Exodus 9

God threatens to smite the cattle with a grievous pestilence, which is the fifth plague, verse 1. yet he spares the Israelites, 4. Pharaoh remains obstinate, 7. The sixth plague, to wit, boils over men and beast, 8, so that the Magicians were not able to stand before Moses, 12, and yet Pharaoh remains hardened, 12. God threatens him with more grievous plagues yet, 13. The seventh plague, to wit, hail and fire, 18, only the land of Goshen is spared, 26. Pharaoh confesses his sin, and Moses prays for him, 27. The plague ceases, 33. Pharaoh remains hardened, 34.

1. After that the LORD said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh, and speak to him: Thus says the LORD the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, that they may serve [i.e. offer sacrifice unto] me.

2. For if you refuse to let them go, and that you forcibly retain them yet;

3. Behold, the hand of the LORD [i.e. the extraordinary immediate power of God, without the intervention of any human operation. See above, chapter 8 verse 19.] shall be over your cattle that is in the field, over the horses, over the asses, over the camels, over the oxen, and over the small cattle; by a very grievous pestilence.

4. And the LORD shall make a separation between the cattle of the Israelites and between the cattle of the Egyptians, that nothing shall die of all that is (belonging to) the children of Israel.

5. And the LORD appointed a certain time, saying, Tomorrow shall the LORD do this thing in this land.

6. And the LORD did this thing the next day, and all the cattle of the Egyptians [i.e. all sorts of them, some of every sort, or, all the beasts that were in the field, verse 3; for there remained some over, as appears below, verse 19 and 25 and chapter 10.5] died; but of the cattle of the children of the Israelites died not one.

7. And Pharaoh sent thither, and behold, of the cattle of Israel there died not one; yet the heart of Pharaoh was aggravated, and he did not let the people go.

8. Then said the LORD to Moses and to Aaron, Take you your fists full [Heb. the fullness of your fists] of ashes out of the oven, and let Moses throw the same towards heaven before Pharaos eyes.

9. And it shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and it shall become boils on men and on cattle, breaking [or, budding, blossoming] out with small blains, in all the land of Egypt.

10. And they took ashes out of the oven, and stood before Pharao's face, and Moses threw them towards heaven; then they were breaking out boils with small blains, on men and on cattle.

11. So that the Magicians were not able to stand before Moses, because of the boils [Hebr., from, or before the face of the boil. See this manner of speaking, Isa. 17 on verse 9.] for there were boils upon the Magicians and upon all the Egyptians.

12. Yet the LORD did obdurace (or, stupefy) the heart of Pharaoh, that he hearkened not to them, according as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

13. Then the LORD said to Moses, Get thee up early tomorrow, and put yourself before Pharao's face, and tell him: Thus says the LORD, the Hebrews' God: Let my people go, that they may serve me.

14. For this time I shall send all my plagues [i.e. All those that I have determined to send over you, until you shall let my people go] into your heart, [meaning that those which he should send after this would not trouble, or pass his skin onely, but pierce and strike through his heart.] and over thy servants, and over thy people, and that thou mayest know, that there is none like me in all the earth.

15. For now I have stretched forth my hand [Heb. sent forth , viz. By pestilence among the cattel , verse 3,6.] to smite thee and thy people with the pestilence ; and that thou shouldest be destroyed fro

16. But verily, therefore I raised thee. [Thus wee read it , Heb.9. Verse 7. Hebr. Therefore I made thee to stand] to shew forth my power (on) thee, and that my Name may be spoken of upon all the earth.

17. Doest thou yet lift up thy self against my people, that thou wilt not let them go ?

18. Behold, to morrow about this time, I will cause a very grievous hail th rain [This miracle was so much the more wonderful in Egypt, where no rain nor hail used to fall.] (as) the like never was in Egypt from that day off, that it was founded hitherto.

19. And now send, gather [Of the Hebrew word used here, see Jer.4.6.] thy cattel, and all that thou hast upon the field : all men and beast that shall be found in the field, and not be gathered in the house, when this hail shall fall upon them, they shall die.

20. Whoso feared the word of the LORD among Pharao's servants, the same made his servants and his cattel to flee into the houses.

21. But he that set not his heart on the word of the LORD ; [i.e. He that did not regard the Word of the LORD , nor laid it to heart. See above chapter 7.23.] the same left his servants and his cattel, in the fields.

22. Then said the LORD to Moseh : Stretch forth thy hand toward Heaven, and there shall be an hail in all the land of Egypt : over the men, and over the cattel, and all over the herb of the field in the land of Egypt.

23. Then Moseh stretched his staff towards Heaven, and the LORD gave thunder [The Hebrew word doth properly signifie voices, and it is used likewise for thunder , sounds,noises.] And the fire shot toward the earth [Heb. walked, or went to and fro] towards the earth ; understand here the fire of the blixon, or lightning which was intermixed with the hail.

24. And there was hail, and fire comprehended [or comprehending-grasping it self] in the midst of the hail ; [the hail,consisting of water, intermingled it self with the fire ; so that this was one miracle in another] it was very grievous, the like never was in all the land of Egypt, since it was a people. [i.e. since any people lived or dwelt in Egypt.]

25. And the hail smote in all the land of Egypt all which was in the field from the men unto the beast ; the hail likewise smote all the herb of the field, and brake all the trees of the field. [i.e. The greater part, or, all sorts of them ; for below chap.10.5. It appears, that there were some left still, that were not consumed by this plague.]

26. Onely, in the land of Gosen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

27. Then Pharao sent, and he called Moseh and Aaron, and said to them ; I have sinned this time : [Pharao making shew here of confessing his sin, in a hypocritical manner, faith, (this time) as if he had not sinned often or before] the LORD is righteous, I, on the contrary and my people are wicked.

28. Pray fervently unto the LORD ; ( for it is enough) [Oth. for it is too much that there should be (more) thundering of God and hail,] that there may be no more thunder of God [i.e. coming down from God ; or, such great and terrible thunder-claps and lightnings.] no hail, then I shall let you goe, and yet shall stay no longer. [Heb. and ye shall not add, ( or continue) to stand.]

29. Then said Moseh to him, when I shall be gone forth the City, I will spread forth my hands before the LORD : the thunder shall cease, and the hail shall bee no more, that thou mayest know, that the earth is the LORDS : Oth. that this land is the LORDS. As being the Creatour, Governour, and Maintainer thereof, Deut.10.14,15. Ps.24.1. and 135.6. and 1 Cor.10.26.]

30. Neverthelesse, as for thee and thy servants, I know, that ye will not yet fear before the face of the LORD : [This was found true and manifested afterwards, below verse 35.]

31. The flax now, and the barley were smitten ; [viz.by the hail] for the barley was in the ears, or blade] and the flax was in the blade. [Heb. was blade.]

32. But the wheat and the spelt (or, white wheat) ( a sort of grain somewhat like to wheat, more white and dry then Ry ) were not smitten ; [viz. by the hail] for they were covered. [Heb. dark, or, obscure, meaning they had gotten neither blades nor ears yet.]

33. So Moseh went forth the City from Pharao, and spread his hands unto the LORD : and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was no (more) poured out upon the earth.

34. When Pharao saw, that the rain and hail, and the thunder ceased, he sinned yet further : and he aggravated his heart, he and his servants.

35. Thus Pharaos heart was stupified, that he did not let the children of Israel goe, according as the LORD had spoken by Moseh. [Heb. by the hand of Moseh, i.e. By the ministery of Moseh, as being the Instrument, which God made use of. See of this manner of speaking, Exodus 35:29. Levit.4.13. and 2 Sam. 11.14. 2 Kings 17:13. Hag.1.1. and Malachi 1:1. and elsewhere.]