face of the serpent, Revel. 12. 14.
Vers. 4. by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taile] which was dangerous to [unspec 4] d〈…〉〈…〉n lest hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be bitten thereby: howbeit Moses, obeying in faith, had no hurt; but the ser∣pent was turned to a rod againe: so that ministrati∣on of Moses which turneth to the unbeleevers un∣to death, is to the obedient become an instrument of guiding them as a flocke, unto life and salvation by Christ, Mark. 16. 18. 2. Cor. 2. 15. 16. and 3. 6. 16. Gal. 3. 24. The Hebrew Doctors, barely apply it to the present case thus; as the serpent biteth and killeth the sonne of Adam, so Pharaoh and his peo∣ple did bite and kill the Israelites: but hee was turned and made like a drie sticke. ••inkei. R. Eliezer, c. 40.
Vers. 5. That they may] this sheweth the end of the former signe was to worke faith: and it is an [unspec 5] unperfect speech; as if he should say, Doe this before them that they may beleeve. Such wants the holy Scripture of〈…〉〈…〉 supplieth, in the beginning or end of speeches: as in Mar. 14. 49. but that the scriptures might be fulled: which another explaineth thus, but all this is done that the scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled; Matth. 26. 56. So in 2 Sam 5. 8. these words are wanting, hee shall be chiefe and Captaine: which are afterwards supplied in 1 Chron. 11. 6. and sundry the like. See Exod. 13. 8. and 16. 8. and 18. 11. and 3••. 32.
Verse 6. leprous as snow] that is, white as snow, as the Chaldee translateth. The leprosie was a sore [unspec 6] contagious disease, and by man incurable: and God laid it sometime suddenly upon persons, for their great sinnes, as upon Mary the sister of Moses, Num. 12. 10. upon Gehazi, 2 King. 5. 27. and le∣pers were shut out of other mens company. See the law hereof, Levit. 13. And they that were thus leprous as snow, were as dead, their flesh halfe con∣sumed, Numb. 12. 10. 12.
Vers. 7. as his flesh] that is, ruddy and lively: the Greeke translateth, into the colour of his flesh: A thing [unspec 7] done in the bosonte, signifieth secrecie, and effectu∣alnesse, Prov. 21. 14. Psalme 29. 12. So by this plague of leprosie on Moses hand in his bosome, and healing it againe; God seemeth to threaten unto Moses himselfe if he refused, and to all that should disobey the word of the Lord by his mini∣stories, sudden, secret, and terrible judgement, but upon their returne unto him; to cure them; for hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 undeth, and boaleth, Deut. 32. 39. Compare Ex∣〈…〉〈…〉 25. 26. Deut. 28. 27. 35. 59. 60. 61. And Moses hand, signifieth his ministerie unto the sonnes of. If 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Psal. 77. 21. The Hebrew Doctors apply it thus; As the Lapet is uncleane, and maketh (others) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so were Pharaoh and his people unleane, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Israel uncleane. And when hee made (his band) 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hee find unto him thus shall Israel bee (〈◊〉〈◊〉 the uncleannesse of the Egyptian, Pirk••i. 〈…〉〈…〉, c. 40.
Vers. 8. the 〈…〉〈…〉ice,] or at the voice: which is here [unspec 8] given 〈…〉〈…〉 signe, (as in Gen. 4. 10. it is unto blood;) because God by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 signes speaketh unto men: and an 〈…〉〈…〉 word with the signe, that it may be heard and understood, as 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 30. Ezek. 1. ••9. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 16. So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 calleth them, the words of his sign••••, Psal. 10••. ••7.
Vers. 9. to blood This third signe, was for like end [unspec 9] as the former; to signifie unto Israel, if they beleo∣ved not, that God would bring upon them yet more bloody afflictions: and they beleeving hee would avenge them, on their enemies. Of the E∣gyptians waters turned to blood, see after in Ex∣odus 7. 19. &c.
V. 10. Oh] in Gr. v I pray thee Lord: see this word in [unspec 10] Gen. 43. 20. so after in v. 13. man of words] that is, eloquent: so a man of 〈◊〉〈◊〉; that is, talkative, Iob 11. 2. a man of arme, that is, mighty, Iob 22 8. a man of tongue, that is, a pratler, Ps. 140. 12. The Gr. here translateth, Iam not sufficient. So Paul saith, and who is sufficient for these things? 2 Cor. 2. 16. from daies heretofore] Heb. from yesterday or from the day before; used for al daies past: see Gen. 31. 2. of an heavy] or, heavy of mouth; that is slow, (or troubled) in speaking, & hard to be un∣derstood of the hearers; as the latter of these two sig∣nifieth, in Ezek. 3. 6. The Greek translateth, of a smal voice & of a slow tongue: the Chaldee, of a heavy speech and of a deep tongue. This (as other things in Moses) may have reference to the effect of the Law, which he administred: as on the contrary, the Psalmist pro∣phesying of Christ, had his tongue, the penne of a spee∣dy writer. Psal. 45. 2. and the Spirit, (which is recei∣ved, not by the works of Moses law, but by the hea∣ring of faith in Christ, Gal. 3. 2.) causeth prophesie, and other words of wisdome and knowledge, Act. 2. 18. 1. Gor. 12. 8. 10. & causeth the lips of those that are a∣sleepe, to speake, Song 7. 9. By the Hebrew cannons, no Priest that stammered, lisped or was of an heavy mouth or tongue, might lift up his hands to blesse the people: Maimony in Misneh treat of Prayer, chap. 15. S〈…〉〈…〉 Soe the notes on Num. 6. 23.
Vers. 11 hath made] or as the Greek translateth, [unspec 11] hath given Heb put, the mouth to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 open eyed] or, open cared: for the Hebrew word signifieth both these, Esa. 42. 7. 20. and may have reference here to both. The Greeke tranflateth, the seeing. Com∣pare Psal. 146. 8 Esa. 61. 1. and 33. 5. 6.
Vers. 12. I will be] The Chaldee, expounds it my [unspec 12] word shall be: the Greeke, I will open thy mouth. will t••aoh] by my spirit, as Christ in like manner promiseth his Apostles, Matth. 10. 19. 20. Mark. 13. 11. Luke 12. 11. 12.
Vers. 13. by the hand thou shouldest] that is, by his [unspec 13] hand (or ministery) whom thou shouldest send, as being fitterthand: (or) by the hand (of any other whom) thou wilt send. The Chaldee, and That gum Ierusalemy translate, by the hand of him whom it is meet to send: and the Greeke 〈◊〉〈◊〉, choose an•• then able man whom thou wilt send. Moses 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatnesse of the worke, would with draw his shoulder, through infirmity: God hereby 〈…〉〈…〉 w∣ing the imperfection of Moses administration, and impossibility of the law to bring men to perfecti∣on; when Moses could not bring Israel into the promised land: 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 24. 25. 27. 28. Romans 8. 3. Hebrewes 7. 19. The hand of one, is usually put for his ministerie: as Moses now was s••m of God by the hand of the Angel which appea∣red to him in the bush 〈◊〉〈◊〉 7. 35. See Exodus 9. 35. Psal. 97 2••. Hag. 1. 1. Mal. 1. 1.
Vers. 24. speaking speake] that is, speake well and elo∣quently. [unspec 14]