SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:1
¶ Y apacentando Moisés las ovejas de Jetro su suegro, sacerdote de Madián, llevó las ovejas detrás del desierto, y vino a Horeb, monte de Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Exodus 3:1
Verse 1. Jethro his father-in-law] Concerning Jethro, see the note on "chap. ii. 18". Learned men are not agreed on the signification of the word tj chothen, which we translate father-in-law, and which in Gen. xix. 14, we translate son- in-law. It seems to be a general term for a relative by marriage, and the connection only in which it stands can determine its precise meaning. It is very possible that Reuel was now dead, it being forty years since Moses came to Midian; that Jethro was his son, and had succeeded him in his office of prince and priest of Midian; that Zipporah was the sister of Jethro; and that consequently the word tj chothen should be translated brother-in-law in this place: as we learn from Gen. xxxiv. 9, Deut. vii. 3, Josh. xxiii. 12, and other places, that it simply signifies to contract affinity by marriage. If this conjecture be right, we may well suppose that, Reuel being dead, Moses was continued by his brother- in-law Jethro in the same employment he had under his father. Mountain of God] Sometimes named Horeb, at other times Sinai. The mountain itself had two peaks; one was called Horeb, the other Sinai.
Horeb was probably the primitive name of the mountain, which was afterwards called the mountain of God, because God appeared upon it to Moses; and Mount Sinai, ynys , from hns seneh, a bush, because it was in a bush or bramble, in a flame of fire, that this appearance was made.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second as shepherd in Midian, the third as a king in Jeshurun. How changeable is the life of man! The first appearance of God to Moses, found his tending sheep. This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts an education, yet he rests satisfied with it; and thus learns meekness an contentment, for which he is more noted in sacred writ, than for all his learning. Satan loves to find us idle; God is pleased when he find us employed. Being alone, is a good friend to our communion with God To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindl it. The bush burned, and yet did not burn away; an emblem of the churc in bondage in Egypt. And it fitly reminds us of the church in ever age, under its severest persecutions kept by the presence of God from being destroyed. Fire is an emblem, in Scripture, of the Divin holiness and justice, also of the afflictions and trials with which God proves and purifies his people, and even of that baptism of the Holy Ghost, by which sinful affections are consumed, and the soul change into the Divine nature and image. God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer. Those that would have communion with God, must attend upon him in the ordinances wherein he is pleased to manifest himself and his glory, though it be in a bush. Putting off the shoe was a token of respect and submission. We ought to draw nigh to God with a solemn pause and preparation, carefully avoiding every thin that looks light and rude, and unbecoming his service. God does no say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I am. The patriarchs still live, so many years after their bodies have been in the grave. No length of time can separate the souls of the just from their Maker. By this, God instructed Moses as to another world, an strengthened his belief of a future state. Thus it is interpreted by our Lord Jesus, who, from hence, proves that the dead are raised, L 20:37. Moses hid his face, as if both ashamed and afraid to look upo God. The more we see of God, and his grace, and covenant love, the mor cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear.
Original Hebrew
ומשׁה 4872 היה 1961 רעה 7462 את 853 צאן 6629 יתרו 3503 חתנו 2859 כהן 3548 מדין 4080 וינהג 5090 את 853 הצאן 6629 אחר 310 המדבר 4057 ויבא 935 אל 413 הר 2022 האלהים 430 חרבה׃ 2722
