Exodus 4:19-29

19 The LORD said to Moshe in Midyan, "Go, return into Mitzrayim; for all the men who sought your life are dead."

20 Moshe took his wife and his sons, and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Mitzrayim. Moshe took God's rod in his hand.

21 The LORD said to Moshe, "When you go back into Mitzrayim, see that you do before Par`oh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.

22 You shall tell Par`oh, 'Thus says the LORD, Yisra'el is my son, my firstborn,

23 and I have said to you, "Let my son go, that he may serve me;" and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.'"

24 It happened on the way at a lodging place, that the LORD met him and wanted to kill him.

25 Then Tzipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me."

26 So he let him alone. Then she said, "You are a bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.

27 The LORD said to Aharon, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moshe." He went, and met him on God's mountain, and kissed him.

28 Moshe told Aharon all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him, and all the signs with which he had charged him.

29 Moshe and Aharon went and gathered together all the Zakenim of the children of Yisra'el.

Exodus 4:19-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 4

This chapter is a continuation of the discourse that passed between God and Moses; and here Moses makes other objections to his mission; one is taken from the unbelief of the people of Israel, which is removed by giving him power to work miracles, by turning the rod in his hand into a serpent, and then into a rod again; and by putting his hand into his bosom at one time, when it became leprous, and again into the same place, when it became sound and whole, and by turning the water of the river into blood, Ex 4:1-9, another objection is formed from his want of eloquence, which is answered with an assurance, that God, that made man's mouth, would be with his mouth, and teach him what to say; and besides, Aaron his brother, who was an eloquent man, should be his spokesman, Ex 4:10-17 upon which he returned to Midian, and having obtained leave of his father-in-law to depart from thence, he took his wife and his sons, and returned to Egypt, Ex 4:18-20 at which time he received some fresh instructions from the Lord what he should do before Pharaoh, and what he should say unto him, Ex 4:21-23 then follows an account of what befell him by the way, because of the circumcision of his son, Ex 4:24-26 and the chapter is closed with an account of the meeting of Moses and Aaron, and of their gathering the elders of Israel together, to whom the commission of Moses was opened, and signs done before them, to which they gave credit, and expressed their joy and thankfulness, Ex 4:27-31.