Ex 3:1-22. DIVINE APPEARANCE AND COMMISSION TO MOSES.
1. Now Moses kept the flock--This employment he had entered on
in furtherance of his matrimonial views (see on
Ex 2:21),
but it is probable he was continuing his service now on other terms
like Jacob during the latter years of his stay with Laban
(Ge 30:28).
he led the flock to the backside of the desert--that is, on the
west of the desert [GESENIUS], assuming Jethro's
headquarters to have been at Dahab. The route by which Moses led his
flock must have been west through the wide valley called by the Arabs,
Wady-es-Zugherah [ROBINSON], which led into the
interior of the wilderness.
Mountain of God--so named either according to Hebrew
idiom from its great height, as "great mountains," Hebrew,
"mountains of God"
(Ps 36:6);
"goodly cedars," Hebrew, "cedars of God"
(Ps 80:10);
or some think from its being the old abode of "the glory"; or finally
from its being the theater of transactions most memorable in the
history of the true religion to Horeb--rather, "Horeb-ward."
Horeb--that is, "dry," "desert," was the general name for the
mountainous district in which Sinai is situated, and of which it is a
part. (See on
Ex 19:2).
It was used to designate the region comprehending that immense range of
lofty, desolate, and barren hills, at the base of which, however, there
are not only many patches of verdure to be seen, but almost all the
valleys, or wadys, as they are called, show a thin coating of
vegetation, which, towards the south, becomes more luxuriant. The Arab
shepherds seldom take their flocks to a greater distance than one day's
journey from their camp. Moses must have gone at least two days'
journey, and although he seems to have been only following his pastoral
course, that region, from its numerous springs in the clefts of the
rocks being the chief resort of the tribes during the summer heats, the
Providence of God led him thither for an important purpose.
JFB.
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