Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Acts 7:26
A historical reference excerpt for this verse.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.
And the next day he showed himself to them, as they strove, etc.] To two men of the Hebrews, who were quarrelling and contending with one another: these are said by the Jews f332 to be Dathan and Abiram; who were disputing and litigating the point, and were very warm, and at high words. The occasion of their contention is f333 said to be this, “the Hebrew man (that had been abused) went to his house to divorce his wife, who was defiled, but she fled and told the affair to Abiram her brother: and on the morrow, Moses returned a second time to the Hebrew camp, and found Dathan and Abiram contending about the divorce.” Though some think this is prophetically said, because they afterwards contended and divided in the business of Korah f334 Moses came up to them, and let them know who he was; and this was the day after he had killed the Egyptian. So Stephen explains the “second day” in (<020213>Exodus 2:13) and to this agrees what a Jewish writer f335 says, that in the morning, Moses returned a second time to the camp of the Hebrews: and would have set them at one again; persuaded them to peace and concord, composed their difference, reconciled them, and made them good friends: saying, sirs, ye are brethren; as Abraham said to Lot, when there was a strife between their herdsmen, (<011308>Genesis 13:8) and if these two were Dathan and Abiram, they were brethren in the strictest sense, (<041601>Numbers 16:1) why do ye wrong one to another? by abusing each other, calling ill names, or striking one another; or by lifting up the hand to strike, as Jonathan the Targumist says Dathan did against Abiram.
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
