Exodus 9

Exodus 9:1

GOe unto Pharaoh] He saith not here, (as Chap. 8. vers. 20.) goe to Pharaoh going forth to the water, and stand before him in his way thither; but goe to Pharaoh where he is, though at his Court, where he keepeth greatest state, and maketh ostentation of greatest pride, and where he hath his parasites about him, to puffe him up in scorn and contempt, and to incense him to indignation against Gods Messengers and people, there Gods Ambassadours must be bold to tell God Message to the greatest Tyrant; yea though they should be served with a prohibition for such a place, as Amos 7:13.

Exodus 9:3

in the field] This was an open plague without doores, and principally upon the cattel, and those onely that were not in some house: and if men were out of doores, it is like they were partakers of the same plague with the beasts of the field, as is threatned of the plague of haile, vers. 19.

oxen and sheepe] By Oxen is meant also Kine and Bulls: such cattell the Egyptians had, though not for food of their flesh, yet for nourishment by their milke, for cloathing with their wooll of sheepe; and some, as Oxen and Horses, they made use of for their worke: and of all kinds they made commoditie by trafique with other Nations, though with divers of them they committed brutish Idolatrie.

a grievous murraine] The word here translated murraine, is Chap 5. vers. 3. tearmed pestilence, and it is one and the same disease, though when it is applied to cattel, it be usually rendred by murraine; when to men, as Chap. 5. vers. 3. it is commonly called the pestilence.

Exodus 9:5

to morrow] See the Annot. on Chap. 8. vers. 23.

Exodus 9:6

all the cattell] The greatest part of sorts of cattell: for some were reserved for another plague, and some preserved from it, by a favourable premonition, for their removall from the danger, vers. 19. 25.

Exodus 9:7

Pharaoh sent] Into the land of Goshen, to see whether Gods people there, had a priviledge from this plague, which the Egyptians had not; he did not send upon the former plagues: for in some of them the wayes were scarce passable, or with much danger, as we see, vers. 3. & 19. and when they were more safe, it may be, the triall came not into his thought: and he might send now the rather, to make up the losse of the Egyptian cattell, out of the Heards of the Israelites.

Exodus 9:8

let Moses] Though Aaron tooke up his handfull of ashes, as well as Moses, yet Moses must sprinkle both, that the power of these operations might not be ascribed to the hand of Aaron, (which held the miraculous Rod) or if they both sprinkled the ashes, Moses might the rather be named, as Gods chief Minister, for the wonderfull deliverance of his people.

Exodus 9:9

blaines] Hitherto (for all their plagues) they might sleepe in a whole skinne, although so many, so great plagues, might have kept them both waking, and weeping: but now the sinne of their soules brake out in the sores of their bodies, and on the beasts for their sakes, where the mischiefe is not more miraculous, then the meanes used to produce it, 5: 8. which was by casting ashes of the Furnace up toward Heaven; by these was sent up a complaint to God, against the oppression of the Israelites, in the furnace of the Brick-kills (See Deuteronomy 4:20.) which came downe with a vengeance upon man and beast. The Originall word not used elsewhere in the Scripture, signifieth scalding, or boyling blaines, or blisters: though the ashes cast up were not hot, but such as Moses and Aaron might hold in their hands.

Exodus 9:11

upon the Magicians] Though they were convinced, and confessed themselves overcome by God, in the plague of Lice, Chap. 8. vers. 19. yet they still persisted to oppose the Power of God, and the Ministery of Moses; and therefore they were worthily plagued with boyles, for the corruption and contumacie of their minds against the Almighty. So God getteth him honour of them to their shame, being so branded, as that both their impietie and impotencie, (though they tooke much upon them) was most apparent.

Exodus 9:12

as the Lord commanded] Chap. 4. 21.

Exodus 9:14

all my plagues upon thy heart] Though my hand hath beene heavie upon thee already, I have plagued thee but sparingly to that I will doe, for I have in store for thee more and worse then yet thou hast felt; and I will make thy heart sick in smiting thee, Mich. 6. 13. and thine owne conscience shall condomne thee of ungratitude and malice.

Exodus 9:15

Pestilence] By this is not meant that known deadly contagion, commonly so called: but any, or all the plagues which are after mentioned, and were inflicted; and especially it may be meant of the slaying of the first borne, as the cutting off may be meant of his, and his peoples drowning in the Sea.

Exodus 9:16

for this cause] So also, Romans 9:17.

have I raised thee up] Heb. made thee to stand. That is, I have made thee a man, preferred thee to be a King, supported thee by my Power, sustained thee by my beneficence, permitted thy pride, indured thy contempt, that the world may see my justice, my punishment of thee, and my power in my conquest over thee, Chap. 14. 17. Psalms 76:10. Proverbs 16:14.

my Name may be declared] That is, that my contestation against thy contumacie, may be knowne, and spoken of to the praise of my patience toward thee, and of my miraculous operations upon thee and thine.

Exodus 9:19

gather thy cattell] See Annot. in vers. 6. A Judgement tempering together severity and mercy.

Exodus 9:21

regarded not] Heb. set not his heart unto.

Exodus 9:23

stretched out his rod] With how much case, and in how short a time doth God great wonders?

Exodus 9:24

and fire mingled] Psalms 78:47. 48. Haile and Fire are contrary: yet both concurre in Gods quarrell to plague his enemics.

none like] This confuteth the observation of some, who say, there is never any Haile, or Raine in Egypt. The truth is, it is more rare there, then in other lands; but not so, that the observation should be peremptorily and universally negative; yet it might well be said, there was none like it: for first, none so generall over a whole land at once: Secondly, none so tempered with fire, vers. 23. & Psal. 105. vers. 32. Thirdly, none so punctually prophetied, and accordingly accomplished, vers. 18. Fourthly, none so destructive to man and beast, and trees, vers. 25. and Psal. 78. vers. 26. 47, 48. & 105. vers. 33.

Exodus 9:26

Goshen no haile] That may be meant of that part which appertained to the Israelites: for the Egyptians that were among them, unlesse they were better then their Countreymen elsewhere, were no more favoured then they.

Exodus 9:27

I have sinned] Exodus 10:16. The wicked sometimes confesse their sinnes to Gods glory, in their acknowledgement of his justice: but they doe not truly repent, and reforme, that they may be received to mercy.

Exodus 9:28

it is enough] That is, I will not put God to bring any more plagues upon me; those I have already seene and felt, shall suffice for your dismission, I will now let you goe, and ye shall stay no longer.

mightic thunderings] Heb. voices of God. Psal. 29. vers. 3, 4, 5. God presents miracles to his eares, as well as to his eyes: yet (neither way) will his obdurate heart be softened.

Exodus 9:29

the earth is the Lords] Psalms 24:1. All the Inhabitants of the earth (Kings not excepted) must acknowledge God for their Land-Lord, and (under that title) they owe him suite and service.

Exodus 9:30

I know that] Moses though he knew (by experience of their stubbornnes, and by revelation from God) that Pharaoh, and his people would still be stubborne, yet he goeth on to worke wonders, both in bringing plagues upon the wicked, and praying God to remove them: since God is glorified by both, though they were reformed by neither.

Exodus 9:31

and the barlie were smitten] As Egypt differed from other Countreyes, being watered not with raine, but with the river Nilus: so it is like there was a difference of the husbandrie of that Land, in sowing the Barlie with the Wheat, which is not the manner of other Countries.

Exodus 9:32

not growne up] Heb. bidden, or darke.

Exodus 9:35

was hardened] 2 Chronicles 28. 22. & 36. 13.

by Moses] Heb. by the hand of Moses.