#15 – Exodus 6:14-7:7
“A Brother is Born for Adversity”
Have you noticed G-d is never in a hurry? Three years before Moses was born, the L-RD gave a son to Amram and Jochebed. Who would have foreseen the role Aaron would play in Israel’s history eighty-three years later?
A key family tree
Biblical genealogies are vital records, as attested by the attention they are given. In Exodus 6:14-16a we have a repeat of Genesis 46:8-11. But where the Genesis record goes on to list the other sons and grandsons of Jacob/Israel,[1] here in Exodus the focus narrows to the Levites. Of special note is the Levi -> Kohath -> Amram -> Aaron and Moses lineage. (Exodus 6:16-20.)
Aaron married Elisheva who bore him four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. (Exodus 6:23.) Eleazer’s wife Putiel and son Phineas also are mentioned. (Exodus 6:25.)[2]
Once more, for emphasis
Our author’s purpose here in detailing the bloodline is to highlight the immediate role of two brothers:
It was the same Aaron and Moses to whom the L-rd said, “Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts.” They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the sons of Israel from Egypt; it was the same Moses and Aaron.
(Exodus 6:26-27)
Now the protagonists’ identities are confirmed, we are given a reprise of what we learned earlier: G-d spoke to Moses in Egypt, giving him the commission to go to Pharaoh. Moses responded with the “I’m unskilled in speech” objection. (Exodus 6:28-7:4.[3])
G-d previously said He would make Moses “as G-d to Pharaoh” with Aaron as the spokesman (Exodus 4:16). Here in Exodus 7:1 the L-RD refers to Aaron as “your prophet.”[4] The elder brother will serve as Moses’ spokesman, but ultimately speaking the words of the L-RD in pronouncing divine judgment on Egypt.
G-d also reiterates that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:4; see 4:21). Pharaoh will only let Israel go under compulsion, the result of G-d’s signs (Exodus 7:1-3; see 3:19-20). Here G-d adds “and wonders” – the first reference in the Bible to His miraculous portents. Indeed, a clear inference may be drawn from the text that the purpose of Pharaoh’s heart being hardened is to provide opportunity for the Almighty to display His power.
Why all this drama?
The Creator has no need to “show off” His abilities. Indeed, Psalm 19 proclaims:
The heavens are telling of the glory of G-d;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
(Psalm 19:1-4)
What then is the purpose of the protracted showdown G-d is arranging? He states:
“When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. The Egyptians shall know that I am the L-RD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”
(Exodus 7:4-5)
In Exodus 6:7 we heard G-d express His intention that Israel “shall know that I am the L-RD” – a statement He will repeat four more times in Exodus.[5] In 7:5 we learn the reason for G-d’s “great judgments”: “The Egyptians shall know that I am the
L-RD.”[6]
“As the L-RD commanded”
So Moses and Aaron did it; as the L-rd commanded them, thus they did. (Exodus 7:6.) Would this not be a desirable epitaph on one’s tombstone? “He did what G-d commanded.”
In the verse which follows we learn the brothers’ ages when they marched into Pharaoh’s office:
Moses – 80
Aaron – 83
Not only is “retirement” not in the Bible, Moses and Aaron illustrate what G-d can do with octogenarians willing to do His bidding!
Fear factor/Misery Index
The children of Israel remain in bitter bondage, disillusioned that the hope of redemption has eluded them. The Egyptians continue in the position of power and authority over G-d’s people. But the promised divine “signs and wonders” have the added ominous portent of “great judgments” to come.
Where is G-d?
G-d continues speaking to Moses and Aaron, revealing more of both His plan and His purpose. Specifically, the L-RD is a “missionary G-d”; He wants to be known in a personal way and is about to demonstrate the lengths to which He will go to accomplish that.
[1] God changes Jacob’s name to Israel in Genesis 32:28.
[2] The groundwork is laid for Aaron and his offspring to be elevated to the office of Israel’s High Priest in Exodus 28:1.
[3] Compare the earlier narratives in Exodus 3:6-4:17 and 6:1-8.
[4] This is the second mention of “prophet” (Hebrew navi) in Scripture; God gives Abraham that designation in Genesis 20:7. The office of prophet includes the concept of “forthtelling” as well as “foretelling” as God’s representative on earth.
[5] That God wants the Jewish people to know Him is a recurrent theme in the Tanakh. The densest concentration is in Ezekiel where God says “that you may know that I am the L-RD” 38 times to the nation or a subset thereof (e.g., “My people,” “the house of Israel,” “Jerusalem,” and “the prophets”).
[6] This phrase will be repeated in Exodus 14:4 and 18. In Ezekiel, God says to/about Egypt “that you/Egypt may know that I am the L-RD” an additional seven times – further underscoring His desire that the Egyptian people know the true and living G-d.
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