(Verse 23) - Full forty years old - This is not recorded in the Old Testament; but it is a constant tradition of the Jews that Moses was 40 years of age when he undertook to deliver them. Thus, it is said, “Moses lived in the palace of Pharaoh forty years; he was forty years in Midian; and he ministered to Israel forty years”.

To visit  - Probably with a view of delivering them from their oppressive bondage. (Compare Acts 7:25).

(Verse 24) - Suffer wrong - The wrong or injury was, that the Egyptian was smiting the Hebrew, (Exo. 2:11-12).

Smote the Egyptian - He slew him, and buried him in the sand.

(Verse 25) - For he supposed - This is not mentioned by Moses; but it is not at all improbable. When they saw him “alone” contending with the Egyptian; when it was understood that he had come and taken vengeance on one of their oppressors, it might have been presumed that he regarded himself as directed by God to interpose, and save the people.

(Verse 26) - And the next day – (Exo. 2:13).

He showed himself - He appeared in a sudden and unexpected manner to them.

Unto them - That is, to “two” of the Hebrews, (Exo. 2:13).

As they strove - As they were engaged in a quarrel.

Have set them at one - Greek: “would have urged them to peace.” This he did by remonstrating with the man that did the wrong.

Saying - What follows is not quoted literally from the account which Moses gives, but it is substantially the same.

Sirs - Greek: “Men.”

Ye are brethren - You belong not only to the same nation, but you are brethren and companions in affliction, and should not, therefore, contend with each other. One of the most melancholy scenes in the world is that, where those who are poor, and afflicted, and oppressed, add to all their other calamities altercations and strivings among themselves. Yet it is from this class that contentions and lawsuits usually arise. The address which Moses here makes to the contending Jews might be applied to the whole human family in view of the contentions and wars of nations: “Ye are “brethren,” members of the same great family, and why do you contend with each other?”

(Verse 27) - But he that did  - Intent on his purpose, filled with rage and passion, he rejected all interference, and all attempts at peace. It is usually the man that does the injury that is unwilling to be reconciled; and when we find a man that regards the entreaties of his friends as improper interference, when he becomes increasingly angry when we exhort him to peace, it is usually a strong evidence that he is conscious that he has been at fault. If we wish to reconcile parties, we should go first to the man that has been injured. In the controversy between God and man, it is the “sinner” who has done the wrong that is unwilling to be reconciled, and not God.

His neighbor - The Jew with whom he was contending.

Who made thee  - What right have you to interfere in this matter? The usual salutation with which a man is greeted who attempts to prevent quarrels.

(Verse 28) - Wilt thou kill me  - How it was known that he had killed the Egyptian does not appear. It was probably communicated by the man who was rescued from the hands of the Egyptian, (Exo. 2:11-12).