Exodus 6

1 The LORD said to Moshe, "Now you shall see what I will do to Par`oh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land."
2 God spoke to Moshe, and said to him, "I am the LORD;
3 and I appeared to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Ya`akov, as El Shaddai; but by my name the LORD I was not known to them.
4 I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Kana`an, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.
5 Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Yisra'el, whom the Mitzrim keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant.
6 Therefore tell the children of Yisra'el, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Mitzrim, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments:
7 and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Mitzrim.
8 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Ya`akov; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am the LORD.'"
9 Moshe spoke so to the children of Yisra'el, but they didn't listen to Moshe for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
10 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,
11 "Go in, speak to Par`oh king of Mitzrayim, that he let the children of Yisra'el go out of his land."
12 Moshe spoke before the LORD, saying, "Behold, the children of Yisra'el haven't listened to me. How then shall Par`oh listen to me, who am of uncircumcised lips?"
13 The LORD spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, and gave them a charge to the children of Yisra'el, and to Par`oh king of Mitzrayim, to bring the children of Yisra'el out of the land of Mitzrayim.
14 These are the heads of their fathers' houses. The sons of Re'uven the firstborn of Yisra'el: Hanokh, and Pallu, Hetzron, and Karmi; these are the families of Re'uven.
15 The sons of Shim`on: Yemu'el, and Yamin, and Ohad, and Yakhin, and Tzochar, and Sha'ul the son of a Kana`ani woman; these are the families of Shim`on.
16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kehat, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty-seven years.
17 The sons of Gershon: Livni and Shim`i, according to their families.
18 The sons of Kehat: `Amram, and Yitzhar, and Hevron, and `Uzzi'el; and the years of the life of Kehat were one hundred thirty-three years.
19 The sons of Merari: Machli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
20 `Amram took Yokheved his father's sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aharon and Moshe: and the years of the life of `Amram were a hundred and thirty-seven years.
21 The sons of Yitzhar: Korach, and Nefeg, and Zikhri.
22 The sons of `Uzzi'el: Misha'el, and Eltzafan, and Sitri.
23 Aharon took Elisheva, the daughter of `Amminadav, the sister of Nachshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadav and Avihu, El`azar and Itamar.
24 The sons of Korach: Assir, and Elkana, and Avi'asaf; these are the families of the Korchi.
25 El`azar Aharon's son took one of the daughters of Puti'el as his wife; and she bore him Pinechas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites according to their families.
26 These are that Aharon and Moshe, to whom the LORD said, "Bring out the children of Yisra'el from the land of Mitzrayim according to their hosts."
27 These are those who spoke to Par`oh king of Mitzrayim, to bring out the children of Yisra'el from Mitzrayim. These are that Moshe and Aharon.
28 It happened on the day when the LORD spoke to Moshe in the land of Mitzrayim,
29 that the LORD spoke to Moshe, saying, "I am the LORD. Speak to Par`oh king of Mitzrayim all that I speak to you."
30 Moshe said before the LORD, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Par`oh listen to me?"

Exodus 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

God renews his promise. (1-9) Moses and Aaron again sent to Pharaoh. (10-13) The parentage of Moses and Aaron. (14-30)

Verses 1-9 We are most likely to prosper in attempts to glorify God, and to be useful to men, when we learn by experience that we can do nothing of ourselves; when our whole dependence is placed on him, and our only expectation is from him. Moses had been expecting what God would do; but now he shall see what he will do. God would now be known by his name Jehovah, that is, a God performing what he had promised, and finishing his own work. God intended their happiness: I will take you to me for a people, a peculiar people, and I will be to you a God. More than this we need not ask, we cannot have, to make us happy. He intended his own glory: Ye shall know that I am the Lord. These good words, and comfortable words, should have revived the drooping Israelites, and have made them forget their misery; but they were so taken up with their troubles, that they did not heed God's promises. By indulging discontent and fretfulness, we deprive ourselves of the comfort we might have, both from God's word and from his providence, and go comfortless.

Verses 10-13 The faith of Moses was so feeble that he could scarcely be kept to his work. Ready obedience is always according to the strength of our faith. Though our weaknesses ought to humble us, yet they ought not to discourage us from doing our best in any service we have to do for God. When Moses repeats his baffled arguments, he is argued with no longer, but God gives him and Aaron a charge, both to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh. God's authority is sufficient to answer all objections, and binds all to obey, without murmuring or disputing, ( Philippians 2:14 ) .

Verses 14-30 Moses and Aaron were Israelites; raised up unto them of their brethren, as Christ also should be, who was to be the Prophet and Priest, the Redeemer and Lawgiver of the people of Israel. Moses returns to his narrative, and repeats the charge God had given him to deliver his message to Pharaoh, and his objection against it. Those who have spoken unadvisedly with their lips ought to reflect upon it with regret, as Moses seems to do here."Uncircumcised," is used in Scripture to note the unsuitableness there may be in any thing to answer its proper purpose; as the carnal heart and depraved nature of fallen man are wholly unsuited to the services of God, and to the purposes of his glory. It is profitable to place no confidence in ourselves, all our sufficiency must be in the Lord. We never can trust ourselves too little, or our God too much. I can do nothing by myself, said the apostle, but I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 6

The Lord encourages Moses to hope for success from his name Jehovah, and the covenant he had made with the fathers of his people, Ex 6:1-5, orders him to assure the children of Israel that he would deliver them from their bondage and burdens, and bring them into the land of Canaan; but through their distress and anguish they hearkened not to him, Ex 6:6-9 but Moses is sent again to Pharaoh to demand the dismission of Israel, to which he seems unwilling, and both he and Aaron are charged both to go to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh, Ex 6:10-13, next follows a genealogy of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, which seems to be given for the sake of Moses and Aaron, and to show their descent, Ex 6:14-15, who were the persons appointed of God to be the instruments of bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, Ex 6:26-30.

Exodus 6 Commentaries

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.