Éxodo 4:18-23

18 Así se fué Moisés, y volviendo á su suegro Jethro, díjole: Iré ahora, y volveré á mis hermanos que están en Egipto, para ver si aún viven. Y Jethro dijo á Moisés: Ve en paz.

19 Dijo también Jehová á Moisés en Madián: Ve, y vuélvete á Egipto, porque han muerto todos los que procuraban tu muerte.

20 Entonces Moisés tomó su mujer y sus hijos, y púsolos sobre un asno, y volvióse á tierra de Egipto: tomó también Moisés la vara de Dios en su mano.

21 Y dijo Jehová á Moisés: Cuando hubiereis vuelto á Egipto, mira que hagas delante de Faraón todas las maravillas que he puesto en tu mano: yo empero endureceré su corazón, de modo que no dejará ir al pueblo.

22 Y dirás á Faraón: Jehová ha dicho así: Israel es mi hijo, mi primogénito.

23 Ya te he dicho que dejes ir á mi hijo, para que me sirva, mas no has querido dejarlo ir: he aquí yo voy á matar á tu hijo, tu primogénito.

Éxodo 4:18-23 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.