The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 156

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER VI. Ver. 1.-Now shalt thou see. There WII.! encouragement in the very word "Now." Vers. 1-8.-The expostulation of Moses Moses' complaint was, that God delayed his did not offend God. God gave him, in reply coming, would not show himself, was "slaclc to it, a most gracious series of promises and concerning his promise." In reply he is told assurances, well calculated to calm his fears, that there is to be no longer any delay-the work is jnst about to commence. "Now shalt assuage his griefs, and comfort his heart ; and thou see." With a strong hand ahall he let he confirmed the whole to him by his name them go. The" strong hand" is not Pharaoh's, JEHOVAH, " the Only Existent," and there- but God's. "By means of my strong hand " fore " the Eternal and Immutable." This name ( or "overpowering might") "laic! upon him he had previously revealed to Moses 11t Mount shall he be induced to let them go,'' and simi- larly with the other clause. Drive t.iJ.em out. Sinai, as his peculiar name, and the one by This phrase well expresses the final a.n.x.iety of which he would choose to be called ( eh. iii. Pharaoh to be rid of the Israelites. ( See 13-15). He had also tuld him to proclaim eh. xii. 31, 22.) this name to the people. This command is Ver. 2.-A.nd God spake. The promise of now repeated (ver. 6) very solemnly; and with the first verse was, apparently, given first, and was quite distinct from e.11 the others-perhaps it a.re coupled the promises above alluded to. separated from them by an interval of hours, 1. That God would certainly b1ing the Israel- or days. It was especially addressed to Moses. ites out of Egypt, despite the unwillingness The rest was in the main (ver. 6-8) a mes- of Pharaoh (vers. 1 and 6), 2. That he would sage to the people. I am the Lord. Or, "I am JEHOVAH." Compare iii. 15, and note do this "with a stretched-out arm," and by ad loc. means of" great judgments" (ver. 6) ; 3. That Ver. 3.-I appeared nnto Abraham, nnto he would keep the covenant which he had Isaac, and nnto Jacob, by the name of God made with the patriarchs to give their descen- Almighty. See Gen. xvii. l for the revela- dants the land of Canaan (ver. 4) and would tion of this name to Abraham, and Gen. xxxv. 11 for its repetition to Jacob. We do assuredly "bring in" the Israelites to that not find the full name used by God in any land, and " give it them for an L:erit11ge" appearance to Isaac ; but Iswic himself uses it (ver, 8). in Gen. xxviii. 3. By my name Jehovah wu  140 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. (CR, VT, l--8.