John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And the Lord called unto Moses , etc.] Or “met him”, as the phrase is rendered in ( Numbers 23:4). The word arqyw , translated “called”, the last letter of it is written in a very small character, to show, as the Jews say, that he met him accidentally, and unawares to Moses: other mysteries they observe in it, as that it respects the modesty of Moses, who lessened himself, and got out of the way, that he might not have the government laid upon him, and therefore the Lord called him; or to denote the wonderful condescension of the Lord, whose throne is in heaven, and yet vouchsafed to dwell in the tabernacle, out of which he called to Moses, and from Mount Sinai, and out of the cloud f3 . The word “Lord” is not in this clause, but the following, from whence it is supplied by our translators, as it is in the Syriac version, and as the word “God” is in the Arabic version; the two Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it, “the Word of the Lord called to Moses,” by an articulate voice, though it may be it was a still small one; and which some think is the reason of the smallness of the letter before mentioned; and Aben Ezra says that Moses heard it, but all Israel did not hear: and spoke unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation ; from off the mercy seat, between the cherubim over the ark, where the glory of the Lord, or the divine Shechinah and Majesty took up its residence, and from whence the Lord promised to commune with Moses, ( Exodus 25:22): saying ; what follows concerning sacrifices; which shows, that these were not human inventions, but of divine institution, and by the appointment of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1, 2 - The offering of sacrifices was an ordinance of true religion, from the fall of man unto the coming of Christ. But till the Israelites were in the wilderness, no very particular regulations seem to have bee appointed. The general design of these laws is plain. The sacrifice typified Christ; they also shadowed out the believer's duty, character privilege, and communion with God. There is scarcely any thing spoke of the Lord Jesus in Scripture which has not also a reference to his people. This book begins with the laws concerning sacrifices; the mos ancient were the burnt-offerings, about which God here gives Mose directions. It is taken for granted that the people would be willing to bring offerings to the Lord. The very light of nature directs man, some way or other, to do honour to his Maker, as his Lord. Immediately afte the fall, sacrifices were ordained.
Original Hebrew ויקרא7121 אל413 משׁה4872 וידבר1696 יהוה3068 אליו413 מאהל168 מועד4150 לאמר׃559
