Exodus6

The LORD reassures Moses, revealing His name JEHOVAH and reiterating His covenant to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and bring them to the promised land. Moses conveys this message, but the Israelites, due to their severe affliction, do not hearken. Despite Moses's renewed doubts about his ability to speak to Pharaoh, the LORD reaffirms His command to Moses and Aaron to lead the people out.

God Reaffirms His Covenant and Name

1
ADONAI said to Moshe, "Now you will see what I am going to do to Pharaoh. With a mighty hand he will send them off; with force he will drive them from the land!" ​
2
God spoke to Moshe; he said to him, "I am ADONAI.
3
I appeared to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov as El Shaddai, although I did not make myself known to them by my name, Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [ADONAI]. ​
4
Also with them I established my covenant to give them the land of Kena'an, the land where they wandered about and lived as foreigners.
5
Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Isra'el, whom the Egyptians are keeping in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant. ​
6
"Therefore, say to the people of Isra'el: 'I am ADONAI. I will free you from the forced labor of the Egyptians, rescue you from their oppression, and redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ​
7
I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am ADONAI your God, who freed you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. ​
8
I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov - I will give it to you as your inheritance. I am ADONAI.'"
9
Moshe said this to the people of Isra'el. But they wouldn't listen to him, because they were so discouraged, and their slavery was so cruel. ​

Moses Objects Again

10
ADONAI said to Moshe,
11
"Go in; and tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the people of Isra'el leave his land."
12
Moshe said to ADONAI, "Look, the people of Isra'el haven't listened to me; so how will Pharaoh listen to me, poor speaker that I am?" ​
13
But ADONAI spoke to Moshe and Aharon and gave them orders concerning both the people of Isra'el and Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the people of Isra'el out of the land of Egypt. ​

The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron

14
These were the heads of their families: the sons of Re'uven the firstborn of Isra'el were Hanokh, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi. These were the families of Re'uven. ​
15
The sons of Shim'on were Y'mu'el, Yamin, Ohad, Yakhin, Tzochar and Sha'ul the son of a Kena'ani woman. These were the families of Shim'on.
16
These are the names of the sons of Levi with their descendants: Gershon, K'hat and M'rari. Levi lived to be 137 years old. ​
17
The sons of Gershon were Livni and Shim'i, with their families.
18
The sons of K'hat were'Amram, Yitz'har, Hevron and 'Uzi'el. K'hat lived to be 133 years old.
19
The sons of M'rari were Machli and Mushi. These were the families of Levi with their descendants.
20
'Amram married Yokheved his father's sister, and she bore him Aharon and Moshe. 'Amram lived to be 137 years old. ​
21
The sons of Yitz'har were Korach, Nefeg and Zikhri.
22
The sons of 'Uzi'el were Misha'el, Eltzafan and Sitri.
23
Aharon married Elisheva daughter of 'Amminadav and sister of Nachshon, and she bore him Nadav, Avihu, El'azar and Itamar. ​
24
The sons of Korach were Asir, Elkanah and Avi'asaf. These were the Korchi families.
25
El'azar the son of Aharon married one of the daughters of Puti'el, and she bore him Pinchas. These were the heads of the families of Levi, family by family. ​
26
These are the Aharon and Moshe to whom ADONAI said, "Bring the people of Isra'el out of the land of Egypt, division by division," ​
27
and who told Pharaoh king of Egypt, to let the people of Isra'el leave Egypt. These are the same Moshe and Aharon.

The Commission Reconfirmed

28
On the day when ADONAI spoke to Moshe in the land of Egypt,
29
he said, "I am ADONAI. Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, everything I say to you."
30
Moshe answered ADONAI, "Look, I'm such a poor speaker that Pharaoh won't listen to me." ​

Study Notes for Exodus 6

Verse 1

This verse serves as God’s direct answer to Moses’ frustration in 5:22-23. God promises that the coming display of power will be so overwhelming that Pharaoh will not only allow Israel to leave but will actively drive them out.

Verse 3

God explains the progressive revelation of His name. The patriarchs knew Him as *El Shaddai* (God Almighty), the source of blessing and promise. Now, God is revealing Himself as YHWH (JEHOVAH/LORD), the covenant-keeping God who actively intervenes in history to redeem His people.

Verse 5

God’s remembrance of the covenant is not a sudden recollection but a deliberate act of intervention based on His faithfulness to the ancestral promises (Gen. 15:13-14).

Verse 6

This verse contains the first four of seven 'I Will' statements (vv. 6-8), detailing the definitive actions God will take. 'Redeem you with a stretched out arm' is a powerful metaphor for God’s visible, irresistible power exercised on Israel’s behalf.

Verse 7

This statement defines the core purpose of the Exodus: establishing the covenant relationship. God acts so that Israel will confirm His identity as the LORD (YHWH) through the experience of salvation.

Verse 9

The Israelites rejected Moses’ message not out of rebellion, but due to 'anguish of spirit' (literally, 'shortness of breath'). They were too overwhelmed by their suffering and the immediate increase in hardship (Ex. 5) to grasp the hope of God's promise.

Verse 12

Moses reiterates his inadequacy, citing his 'uncircumcised lips.' This phrase denotes poor public speaking skills or an impediment, suggesting that if his own people wouldn't listen, the foreign King Pharaoh certainly wouldn't.

Verse 13

By giving the charge to both Moses and Aaron, God establishes the necessary partnership. Aaron will serve as Moses' spokesman and prophet, addressing the issue of Moses' 'uncircumcised lips.'

Verse 14

This genealogy (vv. 14-27) interrupts the narrative flow to firmly establish the lineage and authority of Moses and Aaron before they confront Pharaoh. It focuses on the first three sons of Jacob, but quickly transitions to the line of Levi.

Verse 16

The focus narrows to Levi, the tribe from which the priesthood and the key deliverers (Moses and Aaron) would emerge. The ages of the patriarchs are often included to emphasize the historicity and accuracy of the record.

Verse 20

Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses and Aaron. Their marriage was an instance of marrying within the immediate family, allowed at this early stage to maintain tribal purity, but later restricted by Mosaic Law (Lev. 18:12).

Verse 23

Aaron’s marriage to Elisheba links the emerging priestly family (Levites) with the leading tribe of Judah (Naashon was a prince of Judah, Num. 1:7). This connection highlights the centrality of the priesthood to Israel’s leadership structure.

Verse 25

The mention of Eleazar and his son Phinehas is significant, as they represent the continuation of the legitimate high priestly line, which is critical for the later establishment of the tabernacle worship.

Verse 26

This verse acts as a conclusive summary, identifying the individuals listed in the genealogy as the commissioned leaders. 'According to their armies' refers to the organized, tribal divisions of Israel.

Verse 30

Moses’ final objection repeats the concern from verse 12, creating an inclusio that closes this section. This serves to underscore the human frailty of the chosen leader just before God begins the great confrontation in the next chapter.

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