Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 11:3

And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses [was] very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.

Verse 3. The man Moses was very great] The miracles which Pharaoh and his servants had already seen him work had doubtless impressed them with a high opinion of his wisdom and power. Had he not appeared in their sight as a very extraordinary person, whom it would have been very dangerous to molest, we may naturally conclude that some violence would long ere this have been offered to his person.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Therefore they complied with their request, not only out of love to the people, but out of fear to Moses, lest he should punish them severely in case of refusal.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians,…. So that they freely and willingly lent them the things they asked of them; which seems to be said by way of anticipation, for this was not done until the following plague was inflicted, see

Ex 12:35,

moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt; his name was famous throughout the whole land, because of the signs and wonders, and miracles wrought by him; they took him to be a very extraordinary person, as he was, and had him in great esteem, because at his entreaty the plagues were removed from them, when they had been wrought on them; and this made them the more willing to lend the above things to the people of Israel when they asked them of them, because of their great respect to Moses, and whom, if they did not cordially love, yet they feared, and might imagine that if they did not comply with the request of his people, he might resent it, and employ his power against them; and thus he stood, either beloved or feared, or both,

in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants; his ministers, courtiers, and counsellors: and in the sight of the people; the common people, the inhabitants of the land of Egypt.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

3. And the Lord gave (135) the people favor. Because the Israelites never could have hoped that the Egyptians, who had before rapaciously stripped them of everything, would become so kind and liberal to them, Moses declares that men’s hearts are turned this way or that by God. For, as the Psalm testifies, that the Egyptians were impelled by Him “to hate His people,” (Psa 105:25,) that He might make way for their glorious deliverance; so He was able also to incline them in the opposite direction, that they should freely give what they had before harshly refused, and not without threats and blows. This doctrine is exceedingly useful to be known, because, when men are harsh and cruel to us, it: teaches us patience, whilst we are assured that the passions of wicked men only thus assail us, in so far as God would chastise our sins, and exercise and humble us. It affords also no little consolation to alleviate our pains, and seasonably arouses us to call upon God, that He would turn the minds of our enemies from brutality and unkindness to gentleness. It appears from many passages that this was ever the persuasion of all the pious, and unquestionably the expression of Jacob to his sons, “God Almighty give ( dabit) you mercy before the man,” was founded on this general feeling. (Gen 43:14.) But, since Scripture is full of such testimonies, let it suffice to have quoted this single one. Again, God does not always incline men to mercy, by the Spirit of regeneration, so that they should be changed from wolves to lambs; but sometimes by His secret inspiration He for a short time softens them though they know it not, as we read here of the Egyptians. In the second clause of the verse, where it is said, “Moreover the man Moses,” etc., an inferior and subordinate reason is given, which availed both to change the Egyptians as well as to encourage the Israelites, so that both of them reverently deferred to his words; for although this whole matter was governed by the power of God alone, still He did not act simply by Himself, but having chosen Moses as His minister, He assigned (136) a certain charge to him. Hence the veneration which made the Egyptians as well as the Israelites obedient to him, that his labor might not be in vain. He only speaks, indeed, of the Egyptian nation, (for after having spoken of “the land” first, he adds two divisions, “Pharaoh’s servants,” i.e., the nobles and courtiers, and then “the common people,” for so in this place I understand the word “people;”) but we shall soon see that the miracles had had a good effect upon the Israelites also, that they should more readily believe and obey. But; this passage teaches us that God’s servants are often prized and honored, where yet faith in their doctrine is not possessed, for although the Egyptians reverence and highly esteem Moses, they do not therefore incline to seek (137) after piety. And thus the wicked often fear God Himself, when influenced by particular circumstances, and yet do not devote themselves to His service.

(135) Lat. , “dabit.”

(136) “Il luy a laisse ce qui estoit de sa charge et vocation;” he left to him what pertained to his charge and calling. — Fr.

(137) “A craindre Dieu d’une droite affection.” — Fr.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(3) The Lord gave the people favouri.e., when the time arrived. (See below, Exo. 12:36.)

The man Moses.At first sight there seems a difficulty in supposing Moses to have written thus of himself. The man is not a title by which writers of any time or country are in the habit of speaking of themselves; but it is far more difficult to imagine any one but Moses giving him so bald and poor a designation. To other writers he is a prophet (Deu. 34:10; Luk. 24:27; Act. 3:22; Act. 7:37), or a man of God (Deu. 33:1; Jos. 14:6; Psalms 90, Title; Ezr. 3:2), or the servant of the Lord (Jos. 1:1; Heb. 3:5); never simply the man.

Very great.It has been said that this expression does not comport well with the meekness of Moses. But it is the mere statement of a fact, and of one necessary to be stated for the proper understanding of the narrative. Moses, in the course of his long contention as an equal with Pharaoh, had come to be regarded, not only by the courtiers, but by the Egyptians generally, as a great personagea personage almost on a par with the Pharaoh, whom they revered as a god upon earth. The position to which he had thus attained exerted an important influence on the entire Egyptian people at this time, causing them to be well-inclined towards his countrymen, and willing to make sacrifices in order to help them and obtain their good-will.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

3. And the Lord gave the people favour the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt At this crisis the Egyptians had become so panic-stricken that they gave the Israelites whatever they asked, and Moses, Jehovah’s dread messenger, overwhelmed them with awe and terror . The author does not here refer to any moral or intellectual greatness of Moses, but simply to the impression which he had produced upon the Egyptians .

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Exo 11:3. And the Lord gave This, perhaps, might be better rendered, the Lord will give. The Vulgate, Samaritan, Houbigant, &c. render it in the future. Some imagine that the clause following was mentioned as the reason why Pharaoh did not attempt any thing against the person of Moses; whom all his people now considered as the immediate messenger of GOD, and, consequently, held in most high veneration.

REFLECTIONS.They who despised Moses at first, begin to fear and honour him at last. God gives him his last directions. Israel had served for no wages long enough; God will now repay them in the jewels of Egypt. Some way or other, they who suffer for him shall obtain their reward. God has a short work to do: one stroke more, and then they shall be as earnest to thrust them out, as before to hold them prisoners. Note; There is one judgment yet to come after this life against sinners, which shall humble them, in a bad sense, if nothing else does.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

This had been threatened before: Exo 4:23 . And, Reader! doth not this serve to teach how true that scripture is, the Lord is slow to anger: see Lev 26:44 . in proof. And observe the expression in this plague. Moses and Aaron are not now to be the instruments of inflicting: I will go out, saith God. Read that scripture: Heb 10:31 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Exo 11:3 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses [was] very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.

Ver. 3. Was very great in the land of Egypt. ] Great he was both in gifts and authority; so that for his sake the Israelites might have what they would of the Egyptians. It was not here as once at Rome, Calamitas nostra Magnus est. Sic Mimus olim de Pompeio, plaudente populo Romano tam eleganti soloecismo.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)