The History Resumed Series

The History Resumed

Ex. 6:26-30, NIV

26It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, "Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions."

27They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.

28Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,

29he said to him, "I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you."

30But Moses said to the LORD, "Since I speak with faltering lips (uncircumcised{2} lips), why would Pharaoh listen to me?"

Commentary

26. It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, "Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions."

"It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said"

Moses and Aaron were Israelites; like Christ was, 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 should reflect upon it regretfully, as Moses seems to do here. 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.

Aaron's name is listed first because he was the eldest and because he prophesied in Egypt before Moses, though Moses had more poise than Aaron, and therefore the actual reason may be the modesty of Moses; though in the following verse, Moses' name is listed before Aaron's, to show that they were equal, and perhaps the thing was relatively unimportant to the historian and done without any thought and intention, however, these words are emphatically expressed, on purpose to point out the persons to future ages:

"Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions."

Which is the charge he gave them both, Exodus 6:13, and the account of which is returned to again, after an interruption by the genealogy previously recorded: Israel was to be brought out: according to their divisions (their armies); signifying their great numbers and the order in which they were to march out of Egypt, as they did, not by flight, nor in confusion, but a formidable manner, and in great composure and order, with these two men, Moses and Aaron, as their generals at the head of them.

27. They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.

"They (Moses and Aaron) were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt," in the name of the Lord of hosts; and demanded Israel's release from Egypt, and they continued to make the demand until they had prevailed upon him to let them go.

"about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt—this same Moses and Aaron.

These are the same men, Moses and Aaron, also commissioned to speak to the Pharaoh on behalf of Israel: cf.{1} vv. 11, 13, 26, which is repeated, so that it may be known who were the deliverers of Israel, what their names were, what tribe they were from, from whom they descended, and who their parents were, at least Aaron's.

It is to be observed that Moses or his contemporaries are consistently represented as being in the fourth generation (cf.{4} Genesis 15:16) from one or other of Jacob's sons: thus Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses (here, Vv. 16, 18, 20); Levi, Kohath, I?har, Kora?, (Vv. 16, 18, 21, Numbers 14:1); Levi, Kohath, Uzziel, Mishael (Leviticus 10:4); Reuben, Pallu, Eliab, Dathan (Numbers 26:7-9).

28. Now, when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt,

These verses (28-30) are closely connected with Exodus 7. They are a recapitulation of the main points in Exodus 6, rendered necessary by the long parenthesis (Exodus 6:14-27), and serve to unite Exodus 7 with the previous narrative. They contain no new information. In Exodus 6:28-30, the thread of the history, which was broken off at Exodus 6:12, is resumed

Moses and Aaron were Israelites, raised and advanced by their brethren (The People of God) as Christ also should be by Christians, Christ who was to be the Prophet and Priest, the Redeemer and Lawgiver of the people of Israel and all people, for all time.

Moses returns to his narrative and repeats the responsibility God had given him to deliver his message to Pharaoh and his objection against it.

Note: (I repeat; “Those who have spoken unadvisedly should reflect upon it regretfully,” as Moses seems to do here. “I can do nothing by myself, said the apostle, but I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” it is rewarding 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.