Exodus 4:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel.

NIV: Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites,

NASB: Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel;

CSB: Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites.

NLT: Then Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt and called all the elders of Israel together.

KJV: And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

NKJV: Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.

Moses met Aaron at Sinai (Exodus 4:27–28) and related his mission to confront the Egyptian king about Israelite slavery (Exodus 3:10; 4:21–23). While Moses is the primary conduit of God's message (Exodus 4:15–16), Aaron acts as the public speaker and will become the first high priest (Exodus 28:41). The two men are so closely identified that the phrase "Moses and Aaron" occurs dozens of times in Scripture (1 Samuel 12:6; Psalm 77:20).

Scripture does not specify whether this meeting happened before or after Moses' strange near-death encounter (Exodus 4:24–26). The wording of the passage allows for either. It's also possible that Moses sent Zipporah and their sons back to Midian at this time; they won't be mentioned again until after Israel leaves Egypt and encounters Jethro, Moses' father-in-law (Exodus 18:1–6).

The elders of Israel were the accepted leaders of the nation. Without their approval, the rest of the Israelites would almost certainly ignore whatever Moses and Aaron had to say. Fortunately, these men will respond to Moses' story and miraculous signs with belief (Exodus 4:30–31).

Exodus 4:27–31 recounts Moses' first encounter with the Israelites upon his return from exile. First he meets Aaron, sent to meet him in the wilderness by God. The two men gather Israel's leaders. The elders respond to Mo-ses' story and signs with belief. Knowing that the Lord is acting to remove their suffering, the men worship.

While speaking with God in the form of a supernaturally burning bush, Moses expresses a lack of confidence. God gives Moses several miraculous signs so he can prove the source of his message. Moses is still unsure because of his poor speech. Though irritated, God appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, to be the spokesman while Moses relays the words of God. Moses returns to Egypt. Along the way, he nearly dies due to God's anger over some issue related to circumci-sion. After meeting his brother, Moses convinces the elders of Israel that his mission is genuine.

Moses, born an Israelite (Exodus 2:1) but raised by an Egyptian princess (Exodus 2:10) fled into exile after killing an abu-sive Egyptian taskmaster (Exodus 2:14–15). Later, Moses meets God (Exodus 3:6) and receives the initial command to challenge Pharaoh for the freedom of the Israelites (Exodus 3:18–20). In this chapter, Moses makes excuses about his public speaking and nearly dies because of an uncircumcised son. Israel's elders believe Moses' story. But in the next chapter, Moses' early confrontation with Pharaoh goes poorly; the people are worked even hard-er (Exodus 5:5–9) and they begin to turn against Moses (Exodus 5:20–21).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.