Exodus 3:16

16 Go, and gather the Zakenim of Yisra'el together, and tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Avraham, of Yitzchak, and of Ya`akov, has appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Mitzrayim;

Exodus 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 3:16

Go and gather the elders of Israel together
Not all the ancient men among them, nor the "judges" of the people of Israel; for it does not appear there were such among them in Egypt, until they came into the land of Canaan, but the heads of tribes or families: and say unto them, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of
Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me;
in a flame of fire in the midst of a bush at Horeb: saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you
in Egypt;
inspected into their state and circumstances, took notice of their afflictions and oppressions, and determined to deliver them out of them, as follows.

Exodus 3:16 In-Context

14 God said to Moshe, "I AM WHO I AM," and he said, "You shall tell the children of Yisra'el this: "I AM has sent me to you."

15 God said moreover to Moshe, "You shall tell the children of Yisra'el this, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Avraham, the God of Yitzchak, and the God of Ya`akov, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.

16 Go, and gather the Zakenim of Yisra'el together, and tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Avraham, of Yitzchak, and of Ya`akov, has appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Mitzrayim;

17 and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Mitzrayim to the land of the Kana`ani, the Hittite, the Amori, the Perizzi, the Hivvi, and the Yevusi, to a land flowing with milk and honey."'

18 They will listen to your voice, and you shall come, you and the Zakenim of Yisra'el, to the king of Mitzrayim, and you shall tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD, our God.'