Exodus 9

Ex 9:1-7.

MURRAIN OF

BEASTS.

3-5. Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle--A fifth

application was made to Pharaoh in behalf of the Israelites by Moses,

who was instructed to tell him that, if he persisted in opposing their

departure, a pestilence would be sent among all the flocks and herds of

the Egyptians, while those of the Israelites would be spared. As he

showed no intention of keeping his promise, he was still a mark for the

arrows of the Almighty's quiver, and the threatened plague of which he

was forewarned was executed. But it is observable that in this instance

it was not inflicted through the instrumentality or waving of Aaron's

rod, but directly by the hand of the Lord, and the fixing of the

precise time tended still further to determine the true character of

the calamity

(Jer 12:4).

6. all the cattle of Egypt died--not absolutely every beast, for

we find

(Ex 9:19, 21)

that there were still some left; but a great many died of each

herd--the mortality was frequent and widespread. The adaptation of this

judgment consisted in Egyptians venerating the more useful animals such

as the ox, the cow, and the ram; in all parts of the country temples

were reared and divine honors paid to these domesticated beasts, and

thus while the pestilence caused a great loss in money, it also struck

a heavy blow at their superstition.

7. Pharaoh sent . . . there was not one of the cattle of

the Israelites dead--The despatch of confidential messengers

indicates that he would not give credit to vague reports, and we may

conclude that some impression had been made on his mind by that

extraordinary exemption, but it was neither a good nor a permanent

impression. His pride and obstinacy were in no degree subdued.

Ex 9:8-17.

PLAGUE OF

BOILS.

8. Take to you handfuls of ashes, &c.--The next plague assailed

the persons of the Egyptians, and it appeared in the form of ulcerous

eruptions upon the skin and flesh

(Le 13:20;

2Ki 20:7;

Job 2:7).

That this epidemic did not arise from natural causes was evident from

its taking effect from the particular action of Moses done in the sight

of Pharaoh. The attitude he assumed was similar to that of Eastern

magicians, who, "when they pronounce an imprecation on an individual, a

village, or a country, take the ashes of cows' dung (that is, from a

common fire) and throw them in the air, saying to the objects of their

displeasure, such a sickness or such a curse shall come upon you"

[ROBERTS].

10. Moses took ashes from the furnace--Hebrew,

"brick-kiln." The magicians, being sufferers in their own persons,

could do nothing, though they had been called; and as the brick-kiln

was one of the principal instruments of oppression to the Israelites

[De 4:20;

1Ki 8:51;

Jer 11:4],

it was now converted into a means of chastisement to the Egyptians, who

were made to read their sin in their punishment.

Ex 9:18-35.

PLAGUE OF

HAIL.

18. I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, &c.--The

seventh plague which Pharaoh's hardened heart provoked was that of

hail, a phenomenon which must have produced the greatest astonishment

and consternation in Egypt as rain and hailstones, accompanied by

thunder and lightning, were very rare occurrences.

such as hath not been in Egypt--In the Delta, or lower Egypt,

where the scene is laid, rain occasionally falls between January and

March--hail is not unknown, and thunder sometimes heard. But a storm,

not only exhibiting all these elements, but so terrific that hailstones

of immense size fell, thunder pealed in awful volleys, and lightning

swept the ground like fire, was an unexampled calamity.

20, 21. He that feared the word of the Lord . . . regarded

not, &c.--Due premonition, it appears, had been publicly given of

the impending tempest--the cattle seem to have been sent out to graze,

which is from January to April, when alone pasturage can be obtained,

and accordingly the cattle were in the fields. This storm occurring at

that season, not only struck universal terror into the minds of the

people, but occasioned the destruction of all--people and

cattle--which, in neglect of the warning, had been left in the fields,

as well as of all vegetation

[Ex 9:25].

It was the more appalling because hailstones in Egypt are small and of

little force; lightning also is scarcely ever known to produce fatal

effects; and to enhance the wonder, not a trace of any storm was found

in Goshen

[Ex 9:26].

27-35. Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto

them, I have sinned--This awful display of divine displeasure did

seriously impress the mind of Pharaoh, and, under the weight of his

convictions, he humbles himself to confess he has done wrong in

opposing the divine will. At the same time he calls for Moses to

intercede for cessation of the calamity. Moses accedes to his earnest

wishes, and this most awful visitation ended. But his repentance proved

a transient feeling, and his obduracy soon became as great as

before.

31, 32. the flax and the barley was smitten, &c.--The

peculiarities that are mentioned in these cereal products arise from

the climate and physical constitution of Egypt. In that country flax

and barley are almost ripe when wheat and rye (spelt) are green. And

hence the flax must have been "bolled"--that is, risen in stalk or

podded in February, thus fixing the particular month when the event

took place. Barley ripens about a month earlier than wheat. Flax and

barley are generally ripe in March, wheat and rye (properly, spelt) in

April.