Verses 1-9
Exodus 4:1-1 Samuel : J (following Exodus 3:18). Moses’ s Third Difficulty— Israel’ s unbelief. To overcome it, he is enabled to authenticate his mission by three signs— the rod that became a serpent and again a rod ( Exodus 4:2-Deuteronomy :), the leprosy of his hand that came and went ( Exodus 4:6-Ruth :), and the turning of water into blood ( Exodus 4:9). The first is in P a sign to Pharaoh ( Exodus 7:8-2 Kings :), and the third is in E and P the first plague ( Exodus 7:14-Lamentations :).— The rod, in J, is Moses’ s ordinary shepherd’ s staff, turned to a special use; in E, it is “ the rod of God,” given him to use as a miraculous instrument; in P, it is Aaron who uses it. All three sources must mention the rod, so firmly was it entwined in the thread of tradition ( Exodus 17:15 f.*). In Exodus 4:9, “ river” should be “ Nile.”
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