Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on 2 Timothy 3:8
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, etc.] These were not Jews, who rose up and opposed Moses, as Dathan and Abiram did, as some have thought; but Egyptian magicians, the chief of those that Pharaoh sent for, when Moses and Aaron came before him, and wrought miracles; and who did in like manner by their enchantments, (<020711>Exodus 7:11) upon which place the Targum of Jonathan has these words: “and Pharaoh called the wise men and the magicians; and Janis and Jambres, the magicians of the Egyptians, did so by the enchantments of their divinations.” And the same paraphrase on (<020115>Exodus 1:15) calls them by the same names; and this shows from whence the apostle had these names, which are not mentioned in any place in the Old Testament; namely, from the traditions and records of the Jews, with which he was well acquainted: there is no need to say he had this account by divine revelation, for some of the Heathens had knowledge of this story some such way. Numenius; the philosopher, speaks of Jannes and Jambres as Egyptian scribes, and famous for their skill in the magic art; and who opposed themselves to Moses when the Jews were driven out of Egypt f11. Pliny also makes mention of Janme and Jotape as magicians; though he wrongly calls them Jews, and places Moses with them f12, as Jannes likewise is by Apuleius f13. It is commonly said by the Jews f14, that these were the two sons of Balaam, and they are said to be the chief of the magicians of Egypt f15; the latter of these is called in the Vulgate Latin version Mambres; and in some Jewish writers his name is Mamre f16 by whom also the former is called Jochane or John; and indeed Joannes, Jannes, and John, are the same name; and R. Gedaliah f17 says, that their names in other languages are John and Ambrose, which is not unlikely. Mention is made of the sons of Jambri in the Apocrypha: “But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it.” (1 Maccabees 9:36) these things are not to be depended on: however, certain it is, that they withstood Moses by their enchantments, and hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that, for a while, he would not let the children of Israel go. Now between these magicians, and the Papists before described, there is a very great agreement; as these men were Egyptians, so the Papists may be called, since Rome is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, (<661108>Revelation 11:8) as the one were, so the other are idolaters, who worshipped devils, idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, (<660920>Revelation 9:20) and both sorcerers, using the magic art; (<660921>Revelation 9:21) and they both pretended to miracles; though what they did were no other than lying wonders, (<530209>2 Thessalonians 2:9 <661313>Revelation 13:13,14) and both agreed to keep the people of God in bondage, as much, and as long as they could: and particularly, as the magicians of Egypt withstood Moses, whom Josephus f18 calls the sons of Amaraeus. These are said to be the persons that told Pharaoh, that a child should be born among the Israelites, by whom the whole land of Egypt should be destroyed, and which was the reason of Pharaoh's giving such a charge to the Hebrew midwives f19; also the making of the golden calf is ascribed to them f20; for, according to the Jews, they afterwards became proselytes; but so do these also resist the truth; the truth of one God, by their worshipping of images; and of one Mediator, by making use of…
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