16 "Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ' The Lord , the God of your fathers , the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob , has appeared to me, saying , " I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt . 17 "So I said , I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite , to a land flowing with milk and honey ."' 18 " They will pay heed to what you say ; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, 'The Lord , the God of the Hebrews , has met with us. So now , please , let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness , that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God .' 19 "But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go , except under compulsion e . 20 "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go . 21 "I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians ; and it shall be that when you go , you will not go empty-handed . 22 "But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house , articles of silver and articles of gold , and clothing ; and you will put them on your sons and daughters . Thus you will plunder the Egyptians ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 3:16-22
Commentary on Exodus 3:16-22
(Read Exodus 3:16-22)
Moses' success with the elders of Israel would be good. God, who, by his grace, inclines the heart, and opens the ear, could say beforehand, They shall hearken to thy voice; for he would make them willing in this day of power. As to Pharaoh, Moses is here told that petitions and persuasions, and humble complaints, would not prevail with him; nor a mighty hand stretched out in signs and wonders. But those will certainly be broken by the power of God's hand, who will not bow to the power of his word. Pharaoh's people should furnish Israel with riches at their departure. In Pharaoh's tyranny and Israel's oppression, we see the miserable, abject state of sinners. However galling the yoke, they drudge on till the Lord sends redemption. With the invitations of the gospel, God sends the teaching of his Spirit. Thus are men made willing to seek and to strive for deliverance. Satan loses his power to hold them, they come forth with all they have and are, and apply all to the glory of God and the service of his church.