women in tho world have come from pious homes. (See numcrons illustrations of this in Dr. Norman MacLeod's 'Home School.') The Ch11rch historian, Neander, ha~ noticed in how many cases" pious mothers" had to do with the planting of the seerls 0 f Christianity in tho souls of those who aftenvard8 produced great effects as teachers of the Church. He instances Nonna, the mother of Gregory of Nazianzum; Arethusa of Antioch, the mother of Chrysostom; the mother of Theodoret ; and Monica, the mother of Augustine. (Seo the whole passage in' Church Ilistory,' vol. iii. sect. 2, I.) lII. 'l'HAT HONOUR IN Goo's BIGHT IS DETERMINED BY SPIRITUAL CONSIDERATIO:S:S. 1. As regards positior.. '!'he true centre point of honour in this genealogy is ver. 20--- that which includes the names of Moses and Aaron. 1t was the spiritual greatness of these men which secured for them this honour. 2. As regards rise and fall, Reuhen was "tho firstbom of Israel" (ver. 14), but he lost through sin the prerogatives of birth. He is eclipsed by Levi, who, through piety, rose from a degraded position to one of honour. Korah, whose name, from considerations of relationship, is honourably prominent in this select list (vers. 21-24), subsequently destroyed himself by his rebellion (Num. xvi.). His posterity, however (another illustration of the same law), rose to high spiritual honour in the minstrelsy of the temple. 3. As regards relation- ship. '!'he families of the tribe of Levi, grouped around the names of Moses and Aaron, some in nearer, some ir, more distant relations, draw honour from the association. The chief prominence is given to the Kohathites, as most nearly related to the sons of Amram. This distinction was subsequently confirmed by the appointment of this faxnily to the charge of the sacred .Ark, and of the vessels of the sanctuary (.\"um. iv. 4---16). Relationship with the good thus confers honour, and secures privilege. The highest of all examples of this is the honour and privilege conferred through relatioru;hip to Christ.-J. 0.
EXPOSITION.
CHAPTER VII. right to command his obedience, and with strength to enforce his commands. Aaron Vers. 1-9.-0nce more God made o.llow- shall be thy prophet, i.e." thy spokesman"- ance for the weakness and self-distrust of the interpreter of thy will to others. Com- Moses, severely tried os he had been by his pare eh. iv. 16. Ver. 2.-Thou shalt speak. The Septuagint former failure to persuade Pharaoh ( eh. v. and the Vulgate have, "Thou shalt speak to 1-5) and his recent rejection by the people him," which undoubtedly gives the true sense of Israel ( eh. vi. 9). He me.de o.llowance, and Moses was to speak to Aaron, Aaron to raised his Colr'age and his spirits by fresh Pharaoh. (See eh. iv. 15, 16.) promises, and by e. call upon him for imme- Ver. 3.-I will harden Pha.raoh's heart. diate action. The process of deliverance, God See the comment on eh. iv. 21. And multiply my signs an.d my wonders. The idea of a assured him, was just about to begin. Mira- long series of miracles •is here, for the first cles would be wrought until Pho.raoh's stub- time, distinctly introduced. Three signs had bornness was overcome. He was himself to been given (eh. iv. 3-9); one further miracle begin the series at once by casting his rod had been mentioned (ib. 23). Now a multi- plicatiO'l& of signs and wonders is promised. upon the ground, that it might become a Compare eh. iii. 20, and eh. vi. 6, which, serpent (ver. 9). From this point Moses' however, are not so explicit as the present d:i.ffidence wholly disappears. Once launched passage. upon his Heaven-directed course, assured of his Ver. 4.-That I may lay my hand on miraculous powers, committed to a struggle Egypt. Phe.raoh's obstinacy was foreseen and with the powerful Egyptian king, he per- foreknown. He was allowed to set his will age.inst God's, in .order that there might be a severed without blenching or wavering until great display of Almighty power, such e.s success crowned his efforts. would attract the attention both of the Egyp- Ver. 1.-I have me.de thee a god to tians generally and of all the surrounding Pharaoh. Moses was diffident of appearing a nations. God's glory would be thereby pro- second time before Pharaoh, who was so much moted, and there would be a general dread of his worldly superior. God reminds him that interfering with __ his peol.'le. (See eh. ;lv he is in truth very much Pharaoh's superior. H-16; Dent. 11 25; x.i. 25, etc.) Bnng If Pharaoh bas earthly, he hos unearthly forth my armies. See the comment on eh. vi power He is to Phl\l'aoh "os a god," with a 2G Great judgments. See above, eh. vi. 6 ltlO nm BOOK OF EXODUS. [en. vu. 1---U,
Ver. 5.---The :Egyptian& ehall know that I Modems are surprised that at such an ago a am the Lord. Hat.her," that I em Jebo,•ah" ~au could undertake and carry through a ---4.e. thnt I answer to mv Ne.me-that I e.m difficult and dangerous enterprise ; but in the only Goo who is t.rul)' existent, other so- Egypt one hundred and ten years was not called gods being nonentities. They ~-ill considered a very exceptionally long life, nnd know this and feel this when I 1tretoh forth men frequently retained their full vigour till mine ha.nd upon Egypt, es I am about t.o seventy or eighty ~t.reteh it forth. Ver. 9.---When Pharaoh •hall speak to Ver. G.---llosea and AIL?On did aa the Lord you, saying, Shew a miraole, It is obvious c,omma.nded them. This statement is general, that there would have been an impropriety and anticipative of the entire series of inter- in Moses and Aaron offering a sign to Pharaoh vicwi; be,:rinning here (verse 10), and termi- until he asked for one. They claimed t.o be nating (eh. x. 29) with the words," I will see ambassadors of Jehovah, and to speak in his thv face no more." The obedience of Moses name (eh. v. 1). Unless they were mis• an-d Aaron was perfect and continuous from doubted, it was not for them to produce their this time forward until Egypt was quitted. credentials. Hence they worked no miracle Yer. 'i.---Founoore years old. This a.ge is at their former interview. Now, however, r,onfirmed by the statement (in Dent. xxx.i. 2; the time was come when their credentials xxxi,. 7) that Moses was a hundred o.nd would be demanded, and an express com- twenty at his dee.th. It is also accepted as mand was given them to exhibit the fint exact by St. Stephen (Acts vii. 23, 30). "sign. 0