Exodus 9

1 The murrain of beasts.

8 The plague of boils and blains.

13 The message of Moses about the hail.

22 The plague of hail.

27 Pharaoh sues to Moses, but yet is hardened.

9:1

9:2

9:3

hand <03027> [the hand.]

plague <01698> [murrain.]

We may observe a particular scope and meaning in this calamity, if we consider it in regard to the Egyptians, which would not have existed in respect to any other people. They held in idolatrous reverence almost every animal, but some they held in particular veneration; as the ox, cow, and ram. Among these, {Apis} and {Mnevis} are well known; the former being a sacred bull, worshipped at Memphis, as the latter was at Heliopolis. A cow or heifer had the like honours at Momemphis; and the same practice seems to have been adopted in most of the Egyptian {nomes.} By the infliction of this judgment, the Egyptian deities sank before the God of the Hebrews. See Bryant, pp. 87-93.

9:4

9:5

appointed time <04150> [a set time.]

9:6

9:7

heart <03820> [the heart.]

9:8

Take handfuls <03947 02651> [Take to.]

This was a significant command; not only referring to the fiery furnace, which was a type of the slavery of the Israelites, but to a cruel rite common among the Egyptians. They had several cities styled Typhonian, in which at particular seasons they sacrificed men, who were burnt alive; and the ashes of the victim were scattered upwards in the air, with the view, probably, that where any atom of dust was carried, a blessing was entailed. The like, therefore, was done by Moses, though with a different intention, and more certain effect. See Bryant, pp. 93-106.

9:9

boils <07822> [a boil.]

9:10

boils <07822> [a boil.]

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9:12

Hardness of heart is a figurative expression, denoting that insensibility of mind upon which neither judgments nor mercies make any abiding impressions; but the conscience being stupefied, the obdurate rebel persists in determined disobedience.

9:13

9:14

send .... plagues <07971 04046> [send all.]

know <03045> [that thou.]

9:15

stretched out <07971> [stretch.]

struck <05221> [that.]

destroyed <03582> [cut off.]

9:16

for ... purpose <05668> [deed.]

stand <05975> [raised thee up. Heb. made thee stand. for to.]

name <08034> [that my.]

9:17

9:18

tomorrow <04279> [to-morrow.]

rain <04305> [I will cause.]

This must have been a circumstance of all others the most incredible to an Egyptian; for in Egypt there fell no rain, the want of which was supplied by dews, and the overflowing of the Nile. The Egyptians must, therefore, have perceived themselves particularly aimed at in these fearful events, especially as they were very superstitious. There seems likewise a propriety in their being punished by fire and water, as they were guilty of the grossest idolatry towards these elements. Scarcely any thing could have distressed the Egyptians more than the destruction of the flax, as the whole nation wore linen garments. The ruin of their barley was equally fatal, both to their trade and to their private advantage. See Bryant, pp. 108-117.

9:19

gather <05756> [and gather.]

hail <01259> [the hail.]

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9:21

take ... word ..... seriously <07760 01697> [regarded not. Heb. set not his heart unto.]

9:22

9:23

Lord sent ............. Lord <05414 03068> [the Lord sent.]

hail ............ hail <01259> [and hail.]

9:24

not ......... land <03808 0776> [none like.]

9:25

struck ................... struck .... grows <05221 06212> [smote every.]

9:26

9:27

sinned <02398> [I have.]

Lord <03068> [the Lord.]

9:28

Pray <06279> [Intreat.]

mighty thunderings <06963 0430> [mighty thunderings. Heb. voices of God.]

stay <05975> [ye shall.]

9:29

spread <06566> [spread.]

earth <0776> [that the earth.]

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flax ................. flax <06594> [flax.]

The word {pishteh,} flax, Mr. Parkhurst thinks may be derived from {pashat,} to strip, because the substance which we call flax is properly the filaments of the bark or rind of the vegetable, stripped off the stalks. From time immemorial, Egypt was celebrated for the production and manufacture of flax; and hence the linen and fine linen of Egypt, so often spoken of in scripture and ancient authors.

barley ......... barley <08184> [the barley.]

The Hebrew {se¢rah,} barley, in Arabic {shair,} and {shairat,} is so called from its rough, bristly beard, with which the ears are covered and defended; from {saƒr,} to stand on end as the hair of the head: hence {seƒr,} the hair of the head. So its Latin name {hordeum} is from {horreo,} to stand on end as the hair. Dr. Pococke has observed that there is a double seed time and harvest in Egypt; rice, India wheat, and a grain called the corn of Damascus, are sown and reaped at a very different time from wheat, barley, and flax. The first are sown in March, before the overflowing of the Nile, and reaped about October; whereas the wheat and barley are sown in November and December, as soon as the Nile has gone off, and reaped before May.

9:32

later crops <0648> [not grown up. Heb. hidden, or dark.]

9:33

spread out <06566> [spread.]

the <06963> [and the thunders.]

9:34

saw <07200> [saw.]

hardened <03513> [and hardened.]