And they came together, and they assembled all the ancients of the children of Israel.

And Moses and Aaron went, and assembled all the elders of the children of Israel:

And Moses goeth, Aaron also, and they gather all the elders of the sons of Israel,

Then Moses and Aaron went and got together all the chiefs of the children of Israel:

And they arrived at the same time, and they gathered together all the elders of the sons of Israel.

Perrexit igitur Moses et Aharon: congregaveruntque omnes seniores filiorum Israel.

And Moses and Aaron went. We are here briefly told how faithfully and religiously the two brothers executed the commands of God. They gather together the elders of the people, because the mighty multitude, as we are told they were, could not be collected in one place. Besides, God wished not to contend by means of the tumultuous and confused clamor of a mob, but with the miracles, which calmly breathed forth his divine power. But it is again worthy of observation, that Aaron is substituted to speak in the place of Moses. For if slowness of speech prevented Moses from doing so, why is not God's discourse directed to Aaron? Wherefore is this circuitous proceeding, that he promulgates to the people not what he himself heard directly, but received indirectly through his brother, except that this mode is agreeable to God for the purpose of proving their faith? For while by this proof the humility and modesty of Aaron were exhibited, since he objected not to depend on his brother's mouth, so also the tractableness of the elders appears in suffering the commands of God to be thus passed to them from hand to hand, and in not scrupulously inquiring why God did not directly address themselves, or thunder from on high. They were, however, aided by the miracles, because they were so stupified by their miseries that otherwise simple preaching would have had no weight with them.

All the elders - The Israelites retained their own national organization; their affairs were administered by their own elders, who called a public assembly Exodus 4:31 to hear the message brought by Moses and Aaron.

And Moses and Aaron went,.... Set forward for Egypt: and being come thither:
gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel; the heads of tribes and families, as many as they could conveniently get together in one place; probably in the metropolis of the kingdom, where Pharaoh's palace was, since we quickly hear of their going in to him.

Moses and Aaron went--towards Egypt, Zipporah and her sons having been sent back. (Compare Exodus 18:2).
gathered . . . all the elders--Aaron was spokesman, and Moses performed the appointed miracles--through which "the people" (that is, the elders) believed (1-Kings 17:24; Joshua 3:2) and received the joyful tidings of the errand on which Moses had come with devout thanksgiving. Formerly they had slighted the message and rejected the messenger. Formerly Moses had gone in his own strength; now he goes leaning on God, and strong only through faith in Him who had sent him. Israel also had been taught a useful lesson, and it was good for both that they had been afflicted.

To cause the lamps to burn - Hebrews. the lamp: yet