Exodus 7

Exodus 7:1

A God to Pharaoh] The word is Elohim, which is ascribed sometimes to men in authoritie, as Chap. 22. 28. Here it is given to Moses as an Ambassadour from God, for God, and in his stead to command Pharaoh, (though a King) and to punish him (as a Rebell) if he will not obey the words of Moses speaking in Gods Name, and God by his divine power working (with miraculous operations) the confirmation of his message, and the conviction of Pharaohs contumacie, in such sort that it might plainly appeare, God was able to deliver his people, though the Tyrant opposed to the utmost of his power: and in this respect Moses was to be respected by Pharaoh, not as an ordinary messenger from man, but as one coming with extraordinary Authoritie and power from God: so that in Moses God would account himselfe obeyed, or contemned, as Luke 10:16.

shall be thy Prophet] Or shall speake for thee, before Pharaoh: thou shalt be a Prophet unto him, in revealing the secrets I impart unto thee, and he shall be a Prophet (to, or for thee) to Pharaoh, in speaking againe to Pharaoh, the Elders and people what I have already, or shall hereafter declare unto thee: (for that is a prophecie. See 1 Corinthians 14.) and though Moses were of a better spirit, Aaron was of better speech. See Chap. 4. vers. 10. 14.

Exodus 7:3

I will harden] Vers. 13. Chap. 14. 8. See Annot. in Exodus 4:21.

Exodus 7:4

great judgements] So God had said before. Chap. 6. vers. 6. but he repeateth it againe, for further confirmation of Moses his faith, and the increase of his courage. See Annot. on Chap. 6. & 6.

Exodus 7:6

so did they] Exod. Chap. 12. 28. 50. it is said before, that they did as the Lord commanded them, and yet he saith, so did they: which may seeme a Pleonasme, or superfluitie of speech, without use, or need; but it is rather an emphaticall duplicatition for care, to keep our selves closely to Gods commands.

Exodus 7:7

fourescore yeares old] Moses lived in affliction and banishment forty yeares, before he entered upon his office to deliver his oppressed Brethren all that while; and before Moses was borne, were the children of Israel afflicted by the King of Egypt, and his people: which may teach his servants in all ages, to waite upon God with faith and patience, because, though he forbeare their enemies for a time, he doth not forget his servants at all, nor will suffer the rod of the wicked alwaies to rest upon the lot of the righteous, Psalms 125:3. And though Moses and Aaron were so old, yet as it was said of Moses, (albeit he lived to the age of an hundred and twenty yeares) his eye was not dimme, nor his naturall force abated, Deut. 34. vers. 7. so might it be with Aaron, though three yeares older at his death. Numbers 33:39. and so both of them by the abilities of their bodies, and minds, and the reverence and respect due to such a venerable age, they were the more fit to undertake a service, which required all qualifications of honour, and energie of power to make it effectuall. Besides, the noting of the ages of such eminent persons, maketh up the Chronologie or computation of time, whereby the accomplishment of the prophecie (Genesis 15:13.) may be cleared.

Exodus 7:9

Take thy rod] The Rod which was turned into a serpent, and returned into a Rod againe, Chap. 4. vers. 2, 3, 4. which is sometimes called Gods Rod, because he accompanied it with a miraculous power: sometimes Moses his rod, and sometimes Aarons, because they held it in their hands, when God wrought wonders with it. There was another rod called Aarons rod, Numbers 17:3.

Exodus 7:10

a serpent] So Exodus 4:3. where the word is Nahash, as Genesis 3:1. but in this place the word is Tauvin, which is used for the whole, Genesis 1:21. here it is translated Pragon, by learned Hebricians, so also Malachi 1:3. and vers. 10. 22. Belike, the change before Pharaoh was not into an ordinary serpent, (called Nahash) but into some greater creature, as a Dragon, or Crocodile.

Exodus 7:11

Sorcerers] God permitted much to the power of the Devils Imposture, that Pharaohs heart might be the more hardened, and so at last Gods conquest over them and him, might be the more glorious: and here the sinceritie of Scripture story is to be observed, which giveth the Devil his due, and utters the truth of his Agents prevailing force, as well as of his and their foile at the last: among these Inchanters, it seemeth, that the chiefe of these, were Jannes and Jambres, 2 Tim. 3. 8.

Exodus 7:12

they became serpents] The word here is the same which is verse 10. this change was either in appearance onely, (for neither the Devil, nor his Agents, can make any creature, or change their nature) or else, (by the helpe of the Devil) Serpents or Dragons might be brought into the place of the Rods, and the Rods removed them also out of sight.

swallowed up] That is, the Serpent, or Dragon, into which Moses his Rod was turned, swallowed up the Serpents, into which their rods were turned, or for which, they were changed, by the inchantment, and art of the Devil, not making, but bringing true Serpents in their places.

Exodus 7:13

And he hardened] See Annot. on Chap. 4. vers. 21.

Exodus 7:15

the riers brinke] To wit, the River Nilus.

Exodus 7:17

in mine hand] The words are Gods words, yet the Rod is in Moses hand; it is in Gods hand by vigorous influence, and in Moses hand by outward ministration: as he sword of Gideon, and the sword of the Lord, Judg. 7. 18. may be one and the same Gideons in use, Gods in force, and the power of prevailing with it.

shall be turned into bloud] The Egyptians were bloud-thirsty men, bloudily minded against the Hebrews, and that they might have bloud enough, their waters are turned into bloud. Thus God requites the wicked in their kind, there was no need to turne the whole river into bloud, so farre as it runneth or reacheth: it was enough, that the streames running by Egypt, had the plague, which (when it passed the borders thereof) might be cleare as it was before.

Exodus 7:18

stinke] By the ill sent of the dead fish in it.

Exodus 7:19

all their pooles of water] We must not thinke that Moses went particularly to every poole, to stretch his Rod over it, but that having stretched his Rod towards the River, he afterwards did the like over some ponds or pooles, or gathering of water, in the name of all of the like kind: or he might (stretching out the Rod) make mention, how farre the Curse should reach; and it is like, it was rather upon the fresh waters, that were potable, then upon the salt; other liquors seeme to be free from this plague, especially milke, for that is not properly comprehended under the name of water.

Exodus 7:21

and the fish died] Which was an evidence, that it was a true Miracle, and that Miracle a plague to them, by whom fish was used for necessarie diet, as Numbers 11:5. And to some it served, as to many no doubt it did, for dainties; and that plague upon fishes may confute the superstitious conceit of Papists concerning fishes, as if they were holier then other meats, because they came not under the curse, as other creatures, by the Floud.

throughout all the land] Of Egypt and of Goshen also, (it is like) so farre as it might afflict the Egyptians, and not the Israelites.

Exodus 7:22

the Magicians did so] Exodus 7:12. & Chap. 8. 7. When all the waters were turned into bloud, how could they doe so? unlesse they first returned them from bloud to water againe: Answ. It might be in Goshen, or if that Province were free from this, as it was from the other plagues, Chap. 8. 22. & 9. 26. & 10. 23. it might be, that all the Rivers and Pooles were not turned into bloud, (at once) but that some of them being turned into bloud, the Magicians practised their Inchantments on others: or they might digge new Wells, vers. 24. which had no commerce with these blood waters; or (because this plague continued but seven dayes, verse 25.) the Magicians might play their pankes when these dayes were expired: and then might make their false appearances of bloud by their magicall Impostures.

Exodus 7:24

digged] But (it is like) they lost their labour, if it were within the compasse of seven dayes, after mentioned: for they were like to find (in stead of pure water) stinking bloud, which would rather orture their tast, then quench their thirst: this plague (it seemeth) was shuted to seven dayes continuance.

seven dayes] This plague is expressely said to continue seven dayes, and it may be that it was the whole time, but the Text doth not set downe the period of it.