The book of Exodus chapter 4 God Sends Moses and Aaron to Egypt

221 Pages·2017·1.58 MB·English

by  Gary Kukis

Exodus 4
Written and compiled by Gary Kukis
Exodus 4:1–31 God Sends Moses and Aaron to Egypt
These studies are designed for believers in Jesus Christ only. If you have exercised faith in Christ, then you are
in the right place. If you have not, then you need to heed the words of our Lord, Who said, “For God so loved the
world that He gave His only-begotten [or, uniquely-born] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall
not perish, but shall have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world so that He should judge the
world, but so that the world shall be saved through Him. The one believing [or, trusting] in Him is not judged, but
the one not believing has already been judged, because he has not believed in the Name of the only-begotten [or,
uniquely-born] Son of God.” (John 3:16–18). “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the
Father except through [or, by means of] Me!” (John 14:6).
Every study of the Word of God ought to be preceded by a naming of your sins to God. This restores you to
fellowship with God (1John 1:8–10). If there are people around, you would name these sins silently. If there is
no one around, then it does not matter if you name them silently or whether you speak aloud.
Document Navigation
Preface and Quotations Outline of Chapter Charts, Graphics, Short Doctrines
Doctrines Alluded to Dictionary of Terms Introduction and Text
Chapter Summary Addendum A Complete Translation
Verse Navigation
Exodus 4:1 Exodus 4:2–3 Exodus 4:4–5 Exodus 4:6–8 Exodus 4:9
Exodus 4:10 Exodus 4:11–12 Exodus 4:13 Exodus 4:14 Exodus 4:15–16
Exodus 4:17 Exodus 4:18 Exodus 4:19 Exodus 4:20 Exodus 4:21
Exodus 4:22–23 Exodus 4:24 Exodus 4:25 Exodus 4:26 Exodus 4:27–28
Exodus 4:29–31
Links to the word-by-word, verse-by-verse studies of Exodus (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) (that is what this document
is). This incorporates 2 previous studies done in the book of Exodus. However, much of this material was thrown
together without careful editing. Therefore, from time to time, there will be concepts and exegetical material which
will be repeated, because there was no overall editing done once all of this material was combined.
There is a second, less complete set of weekly lessons of Exodus (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Every word of that
study can be found in this word-by-word, verse-by-verse study.
This study makes reference to a wide-range of sources. There are quotations from doctrinal teachers, of course;
but from Catholic commentaries and from other sources as well. Wherever I found relevant truth, I quoted from
it or was inspired by it. Even though it is clear that some churches have a better concept of our reason for being
Exodus Chapter 4 2
here, that does not mean that there is no truth to be found anywhere else. So, from time to time, I will quote from
John Calvin, even though I do not subscribe to 5-point Calvinism; I will quote from some Catholic sources, even
though I believe that they are very wrong regarding Mary, the pope, apostolic succession and other such doctrines.
The intention is for this to be the most thorough and accurate study of Exodus available anywhere.
Also, it is not necessary that you read the grey Hebrew exegesis tables. They are set apart from the rest of
the study so that you can easily skip over them (based upon the suggestion of a friend). However, if you ever
doubt the translation of a word, phrase or a verse, these translation tables are then available.
Preface: Exodus 4 is simply a continuation of Ex. 3. Moses is still out in the desert speaking to God. When God
tells Moses what He wants him to do, Moses objects, eloquently arguing that he is too inarticulate to speak before
Pharaoh and bring him God’s message. God tells Moses that his brother is able to talk, so he will be the
spokesman for Moses, who is the spokesman for God; and, oh by the way, Aaron is on his way right now to meet
Moses.
Moses and Aaron meet, then go to the elders of the sons of Israel and convince them that God knows of their
difficulties and that He has visited the sons of Israel.
There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Exodus. This will be the most extensive examination of
Exodus 4, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been
made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related
concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some
vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.
Quotations:
Outline of Chapter 4:
Introduction
vv. 1–9 God Gives Moses the Assets with Which to Speak to His People and to Pharaoh
vv. 10–17 God Allows Aaron to be His Spokesman Rather than Moses
vv. 18–23 Moses Leaves Midian, Receiving Final Instructions from God
vv. 24–26 Moses Faces the Sin unto Death Until His Second Son is Circumcised
vv. 27–31 Moses Meets with Aaron and They Travel to Egypt to Speak to the Hebrew Elders
Chapter Summary
Addendum
Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:
Preface Quotations
Introduction Fundamental Questions About Exodus 4
Introduction The Prequel of Exodus 4
Introduction The Principals of Exodus 4
Introduction The Places of Exodus 4
Introduction Timeline for Exodus 4
Introduction A Synopsis of Exodus 4
Introduction Outlines of Exodus 4 (Various Commentators)
Introduction Synopsis of Exodus 4 from the Summarized Bible
Introduction The Big Picture (Exodus 1–4)
3 The Book of Exodus
Introduction Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translation for Exodus 4
Introduction Changes—additions and subtractions (for Exodus 4)
v. 1 Moses’ Current Spiritual Maturity Level
v. 3 What Was the Spiritual Life in the Day of Moses?
v. 9 The Three Signs Given to Moses
v. 20 Jack Black using a pointer in the movie “School of Rock”
v. 20 Magician’s Hat and Wand (graphic)
v. 21 What is wrong with the hyper-Calvinist view of hardening Pharaoh’s heart?
v. 24 The American English Bible on, Did an Angel Want to Kill Moses?
v. 26 Circumcision or Circumcisions?
v. 26 What Do We Know About the Circumcision Incident?
v. 26 Kukis’ Full Interpretation of the Circumcision Incident
v. 26 Moses and his own personal knowledge about circumcision
v. 27 Explaining God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Free Will
v. 29 An Overview of Exodus 3–5
Summary A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary
Summary Why Exodus 4 is in the Word of God
Summary What We Learn from Exodus 4
Summary Jesus Christ in Exodus 4
Summary Shmoop Summary of Exodus 4
Summary Edersheim Summarizes Exodus 4
Addendum Josephus’ History of this Time Period
Addendum A Complete Translation of Exodus 4
Addendum Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Exodus 4
Addendum Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Exodus 4
Addendum Word Cloud from Exegesis of Exodus 4
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics, Short Doctrines
Beginning of Document Doctrines Covered or Alluded to Chapters of the Bible Alluded to
Definition of Terms Introduction and Text Addendum
www.kukis.org Exegetical Studies in Exodus
Doctrines Covered or Alluded To
Circumcision
Additional doctrines and links are found in Definition of Terms below.
Chapters of the Bible Alluded To and/or Appropriately Exegeted with this Chapter
Many who read and study this chapter are 1st or 2nd generation students of R. B. Thieme, Jr., so that much of
this vocabulary is second nature. One of Bob’s contributions to theology is a fresh vocabulary along with a
Exodus Chapter 4 4
number of concepts which are theologically new or reworked, yet still orthodox. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar
with his work, the definitions below will help you to fully understand all that is being said. Also, I have developed
a few new terms and concepts which require definition as well.
In addition, there are other more traditional yet technical theological terms which will be used and therefore
defined as well.
Sometimes the terms in the exegesis of this chapter are simply alluded to, without any in-depth explanation of
them. Sometimes, these terms are explained in detail and illustrated. A collection of all these terms is found
here: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Definition of Terms
A client nation, is a national entity in which a certain number of spiritually mature
Christians (the salt of the earth) have formed a pivot sufficient to sustain the nation and
through which God specifically protects this nation so that believers can fulfill the divine
mandates of evangelism, communication and custodianship of Bible doctrine, providing
a haven for Jews, and sending missionaries abroad. The United States is a client-nation
Client Nation
to God. A client nation must have freedom: Freedom to seek God, freedom to use one’s
own volition and self-determination to succeed or fail, freedom from anarchy and tyranny,
freedom for evangelism, freedom for believers to hear Bible teaching without government
interference and, therefore, to grow spiritually, and freedom to send missionaries to other
nations. Doctrine of the Client Nation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
In the New Testament, this is naming your sins to God, so that you are both restored to
Rebound
temporal fellowship with God and are then filled with the Spirit of God. In the Old
(Restoration to
Testament, naming your sins to God would result in a restoration of fellowship and, in
fellowship with
some cases, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit once again (the Holy Spirit was not given
God)
to all Old Testament believers). See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Some of these definitions are taken from
http://gracebiblechurchwichita.org/
http://rickhughesministries.org/content/Biblical-Terms.pdf
http://www.gbible.org/index.php?proc=d4d
http://www.wordoftruthministries.org/terms-and-definitions/
http://www.theopedia.com/
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
——————————
An Introduction to Exodus 4
Introduction: As we have noted, the chapter breaks are not inspired and this is particular chapter break is a
good example of a bad chapter break. We are still observing the conversation between Moses and the
Revealed God (Jesus Christ). Then, suddenly, in mid-conversation, the chapter suddenly ends. Chapter 3
should have been continued as far as Ex. 4:17, which is the end of the conversation between Jesus Christ and
Moses and chapter 4 should have begun with Ex. 4:18, when Moses takes his family and returns to Egypt.
The reason I do not re-do the chapters and set them up properly is, I make these documents to match up with the
common English Bible translation. If someone is studying Ex. 4:1–5, then I prefer for them to find that information
under Ex. 4, even though those verses are properly placed at the end of Ex. 3.
During this return, Moses is required to circumcise his children (who are grown men now) and this duty is relegated
to his wife, who finds the experience repugnant. This portion of God's Word is amusing because we have the very
5 The Book of Exodus
bitchy opinion of the wife of Moses given to the man who would lead two million Jews out of Egypt. We will also
have the opportunity to meet Moses' brother Aaron.
Sometimes, these chapters are divided up poorly (chapter and verse divisions are not divinely inspired).
Ex. 4:1–19 continue the conversation between God and Abraham in the desert-wilderness. It makes more sense
to me to place these verses back with Ex. 3. The remainder of this chapter is Moses (and Aaron) going to Egypt.
This would have made for an additional short chapter (Ex. 4:20–31); but that division would have made a lot more
sense than cutting off this meeting between God and Moses in mid-conversation.
The NET Bible: In chap. 3, the first part of this extensive call, Yahweh promises to deliver his people.
At the hesitancy of Moses, God guarantees his presence will be with him, and that assures the
success of the mission. But with chap. 4, the second half of the call, the tone changes sharply. Now
Moses protests his inadequacies in view of the nature of the task. In many ways, these verses
address the question, “Who is sufficient for these things?” There are three basic movements in the
passage. The first nine verses tell how God gave Moses signs in case Israel did not believe him
(4:1-9). The second section records how God dealt with the speech problem of Moses (4:10-12). And
finally, the last section records God’s provision of a helper, someone who could talk well (4:13-17).
See also J. E. Hamlin, “The Liberator’s Ordeal: A Study of Exodus 4:1-9,” Rhetorical Criticism [PTMS],
33-42.1
In Ex. 4, there are two words which we find repeated several times: go and return (often, they are placed together
in this chapter). Ex. 4 is the go and return chapter. It is all about getting Moses to leave Midian and to go to
Egypt, and having a plan for what he will do in Egypt.
Although not all of Exodus is chiasmi, there are a few interesting ones.
Chiasmos of Exodus 4:1–5 (Chiasmus Exchange)
A (1) And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice:
for they will say, The LORD has not appeared unto you.
B (2) And the LORD said unto him, What is that in your hand? And he said, A rod.
C(3) And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became
a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
C’(4) And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth your hand, and take it by the tail. And
he put forth his hand, and caught it,...
B’ ...and it became a rod in his hand:
A’(5) That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared unto you.
From http://www.chiasmusxchange.com/2016/02/08/exodus-41-8/ modified; accessed October 18, 2017.
Fundamental Questions About Exodus 4
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
1 From https://bible.org/netbible/index.htm?exo4.htm (footnote); accessed February 12, 2017.
Exodus Chapter 4 6
It is important to understand what has gone before.
The Prequel of Exodus 4
Exodus 4 will begin with
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
We need to know who the people are who populate this chapter.
The Principals of Exodus 4
Characters Commentary
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
We need to know where this chapter takes place.
The Places of Exodus 4
Place Description
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
Timeline for Exodus 4
Legend
Birth or death God speaks with Abraham
Historical incidents (most of which are related to Abraham)
Parenthetical dates (2065 B.C.) simply refer to taking the date assigned by the chronologist and using Scripture
to determine the next date.
7 The Book of Exodus
The entire Abrahamic Timeline (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The entire Patriarchal Timeline (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Much of the commentary on the far right came from others’ works (like Brent MacDonald).
Reese’s
Brent
Steve Rudd Age of Moses Chronology Scripture Event/Description
MacDonald
Bible
Gen. 50:26
1805 B.C. 1806 B.C. 1606 B.C. Joseph dies at age 110
Exodus 6:1
1625 B.C. Birth of Amram (Levi’s
Num. 26:58
(1620 B.C.) grandson, Moses’ father.
1590 B.C.
The death of Levi (age 137)
(1584 B.C.)
Reese occasionally supplies 2 dates in his Chronological Bible; the first is his and the second is Klassen’s.
Gen. 47:27 From the Patriarchs to the
1606–1462 B.C.
Exodus 1:7 Exodus.
Hyksos begin ruling in
1783 B.C. 1656 B.C.
Egypt (Semite kings).
1556 B.C. Defeat of Hyksos dynasty
Ahmose reign (wife
1570 B.C. 1557–1532 B.C. Nefertiri); beginning of the
18th Dynasty in Egypt.
1546 B.C. 1532–1511 B.C. Amuntotep reign
1580 B.C. Egyptian bondage and
Exodus 1:8–14
(1542 B.C.) oppression increases.
1526 B.C. Amuntotep kills children
1522 B.C. 1526 B.C. 0 Exodus 2:2 Birth of Moses
Hatshepsut, age 15, adopts
1522 B.C. 1526 B.C. Exodus 2:5
baby Moses.
Thutmose I reign (wife
1526 B.C. 1511–1498 B.C.
Ahmose)
Thutmose II – Hatshepsut
1514 B.C. 1498–1485 B.C. (his half-sister and co-ruler)
Pharaohs of Oppression
Hatshepsut continues reign
1504 B.C.
with Thutmose III
Num. 11:29
1466 B.C. Birth of Joshua
Ex. 33:11
Exodus Chapter 4 8
Reese’s
Brent
Steve Rudd Age of Moses Chronology Scripture Event/Description
MacDonald
Bible
Moses flees to Midian to
escape the wrath of
Thutmose III. Pharaoh
Exodus 2:11-15
1482 B.C. Thutmose III now rules
Acts 7:23
Egypt alone, subsequently
destroying most traces of
Hatshepsut.
Egypt - Pharaoh
Amenhotep II (alt.
Amenophis II). He was not
the oldest son of Thutmose
1450 B.C.
III. Bloodthirsty; liked hand
to hand combat, led troops
into battle with howls of
rage.
Ex. 4:18-5:1 Egypt - Moses returns and
1446 B.C.
1Kings 6:1 confronts Amenhotep II.
Moses leads people out of
Egypt; the beginning of the
exodus. note 3. Scripture
1446 B.C. 1446 B.C. Ex. 12:40-41
does not state that Pharaoh
was killed at this time (read
about it here).
Sinai (Marah, Elim,
Rephidim, Mount Sinai, etc.)
- Israel in wilderness 40
years (Exodus 16:35). A
timeline of stops on the
Exodus is here.
Egypt - Pharaoh Thutmose
IV (alt. Tuthmosis IV)
reigns, son of Amenhotep II
and lesser wife Tiaa. He
1424 B.C.
was not the oldest son. Had
dream at the sphinx that he
would rule - recorded on
stele there.
Egypt - Pharaoh
Amenhotep III (alt.
Amenophis III). The clossi
1414 B.C.
of Memnon are all that
remains of his temple near
Thebes.
9 The Book of Exodus
Reese’s
Brent
Steve Rudd Age of Moses Chronology Scripture Event/Description
MacDonald
Bible
Israel - Moses writes and
teaches the book of
1402 B.C. Deut. 1:1, 5
Deuteronomy in land of
Moab.
Moses dies at Mount Nebo
1402 B.C. 120 Deut. 34:7
at 120 years oold
Joshua crosses Jordan
1406 B.C.
River.
Israel - Conquests of
1401 B.C. Joshua in Promised Land
begin. Battle of Jericho.
Bibliography
MacDonald’s timeline is from: http://www.bibleistrue.com/qna/qna63.htm accessed January 29, 2016.
See http://www.bibleistrue.com/qna/qna63dating.htm for his justification of his timeline.
Steve Rudd from http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-route-date-1440bc.jpg accessed
January 29, 2016.
The Reese Chronological Bible; KJV translation; Editor: Edward Reese; ©1977 by Edward Reese and Klassen’s dating
system ©1975 by Frank R. Klassen; h1980 by Bethany House Publishers, South Minneapolis, MN; pp. 18–19, 54–74.
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
Here is what to expect from Exodus 4:
A Synopsis of Exodus 4
Like all chapters of the Word of God, you need more than just the simple plot outline to understand what God
wants us to know.
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
Outlines of Exodus 4 (Various Commentators)
Exodus Chapter 4 10
Outlines of Exodus 4 (Various Commentators)
Chapter Outline Charts, Maps and Short Doctrines
ESV; capitalized used below.
Synopsis of Exodus 4 from the Summarized Bible
Contents: Moses’ objections. Unbelief of the people and Moses’ lack of eloquence. Return to Egypt.
Message delivered to elders.
Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Jethro, Zipporah, elders.
Conclusion: Unbelief refuses to believe God because it does not find in self a reason for believing. With
God, the merest stammerer may prove an efficient minister, neither need he be uneasy as
to the reception of the message.
Key Word: Spokesman, Exodus 4:16. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth,
and you shall be as God to him.
Strong Verses: Exodus 4:11–12 Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes
him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be
with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." Exodus 4:31 And the people believed;
and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen
their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
Striking Facts: The rod, symbol of power in Christ’s hand, was not wrenched away from Moses, but cast
down by Moses. It remained a serpent only while out of his hand. The rod, temporarily out of
Christ’s hand, will soon be taken up again and Satan’s power will be over.
Keith L. Brooks, Summarized Bible; Complete Summary of the Bible; ©1919; from e-Sword, Ex. 4.
Chapter Outline Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines
It is helpful to see what came before and what follows in a brief summary.
The Big Picture (Exodus 1–4)
Scripture Text/Commentary
Exodus 1 bridges the gap between Genesis and Exodus, listing the sons of Jacob
who entered into Egypt, followed by a later pharaoh who put all of the descendants
of Jacob into slavery.
Exodus 1
In the third section of Exodus 1, pharaoh orders that all of the male infants be killed,
as the population of the Hebrew people is growing too quickly.
Moses is born and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses grows up in the palace,
but as an adult, he ventures out among the Hebrew slaves and kills an Egyptian
slavedriver. Because he is later recognized, Moses flees to Midian to escape
Exodus 2
punishment. In Midian, Moses becomes closely associated with a Midianite
ranching family and he marries one of the man’s daughters. Meanwhile, in Egypt,
the Israelites cry out because of their slavery and God hears them.