And when we cried unto the Lord
By reason of their bondage, and to be delivered from it, ( Exodus 2:24 ) ( 3:7 ) :
he heard our voice;
their prayer to him, as the Targum of Jonathan, for help and deliverance, ( Exodus 2:24 ) ( 3:7 ) :
and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt;
one of the ministering angels, as the same Targum, and so Aben Ezra; though he observes that some interpret it of Moses, as do Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and Ben Melech, which is not likely; since Moses is the person that sent this message to the king of Edom, who would not easily understand it of him, if so he meant; nor would the mention of it be of any consequence and avail with him; whereas to understand it of some divine and heavenly agent, sent by the Lord on so important an affair, might make it the more remarkable, and to be regarded by him: and indeed no other is meant than the Angel of God's presence, who appeared to Moses in the bush, and sent him to Pharaoh to demand the dismission of the children of Israel; and who, by him, wrought the wonders in Egypt, and brought Israel from thence, and went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire:
and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border;
not that they were properly in the city, but near it, for they dwelt in tents in the wilderness; nor would that, or anyone city, hold so large a number as they consisted of.