Exodus 6-8

Bible Study

Review

Exodus 5:22-2322So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You

have sent me? 23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You

delivered Your people at all.”

Chapter 5v.2 “And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know

the Lord, neither will I let Israel go”

God will respond to Pharaoh in Chapter 6: 1… His “I’”And God’s “I”s in chapter 6 are a response to Moses doubtful questions

Chapter 3God revealed His name to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM”

Chapter 4God had Moses perform 3 signs [miracles]to authenticate his authority to the Israelites…..and Aaron to be

the spokesman

Chapter 5 [first encounter with Pharaoh] Moses and Aaron tell Pharaoh that God says : v. 1 “Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in

the wilderness”

1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

Exodus 6

2And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord.

3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord£ I was not known to them.

God’s response to Moses—18 times “I” [v.1-8]

“with a strong hand”The Egyptians often refer red to the Egyptian king’s ‘strong arm’ or the power of his arm

(Zondervan Bible Backgrounds commentary)“The rhetoric in Exodus turns the tables on Egyptian royal ideology. This time Yahweh is the one who possesses the strong arm, and he will defeat the one whom all Egypt thinks

possesses it”

(BKC) “He mainly appeared to them [patriarchs] as God Almighty, the One who sustains and provides. He had not displayed Himself to the patriarchs primarily by the name Yahweh.

He was now revealing Himself not only as sustainer and provider but speaking of His relationship with His people

4I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers.

5And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.

v. 4-8 describe God’s special relationship with His people Israel:

6Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an

outstretched arm and with great judgments.

7I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

8And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’”

Seven times God says ‘I will’ which emphasizes his promises to them [v.6-8]

(Expositors) “Yahweh is the God who would personally, dynamically, and faithfully be present to fulfill the covenant he had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.The patriarchs had only the promises, not the things promised.”

9So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

10And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 11“Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.”

12And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”

13Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Because of their oppression, the children of Israel would not listen

This caused Moses to have another bout of self-distrust and despondency [v. 12]

(NIV) “faltering lips”—not fit for the job to do

Moses’ objection was answered by God’s command to both Moses and Aaron

14These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, wereHanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben.

15And the sons of Simeon were £Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. These are the families of Simeon.

The genealogy of Moses and Aaron [v. 14-30]

The list stops after naming Jacob’s first three sons—the focus is on the line of Levi

Moses and Aaron descend from Kohath…Levi’s 2nd son

(Expositors) “Levi’s descendents, with devotion to God, turned what was a curse into a blessing and used their dispersion through the tribes as an avenue of blessing to all through the

priesthood and service at the sanctuary of God”

16These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven.

17The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimi according to their families. 18And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of

Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three.

19The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations.

20Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven.

21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22And the sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri.

23Aaron took to himself Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, as wife; and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24And the sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korahites.

25Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel as wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families.

Levi’s other descendents listed in verses 17-19

The father of Moses and Aaron and other relatives are listed in verses 20-25

26These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.”

27These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron.

28And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I

say to you.” 30But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh

heed me?”

(BKC) “verses 26-27 highlight the purpose of this genealogical digression—to focus on Moses and Aaron’s pedigree and thus their authority to lead the people from Pharaoh’s

grasp

v. 28-30 God renews the command to Moses to speak to Pharaoh by His authority….and Moses

once again states that Pharaoh would not respond because of his faltering lips

God responds to Moses self-perceived inadequacy in the next chapter:

(Expositors) “Moses was ordained as ‘God’ to Pharaoh in that he would speak and act with authority and power from above and Aaron would be Moses ‘prophet’ addressing

Pharaoh”

Chapter 7

1So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.

2You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land.

3And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.

4But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies andMy people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

(Expositors) “The term ‘armies’ or ‘divisions’ had not been previously used of the people of Israel.

Later this term with the name of Yahweh would become one of the most frequent names for God: ‘Lord of hosts’

5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Not only would Israel know what was meant by the name ‘the Lord’, but so would the Egyptians….

6Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did.

7And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

9“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’”

Eighty years of preparation and Moses now begins his work to lead Israel to the promised land

God told Moses to use the first sign used to convince Israel that he was God’s messenger

10So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Snakes were a symbol of power in Egypt and one of their gods. God was showing that he would overcome the powers of Egypt

“serpent” (Heb. Tannin)— “usually used for larger reptiles such as crocodiles.”(Expositors)

(JFB) “Here it denotes a serpent, as is indicated by the use of the specific term”

11But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Working magic with snakes was a talent in which Egyptian magicians took great pride…the use of magic and snake charmers is well documented

(Zondervan Bible Backgrounds commentary) “The Hebrew term for ‘magicians’ appears related to an Egyptian word often used to refer to

theological specialists who studied their culture’s sacred literature and knew an array of charms, spells and rituals.

They were often associated with the ‘House of Life’, a special section in some Egyptian temples that housed the ritual magic texts inspired by the sun god. They were the heavy

hitters so to speak”

12For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

13And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

v. 12 “swallowed up”(Companion) “and thus inflicted the first blow on the gods of

Egypt”

v. 13 “Pharaoh’s heart grew hard” (OKJ) “He hardened Pharaoh’s heart”—God allowed or permitted Pharaoh’s heart to be hard

The magicians of Egypt…theological specialists

14So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.

Pharaoh probably thought Aaron’s rod swallowing up the Egyptians was a magical trick of which was not known to his wise men…and he would not budge

16And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not

hear!

Pharaoh’s routine was to go to the water of the River Nile [a god] in the morning to worship…

By bathing in the water

15Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.

God instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh that his refusal to recognize that He was the true God….therefore the judgments were coming

1st plague—Nile River to blood

17Thus says the Lord: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.

Probably during July-August when the Nile overflowed its banks allowing the people to grow crops

18And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.”’”

(Zondervan Bible Backgrounds commentary)“Within ancient Near Eastern societies, this event would have signified calamity, the

invasion of chaos, and even a divine curse on the land”

“In Egypt, for example, it was Pharaoh’s responsibility to maintain a state of proper order and justice, referred to as ma’at….

In a sense, Egyptian religion with all its beliefs and practices was designed to restore ma’at to Egypt and preserve it as fully as possible”

19Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their

pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers

of stone.’”

“in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone”Critics say this was a natural phenomena of the Nile….but how do they account for blood

in the buckets and pitchers?

(Zondervan)“Thus, for the Nile and its canals to be turned to blood meant that chaos has crossed Egypt’s borders, that Pharaoh has failed his duty, and that a divine power it at work

against him”

22Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this.

24So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river.

25And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river.

20And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all

the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

(BKC) “the yearly miraculous rebirth of Osiris, symbolized the flooding of the Nile. Other gods supposedly protected the fish in the Nile.

Since the Egyptians believed the Nile was Osiris’ bloodstream it is remarkable that the Nile was turned to blood”

Probably how the magicians obtained water to duplicate the feat

1And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

2But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs.

3So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens,

and into your kneading bowls. 4And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.”’”

Chapter 8

(BKC) “The Egyptians regarded frogs as having divine power. In the Egyptian pantheon the goddess Heqet had the form of a woman with a frog’s head”

“From her nostrils it was believed, came the breath of life that animated the bodies of those created by her husband, the great god Khnum, from the dust of

the earth. Therefore frogs were not to be killed”

2nd plague—Frogs

5Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’”

6So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.

8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to

the Lord.” [5:2] ‘who is the Lord?’

7And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

(Zondervan) “If there is symbolic meaning in the account of this plague, it may simply be to point out the inability of Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods to maintain proper order. First the water is ruined and now the frogs are out of control. The disorder is taking different forms”

(Zondervan) “This is the third and final time that the Egyptian magicians are able to duplicate a wonder by Moses and Aaron.

…they are exacerbating their people’s problems rather than solving them. They are, if anything, assisting their enemies”

Pharaoh’s failure to maintain order—[he had probably wanted the magicians to remove the frogs not produce more]

9And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may

remain in the river only.” 10So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know

that there is no one like the Lord our God.

11And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

12Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh.

13So the Lord did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields.

14They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank.

15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

(BKC) “Moses allowed Pharaoh to set the timetable for relief from the plague….so that he would know there is no one like the Lord”

16So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’”

17And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all

the land of Egypt.

3rd plague—lice/gnats…this one comes without warning probably because Pharaoh lied

This plague could have been directed at the Egyptian gods in general who were unable to protect man or beast from the infestation

Even the priests, who prided themselves in their purity were stricken

(Companion Bible) “This plague was a sever blow to all idolatrous worship and worshippers. Cleanliness was imperative. For this cause the priests wore linen, and shaved daily”

18Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast.

19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.

“finger of God”(Zondervan) “For the ancient Egyptians, the concept of the ‘finger’ of a deity

represented something dangerous and powerful”

The Egyptian magicians initially were able to duplicate the signs of Moses and Aaron, but now they had reached the limit of their power thus they say to Pharaoh:

“This is the finger of God”

20And the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve

Me. 21Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your

servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand.

22And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land.

23I will £make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”’”

24And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.

4th plague—flies

(BKC) “They may have represented Re, a prominent Egyptian deity. Or the god Uatchit, possibly represented by the fly”

“God made a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians, His people for deliverance and the others for judgment”

Given advance warning—a chance to repent

25Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.”

26And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their

eyes, then will they not stone us?

27We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He will command us.”

In Goshen

v. 26 “abomination” of the Egyptians”(Companion) “Put for the act of sacrificing cattle, which was abominated by the

Egyptians”

“three” days journey“the number of divine perfection” (Companion) “Jehovah’s third demand”

28So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.”

29Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the Lord, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But

let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

Pharaoh finally concedes…but with a condition– ‘you shall not go very far away’

[literal translation] ‘I am leaving you, and I will pray’ (Expositors)

Moses warned Pharaoh not to be deceptive again

30So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord.

31And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained.

32But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.

(Zondervan) “Exodus refers to a heart that is hardened or unyielding nineteen times…all except one refer to the heart of Pharaoh.” (One other is the ‘hearts of the

Egyptians 14:17)

(Zondervan Bible Backgrounds commentary)“Each time the text says that Pharaoh’s heart grow hard…he becomes more and more

guilty when compared to the standard of what is right”

Lessons

God can use us despite our own perception of self-inadequacy

Exodus 6:3030But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall

Pharaoh heed me?”

Exodus 6:66Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with

an outstretched arm and with great judgments.

God would rescue Israel out of Egypt despite the oppressive situation they were in—God is in control