SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:17
Y tomarás esta vara en tu mano, con la cual harás las señales.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Exodus 4:17
Verse 17. Thou shalt take this rod] From the story of Moses's rod the heathens have invented the fables of the thyrsus of Bacchus, and the caduceus of Mercury. Cicero reckons five Bacchuses, one of which, according to Orpheus, was born of the river Nile; but, according to the common opinion, he was born on the banks of that river. Bacchus is expressly said to have been exposed on the river Nile, hence he is called Nilus, both by Diodourus and Macrobius; and in the hymns of Orpheus he is named Myses, because he was drawn out of the water. He is represented by the poets as being very beautiful, and an illustrious warrior; they report him to have overrun all Arabia with a numerous army both of men and women. He is said also to have been an eminent law-giver, and to have written his laws on two tables. He always carried in his hand the thyrsus, a rod wreathed with serpents, and by which he is reported to have wrought many miracles. Any person acquainted with the birth and exploits of the poetic Bacchus will at once perceive them to be all borrowed from the life and acts of Moses, as recorded in the Pentateuch; and it would be losing time to show the parallel, by quoting passages from the book of Exodus. The caduceus or rod of Mercury is well known in poetic fables. It is another copy Of the rod of Moses. He also is reported to have wrought a multitude of miracles by this rod; and particularly he is said to kill and make alive, to send souls to the invisible world and bring them back from thence. Homer represents Mercury taking his rod to work miracles precisely in the same way as God commands Moses to take his.
Æermhv de yucav kullhniov exekaleito andrwn mnhsthrwnù ece de Æpabdon meta cersin kalhn, cruseihn, th tÆ andrwn ommata qelgei, Æwn eqelei, touv dÆ aute kai upnwontav egeirei.Odyss., lib. xxiv., ver. 1.
Cyllenian Hermes now call'd forth the souls Of all the suitors; with his golden WAND Of power, to seal in balmy sleep whose eyes Soe'er he will, and open them again. COWPER.
Virgil copies Homer, but carries the parallel farther, tradition having probably furnished him with more particulars; but in both we may see a disguised copy of the sacred history, from which indeed the Greek and Roman poets borrowed most of their beauties. TUM VIRGAM CAPIT: hac animas ille evocat Orco Pallentes, alias sub tristia Tartara mittit; Dat somnos, adimitque, et lumina morte resignat ILLA fretus agit, ventos, et turbida tranat. AEneid, lib. iv., ver. 242.
But first he grasps within his awful hand The mark of sovereign power, the magic wand; With this he draws the ghosts from hollow graves, With this he drives them down the Stygian waves; With this he seals in sleep the wakeful sight, And eyes, though closed in death, restores to light.
Thus arm'd, the god begins his airy race, And drives the racking clouds along the liquid space.DRYDEN.
Many other resemblances between the rod of the poets and that of Moses, the learned reader will readily recollect. These specimens may be deemed sufficient.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-17 - Moses continued backward to the work God designed him for; there wa much of cowardice, slothfulness, and unbelief in him. We must not judg of men by the readiness of their discourse. A great deal of wisdom an true worth may be with a slow tongue. God sometimes makes choice of those as his messengers, who have the least of the advantages of art of nature, that his grace in them may appear the more glorious. Christ' disciples were no orators, till the Holy Spirit made them such. God condescends to answer the excuse of Moses. Even self-diffidence, when it hinders us from duty, or clogs us in duty, is very displeasing to the Lord. But while we blame Moses for shrinking from this dangerou service, let us ask our own hearts if we are not neglecting duties mor easy, and less perilous. The tongue of Aaron, with the head and hear of Moses, would make one completely fit for this errand. God promises I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth. Even Aaron, who coul speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God gave constan teaching and help; for without the constant aid of Divine grace, the best gifts will fail.
Original Hebrew
ואת 853 המטה 4294 הזה 2088 תקח 3947 בידך 3027 אשׁר 834 תעשׂה 6213 בו את 853 האתת׃ 226
