Exodus 3:16

“Go and gather the elders of Israel together, etc.] Not all the ancient men among them, nor the “judges” of the people of Israel; for it does not appear there were such among them in Egypt, until they came into the land of Canaan, but the heads of tribes or families: and say unto them, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me; in a flame of fire in the midst of a bush at Horeb: saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt; inspected into their state and circumstances, took notice of their afflictions and oppressions, and determined to deliver them out of them, as follows.”

“3:16-17 Moses was to tell the people of Israel that the God who now spoke to them was the same God their ancestors knew and worshiped, and that he would lead them into a fruitful land wrested from the hands of many others. Moses’ message was not a magical formula, but the word of a God who, standing outside of history, can yet enter and direct it. • flowing with milk and honey: See study note on 3:8.”

“elders: Exo 4:29, Exo 18:12, Exo 24:11; Gen 1:7; Mat 26:3; Act 11:30, Act 20:17; Pe1 5:1 visited: Exo 2:25, Exo 4:31, Exo 13:19, Exo 15:14; Gen 21:1, Gen 50:24; Rut 1:6; Psa 8:4; Luk 1:68; Luk 19:44; Act 15:14; Heb 2:6, Heb 2:7; Pe1 2:12 Exodus 3:17”

“With the command, "Go and gather the elders of Israel together," God then gave Moses further instructions with reference to the execution of his mission. On his arrival in Egypt he was first of all to inform the elders, as the representatives of the nation (i.e., the heads of the families, households, and tribes), of the appearance of God to him, and the revelation of His design, to deliver His people out of Egypt and bring them to the land of the Canaanites. He was then to go with them to Pharaoh, and make known to him their resolution, in consequence of this appearance of God, to go a three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to their God. The words, "I have surely visited,"…”