sought to kill him] Or, would have killed him that is, made shew, or offered to kill him, the cause whereof (as some conceive) was his distrust, manifested before in his aversion from the service, (whereto God called him) and so many excuses, as he made to shift it off, which distrust he carryed with him, on the way: and for that he was met withall, in a minatory manner, it may be as Balaam by the Angel, with a drawn sword, as Numbers 22:31. But the more received reason of Moses deadly danger (at this time and in this place) is that he undertooke this Ambassie to the Egyptians, before he had performed, what belonged to a true Israelite, which was to circumcise his child: for having two, it appears, that one of them (at least) was yet uncircumcised; the omission of which ordinance, but especially the contempt of it, (when God required it) was a capitall crime, Genesis 17:14. and though it seeme there to be threatned to the uncircumcised infant (who may be cut off in this life, as a punishment or chastisement to his parnts) yet the greatest danger both of sinne, and punishment befalleth those, who should circumcise their children, and do not: and therefore here we read, that the father, rather then the child is threatned with death.