John Calvin

Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,

“How long they survived their father, Moses does not say, but only marks the beginning of the change, -- as much as to say, the Israelites were humanely treated for a considerable space of time; so that the condition of those who went down with…”

The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.

“Moses again repeats, that consolation was afforded him in his anxiety, and a remedy given for his want of faith; since he was both armed himself with divine authority, and Aaron was appointed as his companion and assistant.”

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,

“As the expression is somewhat harsh, many commentators, as I have before said, take pains to soften it.”

then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

“The murrain is appositely called God's "hand," because it arose from His just judgment; for this expression is opposed to natural causes, to the arts and devices of men, and to accidental chances -- as if Moses had said that the hand of God would…”

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter.

“I admit, indeed, that God might have otherwise obviated all these evils; but since He is often wont to deal with His people on human principles, He chose to adopt the method which was most suited to their infirmity.”

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“And surely it was necessary that, first of all, the right of the legislator should be established, lest what He chose to command should be despised, or contemptuously received.”

Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor.

“But we must chiefly recollect what I have said, viz., that in these garments the supreme purity and wondrous glory of Christ were represented; as if God should promise that the Mediator would be far more august than the condition of man could produce.”

“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,

“Hence we gather that true purity and innocence, which was but typical in the Law, is found in Christ alone. "For such an high priest became us," says the Apostle, "who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners," to present Himself before God for us.”

You are to slaughter the ram, take its blood, and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar.

“What we must first observe here is, that the priest must be sprinkled with blood, in order that he may conciliate the favor of God towards himself for the purpose of intercession.”

“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.

“And David applies this type specially to prayer, when he says: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense." (Psalm 131:2.)”

Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering…

“Although this was only done once a year, yet it was daily to be called to mind, in order that they might offer the death of Christ by faith and prayer, and yet might know that their prayers had no sweet savor, unless in so…”