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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Hebrews 11:23 - 11:29
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_11:23-29
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
Heb_11:23 "His parents" The Septuagint has "parents," while the Hebrew Masoretic Text has only "mother."
▣ "because they saw he was a beautiful child" Jewish tradition says Moses was a physically beautiful child. What parent does not think their child is beautiful? But this is not the theological point. This was a special, God-sent child.
▣ "they were not afraid of the king's edict" The author mentions this phrase with an eye toward his current readers (cf. Heb_11:27).
Heb_11:24 "son of Pharaoh's daughter" This was an official Egyptian designation and title of authority.
Heb_11:25-26 Again the author makes a connection to the temptation facing his readers. They must keep their eyes on the future, sure promises of God, not on current circumstances. Loyalty to Christ is ultimate!
Heb_11:27 "left Egypt" This seems to refer to Moses' flight to Midian, not the Exodus (cf. Exo_2:14-15). Again the author is drawing a rather idealized picture of Moses' purpose.
▣ "as seeing Him who is unseen" The Israelites believed that to see YHWH caused death, because of His holiness (cf. Gen_16:13; Gen_32:30; Exo_3:6; Exo_33:17-23; Jdg_6:22-23; Jdg_13:22; 1Ki_19:11-13; Act_7:32).
Heb_11:28 This is an allusion to Exodus 12. This last plague affected all of Egypt including the land of Goshen. Even the Hebrews had to obey God's instructions and act in faith in order to be spared the visitation of the death angel.
▣ "firstborn" See Special Topic at Heb_1:6.
▣ "he who destroyed" This refers to the Death Angel (cf. LXX, Exo_12:23; 2Sa_24:16-17).
Heb_11:29 This is a summary of the account found in Exo_14:21 ff..