Exodus 4:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They convened the citizens of Egypt for a great assembly, proclaiming liberation to those who had endured harsh labor, delivering a message even to the oppressor himself.

Thus, the one who has been fortified by the radiance shown to him and has gained a brother who serves as a protector and supporter boldly guides the people with words of truth. He reminds them of their noble heritage and instructs them on how to break free from their burdensome tasks and oppressive foundations. So, what lesson does this narrative impart? It teaches us not to presume to speak to those who have not yet found their voice through the same life experience.

It is evident that not only Israel was subjected to oppression in Egypt, but also various nations, including those that had been defeated, maintained their own governance, led by local leaders (and in some instances, their own sovereigns). These local rulers were accountable to the dominant nation or its sovereign for the proper collection of taxes and the provision of laborers for both labor and military service. This was true during the reign of the Assyrian kings, it continued under the Achaemenid Empire, and persisted even during the Roman era.