Notes from Exodus 5

Moses and Aaron are here dealing with Pharaoh, to get leave of him to go and worship in the wilderness.

I. They demand leave in the name of God (v. 1), and he answers their demand with a defiance of God (v. 2).
II. They beg leave in the name of Israel (v. 3), and he answers their request with further orders to oppress Israel (v. 4-9). These cruel orders were,
1. Executed by the task-masters (v. 10-14).
2. Complained of to Pharaoh, but in vain (v. 15-19).
3. Complained of by the people to Moses (v. 20, 21), and by him to God (v. 22, 23).

Notes from Exodus 4

This chapter,

I. Continues and concludes God's discourse with Moses at the bush concerning this great affair of bringing Israel out of Egypt.
1. Moses objects the people's unbelief (v. 1), and God answers that objection by giving him a power to work miracles,
(1.) To turn his rod into a serpent, and then into a rod again (v. 2-5).
(2.) To make his hand leprous, and then whole again (v. 6-8).
(3.) To turn the water into blood (v. 9).
2. Moses objects his own slowness of speech (v. 10), and begs to be excused (v. 13); but God answers this objection,
(1.) By promising him his presence (v. 11, 12).
(2.) By joining Aaron in commission with him (v. 14-16).
(3.) By putting an honour upon the very staff in his hand (v. 17).
II. It begins Moses's execution of his commission.
1. He obtains leave of his father-in-law to return into Egypt (v. 18).
2. He receives further instructions and encouragements from God (v. 19, 21-23).
3. He hastens his departure, and takes his family with him (v. 20).
4. He meets with some difficulty in the way about the circumcising of his son (v. 24-26).
5. He has the satisfaction of meeting his brother Aaron (v. 27, 28).
6. He produces his commission before the elders of Israel, to their great joy (v. 29-31). And thus the wheels were set a going towards that great deliverance.

Notes from Exodus 3

As prophecy had ceased for many ages before the coming of Christ, that the revival and perfection of it in that great prophet might be the more remarkable, so vision had ceased (for aught that appears) among the patriarchs for some ages before the coming of Moses, that God's appearances to him for Israel's salvation might be the more welcome; and in this chapter we have God's first appearance to him in the bush and the conference between God and Moses in that vision. Here is,

I. The discovery God was pleased to make of his glory to Moses at the bush, to which Moses was forbidden to approach too near (v. 1-5).
II. A general declaration of God's grace and good-will to his people, who were beloved for their fathers' sakes (v. 6).
III. A particular notification of God's purpose concerning the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt.
1. He assures Moses it should now be done (v. 7-9).
2. He gives him a commission to act in it as his ambassador both to Pharaoh (v. 10) and to Israel (v. 16).
3. He answers the objection Moses made of his own unworthiness (v. 11, 12).
4. He gives him full instructions what to say both to Pharaoh and to Israel (v. 13-18).
5. He tells him beforehand what the issue would be (v. 19, etc.).

Notes from Exodus 2

This chapter begins the story of Moses, that man of renown, famed for his intimate acquaintance with Heaven and his eminent usefulness on earth, and the most remarkable type of Christ, as a prophet, saviour, lawgiver, and mediator, in all the Old Testament. The Jews have a book among them of the life of Moses, which tells a great many stories concerning him, which we have reason to think are mere fictions; what he has recorded concerning himself is what we may rely upon, for we know that his record is true; and it is what we may be satisfied with, for it is what Infinite Wisdom thought fit to preserve and transmit to us. In this chapter we have,

I. The perils of his birth and infancy (v. 1-4).
II. His preservation through those perils, and the preferment of his childhood and youth (v. 5-10).
III. The pious choice of his riper years, which was to own the people of God.
1. He offered them his service at present, if they would accept it (v. 11-14).
2. He retired, that he might reserve himself for further service hereafter (v. 15-22).
IV. The dawning of the day of Israel's deliverance (v. 23, etc.).

Notes from Exodus 1

We have here,

I. God's kindness to Israel, in multiplying them exceedingly (v. 1-7).
II. The Egyptians' wickedness to them,
1. Oppressing and enslaving them (v. 8-14).
2. Murdering their children (v. 15-22). Thus whom the court of heaven blessed the country of Egypt cursed, and for that reason.

Notes from Genesis 50

Here is,

I. The preparation for Jacob's funeral (v. 1-6).
II. The funeral itself (v. 7-14).
III. The settling of a good understanding between Joseph and his brethren after the death of Jacob (v. 15-21).
IV. The age and death of Joseph (v. 22-26).
Thus the book of Genesis, which began with the origin of light and life, ends with nothing but death and darkness; so sad a change has sin made.

Notes from Genesis 49

This chapter is a prophecy; the likest to it we have yet met with was that of Noah, ch. 9:25, etc. Jacob is here upon his death-bed, making his will. He put it off till now, because dying men's words are apt to make deep impressions, and to be remembered long: what he said here, he could not say when he would, but as the Spirit gave him utterance, who chose this time, that divine strength might be perfected in his weakness. The twelve sons of Jacob were, in their day, men of renown, but the twelve tribes of Israel, which descended and were denominated from them, were much more renowned; we find their names upon the gates of the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:12. In the prospect of this their dying father says something remarkable of each son, or of the tribe that bore his name. Here is,

I. The preface (v. 1, 2).
II. The prediction concerning each tribe (v. 3-28).
III. The charge repeated concerning his burial (v. 29-32).
IV. His death (v. 33).

Notes from Genesis 48

The time drawing nigh that Israel must die, having, in the former chapter, given order about his burial, in this he takes leave of his grand-children by Joseph, and in the next of all his children. Thus Jacob's dying words are recorded, because he then spoke by a spirit of prophecy; Abraham's and Isaac's are not. God's gifts and graces shine forth much more in some saints than in others upon their death-beds. The Spirit, like the wind, blows where it listeth. In this chapter,

I. Joseph, hearing of his father's sickness, goes to visit him, and takes his two sons with him (v. 1, 2).
II. Jacob solemnly adopts his two sons, and takes them for his own (v. 3-7).
III. He blesses them (v. 8-16).
IV. He explains and justifies the crossing of his hands in blessing them (v. 17-20).
V. He leaves a particular legacy to Joseph (v. 21, 22).

Notes from Genesis 47

In this chapter we have instances,

I. Of Joseph's kindness and affection to his relations, presenting his brethren first and then his father to Pharaoh (v. 1-10), settling them in Goshen, and providing for them there (v. 11, 12), and paying his respects to his father when he sent for him (v. 27-31).
II. Of Joseph's justice between prince and people in a very critical affair, selling Pharaoh's corn to his subjects with reasonable profits to Pharaoh, and yet without any wrong to them (v. 13, etc.). Thus he approved himself wise and good, both in his private and in his public capacity.

Notes from Genesis 46

Jacob is here removing to Egypt in his old age, forced thither by a famine, and invited thither by a son. Here,

I. God sends him thither (v. 1-4).
II. All his family goes with him (v. 5-27).
III. Joseph bids him welcome (v. 28-34).

Notes from Genesis 45

It is a pity that this chapter and the foregoing should be parted, and read asunder. There we had Judah's intercession for Benjamin, with which, we may suppose, the rest of his brethren signified their concurrence; Joseph let him go on without interruption, heard all he had to say, and then answered it all in one word, "I am Joseph.' Now he found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself (for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech), respectful to their father, and very tender of their brother Benjamin; now they were ripe for the comfort he designed them, by making himself known to them, the story of which we have in this chapter. It was to Joseph's brethren as clear shining after rain, nay, it was to them as life from the dead. Here is,

I. Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren, and his discourse with them upon that occasion (v. 1-15).
II. The orders Pharaoh, hereupon, gave to fetch Jacob and his family down to Egypt, and Joseph's despatch of his brethren, accordingly, back to his father with those orders (v. 16-24).
III. The joyful tidings of this brought to Jacob (v. 25, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 44

Joseph, having entertained his brethren, dismissed them; but here we have them brought back in a greater fright than any they had been in yet. Observe,

I. What method he took both to humble them further and also to try their affection to his brother Benjamin, by which he would be able to judge of the sincerity of their repentance for what they had done against himself, of which he was desirous to be satisfied before he manifested his reconciliation to them. This he contrived to do by bringing Benjamin into distress (v. 1-17).
II. The good success of the experiment; he found them all heartily concerned, and Judah particularly, both for the safety of Benjamin and for the comfort of their aged father (v. 18, etc.).