Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 5:23
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.
23. neither, &c.] according to the promise, Exo Exo 3:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The earnestness of this remonstrance, and even its approach to irreverence, are quite in keeping with other notices of Moses naturally impetuous character. See Exo 3:13.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. He hath done evil to this people] Their misery is increased instead of being diminished.
Neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.] The marginal reading is both literal and correct: And delivering thou hast not delivered. Thou hast begun the work by giving us counsels and a commission, but thou hast not brought the people from under their bondage. Thou hast signified thy pleasure relative to their deliverance, but thou hast not brought them out of the hands of their enemies.
1. IT is no certain proof of the displeasure of God that a whole people, or an individual, may be found in a state of great oppression and distress; nor are affluence and prosperity any certain signs of his approbation. God certainly loved the Israelites better than he did the Egyptians; yet the former were in the deepest adversity, while the latter were in the height of prosperity. Luther once observed, that if secular prosperity were to be considered as a criterion of the Divine approbation, then the grand Turk must be the highest in the favour of God, as he was at that time the most prosperous sovereign on the earth. An observation of this kind, on a case so obvious, was really well calculated to repress hasty conclusions drawn from these external states, and to lay down a correct rule of judgment for all such occasions.
2. In all our addresses to God we should ever remember that we have sinned against him, and deserve nothing but punishment from his hand. We should therefore bow before him with the deepest humiliation of soul, and take that caution of the wise man, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few,” Ec 5:2. There is the more need to attend to this caution, because many ignorant though well-meaning people use very improper, not to say indecent, freedoms in their addresses to the throne of grace. With such proceedings God cannot be well pleased; and he who has not a proper impression of the dignity and excellence of the Divine Nature, is not in such a disposition as it is essentially necessary to feel in order to receive help from God. He who knows he has sinned, and feels that he is less than the least of all God’s mercies, will pray with the deepest humility, and even rejoice before God with trembling. A solemn AWE of the Divine Majesty is not less requisite to successful praying, than faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. When we have such a commission as that of Moses, we may make use of his freedom of speech; but till then, the publican’s prayer will best suit the generality of those who are even dignified by the name of Christian – Lord, be merciful to ME, a SINNER!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In thy name; not of my own head, but by thy command and commission.
Neither hast thou delivered thy people, according to thy promise and mine, and thy peoples just expectation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name,…. Had he come in his own name, it needed not be wondered at if he should not succeed, but coming in the name of God, it might have been expected he would, and that Pharaoh would have been prevailed upon, or obliged to use the people well, and let them go; but instead of that,
he hath done evil to this people; afflicted and oppressed them more than ever: see Ex 5:7, c.
neither hast thou delivered thy people at all there was not the least thing done towards their deliverance, their affliction was not at all mitigated, but increased: Moses expected that God would have made a beginning as soon as he had delivered his message to Pharaoh; that his mind would have been disposed in favour of the people, and he would have made their bondage lighter and easier, if he did not dismiss them at once; but, instead of that, more work was laid upon them, and their burdens were heavier: now this was a stumbling and a temptation to Moses, to wish he had never been sent; but if he had called to mind, which he seems to have forgotten, that Pharaoh would not let the people go at first, until all the wonders were wrought he had given him power to do, Ex 4:2 it would have relieved him, and removed his objections, and put a stop to his expostulation with God, who gives an answer to them in the following chapter, without expressing any displeasure at them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
REFLECTIONS
To what a daring height of profaneness and impiety is the human heart capable of arriving, unrestrained by Almighty grace! Lord, keep me from that awful desperately wicked state which is here described in the character of this wretch, who from not liking to retain God in his knowledge was given over to a reprobate mind.
Reader! observe with me how mysterious according to our view of things, the Lord’s dealings are with his people. So hath it been with the church of God in all ages. We look for judgment but there is none: for salvation, but it is far off from us. Such was the complaint of the faithful. And such was, and is, and will be their complaints until grace shall be no longer in a state of exercise, but be consummated in glory. In the world ye shall have tribulation, this is the inscription on Jesus’ standard. But what a precious thought is it that not an hour, no not a moment beyond the Lord’s time of trial, shall man’s power be exercised over his people! Reader! beg of God the Holy Ghost to write this sweet Scripture in your heart, and grant you grace to live in the believing assurance of it for the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left. Deu 32:36 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 5:23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.
Ver. 23. Neither hast thou delivered. ] Here Moses himself was too short spirited. He considered not, belike, that God’s promises do many times bear a long date, neither is it fit to set him a time, or to awaken him whom our soul loveth, until he please. Do but “wait,” saith the Lord. Hab 2:3 You shall be delivered, you shall be delivered, you shall be delivered; you shall, you shall. So much that text in effect soundeth and assureth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
delivered Thy People at all. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6). Hebrew “delivering Thou hast not delivered Thy People”. Figure of speech used for great emphasis. See Gen 26:28.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
in thy name: Psa 118:26, Jer 11:21, Joh 5:43
neither hast thou delivered: Heb. delivering, thou hast not delivered, Isa 26:17, Isa 26:18, Isa 28:16, Heb 10:36, Heb 10:37
Reciprocal: Exo 6:11 – General Deu 26:6 – General Jos 7:7 – wherefore Jer 20:7 – deceived Mar 9:26 – cried 2Co 7:8 – though I did