The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

SECTION VIII.

Moses in danger of death, because of distrust, Exod. 4. 24.

THE fault of Moses that brought him into this danger, was not the uncircumcision of his Son, as it is commonly held, for that had been dispensable withal in him, as it was with thousands afterwards of the Israelites in the Wilderness, but his fault was grievous diffidence and distrust. For this is that that makes him so much so oft, and so earnestly to decline so glorious and honourable a message as the Lord would send him on, and this was that that brought him into this danger of death, when he was even going on this message. Observe therefore his evasions, and how they sound exceeding hollow and empty of belief.

First, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? Chap. 3. 11. This the Lord answereth, I will be with thee, and this my appearing to thee may be an undoubted token to thee that I have sent thee, vers. 12.

Secondly, But who shall I say hath sent me? For forty years ago, they refused me, say∣ing, Who made thee a Prince and a Ruler over us? Chap. 4. 1. This scruple the Lord re∣moveth by giving him the power of miracles.

Thirdly, But I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken to me, for though I may work miracles upon others, yet is not this wrought upon my self, that I speak any whit better than I did before. This receiveth this answer, I will be with thy mouth, vers. 10. 11, 12.

Fourthly, But I pray thee send by that hand that thou wilt send or stretch out, vers. 13. for thou saidst to me, I will stretch out mine hand, and smite Egypt, &c. Chap. 3. 20. Now therefore I pray thee stretch out this hand of thine, for the hand of man is not able to perform it. At this the Lords anger was kindled against him, and that deservedly. For in this he denied the mystery of the Redemption which was to be wrought by a man, the God-head going along with him.

Now it is time for Moses to set for Egypt when he seeth God angry at his excusing: he doth so, but he taketh his diffidence along with him, in that he taketh his wife and chil∣dren with him. One would think that had been a special piece of charity, but it being looked into, will prove a special piece of distrust.

For when God appeareth to him, at the very first, he giveth him assurance of the peo∣ples delivery, and that they should come in their journies to that very place, When thou hast brought the people forth out of Egypt ye shall serve God upon this mountain, Chap. 3. 12.

Now if Moses had believed certainly this promise, and that undoubtedly he and the people should come thither, he would never have taken wife and children with him to trouble them and himself in so long a journey, and in so earnest a business, but would have left them still with Jethro, till he and Israel should march up to them. But this he feared, that this his journey would be to no effect, that Israel would accept of none, and therefore should obtain no delivery; that this message would produce nothing, unless danger to himself, and that while he spake of delivering others, he might incur bondage himself, so that if he left wife and children behind him, it was odds he should never see them again. And therefore to make sure work he will take them with him, and for this his distrust the Lord meets him, and seeks to kill him.

Nor was this distrust and diffidence little or small in him, but if the circumstances be considered, it will appear to be very great, and his want of faith exceeding much.

Zipporah his wife was now lying in Childbed, a weak woman but lately delivered, and therefore far unfit for so long a journey, and the new-born child as unfit, if not unfitter than she: and yet Mother and child in this weak case, must travel to the hazzard of both their lives, for he durst not leave them behind him for fear he and they should never meet again: For this it is that Zipporah twice calleth him a bloody husband: before the childs circumcision, and after: before, because he had hazzarded both their lives in bringing them forth, both of them being in their blouth and blood: and after, because she through him was put to Circumcise the child, which bloodiness a tender mother must needs abhor: and for this also is the word circumcisions in the plural number, vers. 26. A bloody husband, Lemuloth, because of the circumcisions.