Exodus 8

God threatens Pharaohs to plague him with frogs, if he would not let Israel go, v.1, &c. Aaron stretched forth his band, and there came frogs over all the land of Egypt, 5. The magicians do the like, 7 Pharaoh calls Moseh frogs, that he will let Israel go, 8. But he performs it not, 15. The third plague comes over Egypt, the dust being turned into lice, 16 which the magicians are not able to initiate, 18 yet Pharaohs remains harden, 19. The fourth plague comes, to wit, a mixture of all sorts of insects, 21. Israel thereof in Gosen, 22. Pharaoh seems ready to let the people go, 25. Moseh prays to God, and he takes these insets away, 29. Pharaoh remains harden, 32.

1. After that, the LORD said to Moseh, Go in to Pharao, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

2. And if thou refuse to let them go, then shall I smite [I.e. plague, afflict] all thy border [i.e. the whole land, from one end to the other] with frog;

3. That the river shall crawl of frogs, [or, shall abundantly bring for to frogs: understand likewise all other waters and pools here, as v.5.] they shall get up, and came into thy house and into thy head – chamber, yet upon thy bed; also upon thy houses of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy ovens, and into thy kneading thought. (Or, dowe lumps) [In that manner namely shall they come everywhere, that no doors, locks or bolts; no gates, walls or fences, shall be able to free either self or servants from the trouble of them.]

4. And the frogs shall come up[, upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. [By this particular naming of Pharaoh, and his people and servants, Moseh shews plainly, that the Israelites were free, and not molested with this plague. See v.21.&22.]

5. Further said the LORD to Moseh, [viz. after that Moseh had done what God commanded him, v.1. and Pharaoh had refused to give ear to it] Say to Aaron, stretch forth thy hand with thy staff over the stream, and over the rivers, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up over land of Egypt.

6. And Aaron stretched forth his hand over the waters of Egypt, and there came up frogs, [Heb, and the frog came up; and so like elsewhere] and covered the land of Egypt.

7. Then the magicians did also likewise [see ab. Ch.7. v.11] with their enchantings; and they made frogs to come up over the land of Egypt.

8. And Pharaoh called Moseh and Aaron, and said, solvently to the LORD, [Gen 25. on verse. 21. The plagues and the sensible smarting make Pharao to know God now, whom before he would not know. See Exod . 5.2. and Sar. 6.2,3. &c] that he take away the frogs from we and from my people, [the Magicians could indeed seemingly imitate Gods plagues, v.7. But they were not able to remove or affwage the] then shall let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.

9. Yet Moseh said to Pharao, have the honour upon me; against hen shall I pray servently for thee and for thy people, for to destroy these frogs from thee and from thy house, that they remain onely in the river? [As if Moseh should say, I will do thee the honour and, suffer that thou appoint me the time, wherein in the LORD, upon my prayer and intercession, shall deliver thee and thine from this plague of the frogs. See the like expression, Judge . 7.2 Isaiah 10:15]

10. Then he said, [viz. Pharao] Against tomorrow. And he said [viz. Moseh] Be it according to thy word, that thou mayest know, that there is none like unto the LORD our God:

11. Then the frogs shall withdraw from thee from thee and from thy house, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall onely remain in the river.

12. Them Moseh and Aaron went forth from Pharoah and Moses called to the LORD because of the frogs, which he had laid on Pharoa [i.e. which God had brought as a punishment upon Pharoah, and his, by Moseh]

13. And the LORD did according to the word of Moseh, and the frogs died, out of the house, out of the entries, [or, out house, out – court. The meaning is, that the frogs dying in the houses, rooms, court – yards, etc, they were swept and shevel'd thence] and out of the fields.

14. And they gathered together by heaps, [they viz, the Egyptians. Heb heaps, heps] and the land stank.

15. Now when Pharao saw, that there was breathing, [i.e. that the plague was asswaged, oth room] he aggravated his heart, (or, made it heavte) [i.e. he remained hardned in his wicked and refractory purpose: see oh. 7 14 and Sai 26.10.] that he hearkened not unto them, according as the LORD his spoken.

16. Moreover the LORD said to Moseh, say to Aaron, stretch out thy staff, and smite the dust of the earth, that it become like in all the land of Egypt.

17. And they did so; for Aaron stretched hos head forth with his staff, and smote the dust of the earth, and the dust of the earth become live, in all the land of Egypt.

18. The Magicians did likewise so [i.e. They smote the dust on the ground, as Aaron had done, but in vain] by their enchanting, that they might bring forth lice; [or, that they might cause lice to come forth] yet they could not; so the liee were on the men, and an the cattel.

19. Then the Magicians said to Pharao, This is the immediate power and work of God; Compare Luke 11:20 with Matthew 12:28. see the like manner of speaking, Jud2.15. And 1 Samuel 6:3,9. Acts 13:11.] howbeit Pharaos heart was stiffening (or hardening), so that he hearkened not unto them, according as the LORD had speken.

20. Moreover, the LORD said to Moseh; Get thee up early to narrow, and put thy self before Pharaos face ; behold, he shall goe forth unto the water,and tell him; Thus saith the LORD; let my people goe, that they may serve me:

21. For is thou do not let my people goe, lo, then shall I send a mixture of inserts [Suc as are all manner of flies, gnats, wasps, hornets, beetles, caterpillars, pis-mires, spiders, snails, mice and such like vermin, which which destroys and waste grass, and fruits, and corns in the fields, gardens, medows, and houses] upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into your houses; so that the houses of the Egyptians shall filled up with mixture, and the earth likeise, upon which they are, [they, viz. the Egyptians, he would imply, that this vermine should be every where where the Egyptians were, and no where else, as appears by the verse 22.]

22. And in that day I will separate the land of Gosen, wherein my people dwelleth, [Hbr, stand upon] that there be no mixture of the insects there, [viz, although the Magicians shall doe and assay their utmost to compasse it] that thou mayest know, I am the LORD in the midst of this land. [or of the earth, i.e. that I am Lord and Master in Egypt, though Pharao imagineth there is none other but himself. See above chapter 5.2.]

23. And I shall set deliverance, betwixt my people, and betwixt thy people, [viz. which shall make a difference betwixt the one and the other.] this token shall happen against tomorrow.

24. And the LORD did so , and there came an heavy mixture of insects into Pharaos house, and into houses of servants, and over all the land of Egypt; the land was spoiled [i.e. all that the land brought forth] by this mixture.

25. Then Pharao called Moseh and Aaron, and said; Goe and sacrifice unto your God in this land. [understand; but not in the wilderness, as ye would have it See chap 5. verse 1.]

26. Moseh then said: it is not right so to do; for we should possibly offer the Egyptians abomination unto the LORD our God, [to wit, oxen, cowes, calves, bullocks whom the Egyptians exhibit divine honours unto, and slay none of them for sacrifice. See Genesis 43:32. and 46.34.] behold, if we should sacrifice the Egyptians abominations, would they not stone us?

27. Let us go the way of three days into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God according as he shall tell us. [They knew not, what they were to scarifiece or slay, until they should be come into the wilderness, see below chapter 10.26.]

28. Then said Pharao; I shall let go, that ye may sacrifice unto the LORD your God in the wilderness, onely (s as) that going ye in no wise goe too far off: [Hebr. Going far, ye goe not far] servantly for me [to wit, That the plague might be taken from me; see above verse 8. and Acts 8:24.]

29. Moseh now said, Behold I goe from thee, and shall pray servently unto the LORD, that this mixture of insects withdraw from Pharao, from his servant, and from his people (by) tomorrow: onely, let Pharo deal no more deceitfully, [to wit, as he had done before, when the plague of the frogs tormented him verse 15] not letting people to go sacrifie unto the LORD.

30. Then Moseh went forth from Pharaoh, and prayed servently unto the LORD.

31. And the LORD did according to the word of Moseh, and the mixture of insects retired from Pharao, from his servants , and from his people, there remained not one over.

32. Yet Pharao aggravated (or harden) his heart also at that time:and he did not let the people go.