Exodus 9

Exodus 9:1-11

In this chapter we have an account of three more of the plagues of Egypt. 1. Murrain among the cattle, ver. 1—7. 2. Bish upon man and loaf, ver. 8—12. 3. Mail with thunder and lightning. 1. Warning is given, ver. 13—21. 2. It is inflicted to their great terror, ver. 22—26. 3. Pharaoh in a fright renews his treaty with Moses, but infirmly breaks his word, ver. 27—35.

1. THEN the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2. For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still. 3. Behold the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain. 4. And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel, and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children of Israel. 5. And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To-morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land. 6. And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. 7. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. Vol. I.

And * the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

Who can stand before this holy Lord God? His strokes fall still heavier. The grievous murrain is denounced and comes. The cattle of Egypt die, whilst those of Israel live, Pharaoh sends to see, yet rejects the conviction. Nothing will convince those whom God determines to destroy.

8. ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it towards the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9. And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be * a boil breaking forth with blains, upon man, and upon beaft, throughout all the land of Egypt. 10. And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven: and it became * a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beaft. 11. And the magicians could not stand before Moses, because of the boil: for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. 12. And the LORD hardned the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, * as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.

9. AND the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for ‘I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants; that I might shew these my signs before him: 2. And that ’thou mayst sell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done amongst them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD. 3. And Moses and Aaron came in unto

Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4. Else if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to-morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coals. 5. And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field. 6. And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth, unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 7. And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: Knoweth thou not yet, that Egypt is destroyed? 8. And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go? 9. And Moses said, We will go with our young, and with our old, with our sons, and with our daughters; with our flocks, and with our herds will we go: for we may hold a feast unto the LORD. 10. And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it, for evil is before you. 11. Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD, for that you did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

God’s judgments are standing memorials of his power and justice, that the poilhenés of the earth may not dare to contend with their Maker. Egypt is almost consumed, but her king is shibinate as ever. Therefore,

1. Moses is sent again to challenge God’s people. Before he intreated, now he demands. It required courage indeed to stand thus before an incensed king. Grace makes men as bold as lions. The locusts are threatened, v. 4, 5, and, without waiting for reply, he turns and departs.

2. Pharaoh’s servants intercede with him, for fear of that evident ruin which must attend his refusal. On this he makes a new proposal, v. 8, but, as they who serve God, must serve him with all they possess, Moses insists on leave to depart for themselves, their children, and their cattle, v. 9. This Pharaoh rejects with indignation, and drives them from his presence in a rage. Note, When the Devil gets a sinner to the precipice, he pushes him quickly headlong down.

3. ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, now all that the hail hath left. 13. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night: and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they, before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. 15. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees, which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16. ¶ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have finned against the LORD your God, and against you. 17. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and ‘intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only. 18. And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD. 19. And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and I cast them into the Red-fea: there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 20. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

Exodus 9:8-12

To humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, is the way to save his judgments; to harden our heart, is but to increase them. Behold, another plague: that affected their cattle, this their persons. A boil, as painful as loathsome. The fire of the furnace never scorched the Israelites, so much as this dust the body of the Egyptians. Not even the magicians could stand before it: their folly is now as manifest, as their sufferings are grievous. Note, (1.) God will most severely handle those who have been most instrumental in deceiving and hardening others. (2.) Though the devil should come into his, he cannot preserve them from suffering. Pharaoh still is hardened: he had rejected God’s warnings, and now his impenitence is both his punishment and crime. Note, When men reject God, it is just they should be rejected by him.

13. ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Rite up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people: that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. 15. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. 16. And in very deed for this cause have I + raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. 17. As yet exalted thou thylest against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? 18. Behold, to-morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof, even until now. 19. Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field: for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. 20. He that feared the word of the LORD amongst the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses. 21. And he that regarded not the word of the LORD, left his servants and his cattle in the fields.

Exodus 9:12-20

The locusts come, the sky is darkened, the earth covered, and the little which the hail had left utterly consumed. How soon can God, by the most contemptible insects, make our land a wilderness! Hereupon,

1. Pharaoh

2. Pharaoh returns to submissive and intramy, begs pardon of God and his servants, and promises very largely, v. 16, 17. Note, (1.) They who despise God’s ministers, had well all their pardon, before they stand to accuse them at the bar of God. (2.) They who are more solicitous to remove the threatened death, than their sin which is the cause of it, are certainly hypocritical penitents.

3. Moses prays, and a west wind carries the locusts away. No sooner is the plague removed, than Pharaoh returns as the dog to his worst again. Frequent relapses into sin usually and in final apology.

4. ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand towards heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven: and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23. They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24. ¶ And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. 25. And Moses said, Thou muth give it us also sacrifices and burns-offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26. Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind: for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. 27. ¶ But the LORD * hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28. And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to myself, see my face no more: for in that day thou seeh my face, thou shalt die. 29. And Moses said, Thou hath spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

Exodus 9:13-21

Did ever any man harden his heart against God, and prosper? Let us read and tremble.

1. A new demand is made, and a more terrible judgment threatened. Bodily plagues are grievous, but heart-plagues the world of miseries. God will be glorified wherever he contends. The wrath and furiousness of man shall praise him. Pharaoh is raised up, on purpose to make his power known: dreadful summit of dignity, like Lucifer’s, only to fall with more distinguished ruin. Note, The vessels of wrath fitted for destruction shall as certainly shew forth the sovereignty, power, and justice of God, as the vessels of mercy, his distinguishing grace and love.

2. To those who have any fear of God, time is given to prepare for, and avoid the stroke, by taking in their cattle. Mercy here mingles with judgment. Note, If a man hear and fear, he may escape; for there is in Jesus Christ a covert from the storm for the chief of sinners. Some, like the master, despised the warning: “Wickedness in high places affords a most pernicious and prevalent example. Some feared, and brought in their cattle.

Exodus 9:14-24

Rev. xli. Hole. God tracing of their waters. 1, 2. 1, 3. turned Barns Chid 1431.

turned to blood. 21. And the fish that was in the river, died: and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river, and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22. And the magicians of Egypt did so with their inchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he harken unto them; as the LORD had said. 23. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. 24. And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink: for they could not drink of the water of the river. 25. And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

God gives warning before he strikes. Vengeance is his strange work; but when admonition is vain, then he draws the glittering sword.

1. The judgment is heavy. All the water turned into blood, their fish destroyed, their land threatened thus with dearth, and themselves to die with thirst. The waters of the Nile were the cause of Egypt’s fruitfulness, but now they are its plague; so easily can God turn our comforts into curses. They had stained in dreams with the blood of Hebrew children, and now they shall in return have blood to drink. Thus God will repay in kind; and this done openly for their greater consideration. Truth never needs nor sicks the covert. Locus hence, (1). How ill we can do without the most common blessings: the want of water only would destroy us. (2.) That we must blame our sins as the cause of all our sufferings.

2. The magicians are ready to oppose miracles by lies. They seem to have juggled in this; for, if all the waters were blood, where should they prove their power? Had they turned the blood into water, they had been great indeed; but if any water was found by those who digged for it, God’s permitting them to turn it into blood, but aggravated the judgment. However, false or real, Pharaoh was persuaded. Note, Every infidel must believe things more absurd and contradictory, to countenance his infidelity, than he can lay to the charge of those whom he calls credulous.

Exodus 9:21-29

When sin is not repented of, God’s wrath is not turned away; and though there may be intervals of respite, yet his hand is stretched out still.

1. A more dismal plague overtakes them; total darkness, so thick as to be felt, and made more frightful from the terrors of confederate, which now must stave them, as well as perhaps from stends of darkness, who, at tradition reports, with horrid yells tremested and haunted those miserable souls. Three days it continued, nor did any sin from his place. Note, Hell is the place of darkness and of torment. They who chuse the darkness of sin, are doomed to this outer darkness, where is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. If three days so spent were dreadful, what must it be to spend eternity thus?

2. Israel had light in their dwellings. How much better the lighthouse tent of a Hebrew servant, than the darkened palaces of proud Pharaoh? Note, The soul in a cottage, who enjoys the light of God’s countenance, is unfeasantly more happy, than the greatest monarch that walks in the darkness of sin.

3. Pharaoh again sounds a parley, advances a little farther, v. 24. Moses is peremptory; a hoof shall not be left behind. Note, False repentance is always partial, and some secret sin is reserved: true repentance is universal, in renouncing every known evil. Allowedly, not a hoof must be left behind.

4. Mad with rage, Pharaoh thrush him out, and threatens him with death, if he dare ever appear in his presence again. Impotent threats! The ungodly gnash with their teeth, and pine away. Moses confents to his commands, and leaves him quickly, with suffer indignation. That soul, that people, that place, are then past recovery, who thrush out God’s ministers from them, and have the dust of their feet shaken off for a testimony against them.

Exodus 9:22-35

21. Rev. 2.1.2. (Rev. 2.1.2.) 1. Heb. Here that Read. 1 Heb. See see his hand unto.

Barnach-cattle. God hath his fecese ones in the worst days, and even in Casar’s household.

22. ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be a hall in all the land of Egypt; upon man, and upon beall, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. 23. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven, and the LORD first thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt, since it became a nation. 25. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beall; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. 26. Only in the land of Godhen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. 27. ¶ And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have finned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28. ‘Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. 29. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD: and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know, how that the earth is the LORD’s. 30. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God. 31. And the flax and the barley was finitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. 32. ‘But the wheat and the rye were not finitten; for they were not grown up. 33. And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. 34. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, and the hail, and the thunders were ceased, he finned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

How terrible the storm, how dreadful the havock? Whilst mighty thunders utter their voices in the heavens, and the lightnings flash around, the battering hail, refillless in its fury, bears down all before it. Egypt seems swept with the bosom of destruction: men, cattle, trees, corn, lie in promiscuous ruin. Nothing is left alive, that is exposed to the devouring tempel, whilst Godhen enjoys peaceful serenity. Pharaoh, astonished, humbles himself to the dust, confesses his wickedness, and interests forgiveness. Moses immediately goes out. They need not fear, whom God protects. In the midst of the storm he prays and is heard. Note, They who have learnt to pray, are thunder-proof. But no sooner does the storm cease, than Pharaoh recants. Confessions extorted by fear are scarce fences made than revoked. How many a fence hath trembled, like Pharaoh, and, for a moment, owned a God of judgment; and then, when the danger was passed, perhaps laughed at his own fears, and carried it off with a bravado.