~, 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 time to add lee.ven. Their kneading-troughs. This rendering is correct, Ver. 31.-And he oalled for Moses and both here and in the two other places where Aaron. Ko.Iiscb undorsto.nds this 118 e. sum- the word occurs (eh. viii. 3, and Deut. xxviii. mons to the King's presence (C01N111Cntary, p. 5). Kneading-troughs would be a. nece,ssity 130), and even supposes that the two brothers in the desert, and, if like those of the modem complied, notwitbste.nding whe.t Moses bad Arabs, which are merely small wooden bowls, so.id ( eh. x. 29). But perhe.ps no more is would be light and portable. The dough and meant than o.t Pbe.ro.oh's instance Moses and knee.ding-troughs, with perhaps other neces- Ae.ron were summoned to e.n interview with se.ries, were carried, as the Arabs still carry some of the Court officials ( see eh. xi. 8). many small objects, bound up in their clothes As ye have ea.id. Literally, "according to (i.e., in the beged or ample shawl) upon their your words." The reference is to such pas- shoulders. sages as eh. viii. 1, 20; ix. 1, 13. Ver. 35.-The children oflsrael did accord- Ver. 32.-Also take your flooks and your ing to the word of Moses. See above, eh herds. Phe.raoh thus retracted the prohibi- xi. 2. They borrowed. On this mistrans- tion of eh. x. 24, and "gave the sacrifices and lation, see the co=eut upon eh. iii. 22. It burnt-offerings" which Moses bad required is plain that the gold and silver articles and ( ib. ver. 251 • Bless me also. Phe.raob was the raiment, were free-will gifts, which the probably accustomed to receive blessings from Egyptians never expected to see a.gain, and his own priests, e.nd be.d thus been led to which the Hebrews asked and took, but in no vo.lue them. His desire for II blessing from sense "borrowed." Hengstenberg and Kurtz Moses and Aaron, ere they departed, probably have shown clearly that the prime.ry meanin 6 sprang from II conviction-based on the of the words translated "borrowed " and miracles which be be.d witnessed-that their "lent," is "asked" and "granted," and that intercession would ave.ii more with God than the sense of " borrowing " and "lending " i3 that of bis own hierarchy. only to be assigned them when it is required Ver. 33.-The Egyptians were urgent upon by the context. the people, The Egyptians fee.red that, if Ver. 36.-So that they lent unto them any further delay took place, the God of the suoh things as they required. Rather, "So Hebrews might not be content with slaying that they granted them what they asked." aJl the first-born, but might punish with death They spoiled the Egyptie.ns. See the com- the whole nation, or at e.ny rate all the males. ment on eh. ill. 22, ad. fin. The result was It is eo.sy to see how their desire to get rid of that the Israelites went forth, not as slaves, the Israelites would expedite matters, and but e.s conqnerors, decked with the jewels of enable all to set out upon the journey on the the Egyptians, e.s though they bad conquered au.me day. and despoiled them. Ver 34.-The people took their dough.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 31-36,-Israel's going forth from Egypt a, pattern to oppressed Ohurehes, Churches are sometimes enslaved and oppressed by the civil power. In unsuspecting confidence they have accepted the State's protection, and entered into certain relations with it, supposed to be mutually advantageous. But, as time has gone on, the terms of the original arrangement have been disregarded; the civil power has made encroach- ments, has narrowed the Church's liberties, has behaved oppressively towards it, has reduced it to actual slavery. A time comes at last when the bondage is felt to bo intolerable; and the Church demands its liberty, claims to go out from under the yoke of the oppressor. Under such circumstances the following analogies are noticeable: I. THE OPPRESSED CmrnoH, LONG REFUSED THE LIBERTY WHICH IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN TO 0LAIM, IS APT AT LAST TO DE "THRUST OUT" BY ITS OPPRESSOR. The early efforts of a down-trodden church after freedom are strenuously opposed, denounced as at once wrongful, foolish, and futile, sometimes punished by an increase in the oppression. The Church is set to "make bricks without straw." If this process fails, and the demand for freedom continues, the claims made are perhaps at the next stago derided. (See eh. v. 2.) They are then for a long time determinedly and persistently refused. If occasionally a seeming concession is made, it is scarcely made before it is 286 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [au. :m. 31-86.