Exodus 3:18-19

18 "¹They will pay heed to what you say; and ²you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a ³three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'

19 "But I know that the king of Egypt ⁴will not permit you to go, ⁵except under compulsion *.

Exodus 3:18-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 2

In this chapter we are informed how that the Lord appeared to Moses in a bush on fire, but not consumed, Ex 3:1-6, declared unto him that he had seen and observed the afflictions of the children of Israel, and was determined to deliver them, Ex 3:7-9, that he gave him a call to be the deliverer of them, answered his objections to it, and instructed him what he should say, both to the elders of Israel and to Pharaoh, Ex 3:10-18, and assured him, that though at first Pharaoh would refuse to let them go, yet after many miracles wrought, he would be willing to dismiss them, when they should depart with great substance, Ex 3:19-22.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 4:31
• 2. Exodus 5:1
• 3. Exodus 5:3; Exodus 8:27
• 4. Exodus 5:2
• 5. Exodus 6:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "hear your voice"
• [b]. Lit "by a strong hand"