovah." He makes the announcement of eh. x. 29-" end Moses said." Havin…
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I. MAKING DEATil AN INSTRUMENT OF VENGEANOE1 NOT ON THOSE WHO DIE, BUT 01'1' 'l'IIOBE WHO SURVIVE. PhMe.oh is punished, and the Egyptians generally are 1mnished, by the sudden death of the first-born. They had deserved this retribution by thcil' cruelty to the Hebrews, and especially by the drowning of the Hebrew ma…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 4--10.-A finale. These verses end the story of ho,v God wrought with Pharaoh to subdue him to his will. They prepare us for the catastrophe which brought the long conflict to a termination, and forced a way of egress for two millions of Hebrews through the barred gates of Egypt. I. …
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no reason to suppose that, taken in the mass, the people of Egypt were characterised by a g~eater want of it than others. Even the tiger has a tigerish love of his cubs and, mc~ed m~n tho~gh he was, the pride of l'?ara~h in his first-born may have bee~ of no ordinary rntens1ty. Note then the followmg circumstances a…
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of condemnation, and as to the channel through which alone redeeming grace could flow to them, II. TUE WITIIDTIA wAL OF MosEs, "Moses went out from Pharaoh in a great anger" (ver. 8). 1. There are occasions on which it is lawful to be angry. This was one of them. He would have been a man utterly without soul wno would…
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ex['<'ct.ed, and the scapegr1LCe 'l\·ho wn.s bringing a father's grey hairs with sorrow to the grave; the young man who might be the only son of his mother IIIld she a wi,\ow alike with him who was the first-born among many brethren. The first-born is the ~entrc of so many hopes and calculations, that when he is str…
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never know the comforts and beauties that belong to the temperate zone as loner0 as he stubbornly o.bides in the frigid one. III. CONSIDER THIS LAST PLAGUE IN THE ACTUAL EFFECTS OF IT. 1. It produced immediate action on the part of Pharaoh, and, what is very noticeable, on the part of the people also. Pharaoh called f…
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HOMILETICS. Man's ill-doing but ca'U6es God's wonders to be multiplied (ver. 9). God's wonders are either such as occur in the general course of his providence, or such as are abnormal and e:x:traorclina.ry. It is these last of which Moses especially speaks to us in the Book of Exodus. But the same law which applies t…
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IOP on the two post.s and lintel of his door- "'as received by Divine Revelation! com- way (ver 7), so leaving the mark of the manded by God, and merely esta.blis ied by blood on it. He WAS then the ea.me night to the a.gency of the two brothers. In the land roe...ct the lamb whole, and ea.t it with un- of Egypt. Th…
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guests, cor,sidorntion should be had of the by Kalisch). The UBe of the phrase in eh. amount which they would be likely to eat. xvi. 12, and the commnnd in Deut. xvi. 6--- Children nud the very aged were not to be "Thou shalt sacrifice the pBBsover at even, nl reckoned as if they were men in the vigour of the going daw…
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e. condiment, and "commnnicRtcd a more It is the Lord's Pu1over. Very emphatic e.grceable fla,·our to the food." Undoubtedlv words! " This _is ,no common meal,' they they were a disagreeable accompaniment, and seen:i ~o say, "1t 1s not even au ordinary represented at once the bitterness of the saerific1al repast. Th…
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or even many, of II class are meant. I am the centre and source of all real unity-thfl the Lord, R..thcr 118 in eh. vi. 8, "Age.inst one "perfect and sufficient sacrifice, 11.nd obla- o.11 the gods of Egypt I will execute judg- tion, and s11.tiBfaction for the sins of the ment, I, Jehovah." whole world"? The Church re'…
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next de.y for religious wolllhip. The name out of the Hebrew text. In the evenmr, •· com·ocation," applied to these gatherings, The Hebrew de.y commenced with the evening feems to show that originally the people were (Gen. i. 5); but the evening here intended is ..mmon,,d. t.o such meetings, BB they still are that e…
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J. IT SECURED THEM A TIME OF RELIGIOUS RETROSPECT AND CONTEMPLATION, NOT ALREADY OCCUPIED DY WORLDLY CARES. The commencement of a civil year naturally brings with it vnrious civil and worldly caree, which occupy the mind, demand the attention, and distract the thoughts. The worldly position has to be reviewed, accounts…
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been found necessary, or at least desirable, in almost all countries, to establish, by authority, days of commemoration, when national deliverances, national triumphs, national recoveries, shall be brought prominently before the mind of the nation, and pressed upon its attention. The Passover must be regarded as one…
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peace, and enjoyment-something that must ever accompany that rest, peace, and enjoyment, and, so long as we are in the flesh, remain inseparable from it. Two things of this kind suggest themselves-repentance and self-denial. The bitter herbs may perhaps symbolise both, pointing on the one hand to the important truth, t…
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Vers. 1-29.-.The Passover. God's last and overwhelming blow was about to be struck at Egypt. In anticipation of that blow, and in immediate connection with the exodus, God gave directions for the observance of a. Passover. L THE PASSOVER m ITS ooNNECTION WITH THE HmTOBY, For details of the ritual, see the verses of…
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co.po.city, they were themselves of Egypt-collectively, e. part of the nation, without o.ny sepamte o.nd independent existence of their own, vaesals of the enemy, and inhabi- to.nts of the doomed territory-individually, also, partakers of the guilt and corruption of Egypt" (Fairbairn). "If the test had been one of char…
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table before their eyes, to be handled and oaten by them, in eolemn observance of a Drvme command, gave them a vivid sense of the reality of the facts they were com- m~morating. The Lord's Supper, in like manner, is a powerful means of impressing mrnd and hea:t, an act of communion on the part of Christian believers…
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fully to Egypt, and it is for the Israelites to show by some significant act the f!eep difference which separates between them and the Egyptians. There had been, np to this time, certain <liffcrcnces between the Egyptian and the Israelite which did not depon<l upon the Isrn.clito's choice. The Egyptian was master, and…
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truth because it is true; but we must receive it and believe it, not because in our natural reason we cnn see it as true, but because of the ascertained and well-accreditoo. character of him who speaks it. And we must show our faith by our works, as these Israelites did. It was not required of them to understand how…
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epoiling the Egyptians, getting gold and silver and raiment from them in profllllion and with the utmost good-will. ' V. ALL THE OTIIER PREPARATIONS FOR JEHOVAll1B VISIT WERE TO BE CROWNED BY MAKINO FULL PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. Jehovah was coming to open the prison- doors and strike off the fetters; and he would h…
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IT. THE MEANS OF STRENGTH FOR THE ONWARD WAY, Feeding upon Christ. While Egyrt was slumbering Israel was feasting. While the world is busy with its dreams we must feast upon the joy of eternity, and, comprehending with all saints the infinite love of Christ, be filled with all the fulness of God. "Except ye eat the fle…
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Kurtz, vol. ii. 297, 29B, Eng. ed.] 3, The result was a PaBsir,,g-O'IJer, The stained lintel EL bridge over which Jehovah was to pass in dread judicial progress through the land. 4. And a more remote resuH, the ushering in of a Festal Li/e for Israel. The festival of the passover foreshadowed the coming life of liberty…
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the fin:tl result to be achieved by obedience. 2. Su~tenance to nerve for duty. Lamb not merely to be killed but eat.en. The people saved from the destroyer are to be released also from the oppressor; to commence at once the life of liberty. Strength needed for the march. That which saves is that which supports. If …
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4£r,yptiacum, QT 0. Byriacum) common in both The change from the pluro.I to the singul11r is Egypt nod SJrin; the other that it was the curious. Perhaps, we a.re to understand tbe.t coper plant ( Oapparis spinosa), which abonnds Moses insisted on the perpetuity of the ordi• cspecinlly in the Desert. (Stanley, Sinai and…
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pride is one of the deadly sins, and at once severs tho soul from Christ. The blood of the c?venant does not extend its protection over the paths which are trodden by the foot of pride. He who enters on them has wandered beyond the door which bears the redemption-marks, and is open to the assaults of the destroyer. …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 21-29.-" Christ our Passover." The Passover was an eminent type of Christ, It wns probably to it the Baptist referred when be said," Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the Bin of the world" (John i. 29). Paul gives a decisive utterance on the question in the words: "Christ our…
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temporal jud,,,crment about to fall on Egypt. Underlying it, there wa.s the need for a yei grea_ter rede~mption-a redompti~n. from the curse of a broken law, and from the tyranny of sm e.nd Satan ; from <loath spmtud, temporal, and eteme.l. It is this higher redemp• tion which Christ he.s achieved, altering, through…
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the household, of whioh the children learned the meaning and purposo almost uncon- sciously. 'l'he grinding of the corn, the kneading of the dough, in a very short time explained themselves. But when as the beginning of the year drew round, it bro1iaht with it these special observances, the slaying and eating of the la…
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in service. A question of this sort gave great opportunity. Happy those who could seize the opportunity at once, and use it to the full. IV. IT WAS A QUF.STION WHICH CAME TO CALL EVERY ISRAELITE, AT THE ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF THE PASSOVER, TO A CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF HIS OWN FEELINGS WITII RESPECT TO rr. lt was a q…
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EXPOSITION. Vere. 29, 80.-Tnm TENTH PLAGUE. At last was held by Ammonmes, a lL~urper. The the timo had como for the dealing of the final first-born of the captive who was in the dun- blow. Nine plagnes had been sent, nine in- geon. This phrase takes the place of another expression, viz "the first-born of the fliction…
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Europe. And Scripture is full of examples. How long God's Spirit strove with men In t,he ant-ediluvian world, as they proceeded from one wickeJness to another, heaping up t-0 themselves wrath against the day of wrath, till the flood came and swept away the ungodly! For what a prolonged term of years must the long-su…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHOHS. Vora. 2!l-31.-The death of the first-born, On this see eh. xi. 4-7. Observe hero- I. 'l'ms JUDOMENT 18 BASED ON TUE PRINCIPLE OF REPRESENTATION. Hitherto, the plagues had fallen on the Egyptians indiscriminately. Now, a change is made to the principle of representation. Egypt, Israel a…
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the purpose, and t.his one is to be studied in view of the fact that it did prove effectual for its end. Observe, 1. It was a death-stroke. Death has a singular }JOWer in sub- duing and melting the heart. It is the most }JOWerful solvent God can apply to a rebellious nature. It is sometimes tried when gentler means …
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~, Egypt, vol. ii. pp. 96-99), to e.n unknown They probably regarded dough as more con- pie.co co.Hod Succotb, which mnat bo.ve lo.in venient for e. journey than flour, and so made towo.rds the soutb-eo.st, and WIIS probably not their flour into dough before ste.rting ; but very remote from the capital. they be.d no ti…
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retracted. If still the Church will not give way, but continues the struggle a crisia arrives. 'l'he State finds itself in difficulties. One inconvenience after anotl;er befnls it in consequence of the prolonged conflict. At length it llOmes to be felt that the inconveniences of the struggle exceed the benefits of th…
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Vere. 31-37.-Thc dismissal. The blow had been so measured by infinite wisdom as to produco precisely the desired effect. Pharaoh " called for Moses and Aaron by night," otc. Observo--- 1. PHARAOH 18 NOW AB ANXIOUS TO GF,T RID OF THE JeRAELITES AB FORMERLY JIE wAB TO KEEP THEM, It ho.cl been predicted at the beginning …
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EXPOSITION. Yen;. 37-89.-Tm: DEPARTURE, There Rnmescs II. and Menephtha.h. (See Brugsch, 11,rc, no doubt':., great difficulties in conceiving H,'st. of Egypt, vol. ii. pp. 96 and 1~8.) thl' departure on one day, from one place, of Buocoth. The me1m1ng of the word " Suc- "six hundred thou~and that -Wl'Cre men, besid…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 37-38. In tho dopnrture of the Israe!Hes from Egypt, aftor they had reccivea permission to sot out, two things aro principally remarkable: 1. All were of ono mind- nono hl1Ilg back; 2. A mixed multitude cast in their lot with them, elected to accom- pany them, and resolved to share their fortunes. Th…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS Vers. 37-40.~ Tlie e.xodus as a fact in hist-Ory. The exodus from Egypt lo.y at the foundation of the national life of Israel. It appears in the history as a. super- natural work of God. The subsequent legislation asswnes it to have possessed this chR.mcter. The bond of covenant declared…
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rank " ( eh. xiii. 18). (3) We must add to these considerntions, the singubrly exalted state of the religious consciousnoss in the companies of the Israelites. Every thin" in their position combined to awe ancl solemnize them; to fill them with an 0 ;er- mastering consciousness of the Divine presence; to inspire the…
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Eg;-pt with Mo8es, would consist of foroign settlers in the Delta, victims, like tho Hebrews, of the tyranny of the Pharaohs, and, like them, glad to take this opportunity of making their escape (et. eh. i. 10). The enthusiasm of a great body of peoplo is con• tagious. When the Israelites left Egypt, numbers would b…
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bcon given, busy only with dreams. The world will be surpri~d in the mi,Jst, of it11 false security. "As it was in the days of Noe," etc. 2. Its universality. There were none so high that God's hand did not reach them, and none so low that they were over- looked. 3. The 11fter anguish. 'l'he whole nation, steeped the o…
1,155 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.