
Text -- Exodus 9:1-6 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Exo 9:3 - -- Immediately, without the stretching out of Aaron's hand, is upon the cattle, many of which, some of all kinds, shall die by a sort of pestilence. The ...
Immediately, without the stretching out of Aaron's hand, is upon the cattle, many of which, some of all kinds, shall die by a sort of pestilence. The hand of God is to be acknowledged even in the sickness and death of cattle, or other damage sustained in them; for a sparrow falls not to the ground without our father. And his providence is to be acknowledged with thankfulness in the life of the cattle, for he preserveth man and beast, Psa 36:6.

Wesley: Exo 9:6 - -- All that were in the field. The creature is made subject to vanity by the sin of man, being liable, according to its capacity, both to serve his wicke...
All that were in the field. The creature is made subject to vanity by the sin of man, being liable, according to its capacity, both to serve his wickedness, and to share in his punishment. The Egyptians worshipped their cattle; it was among them that the Israelites learned to make a god of a calf; in that therefore this plague meets with them.

Wesley: Exo 9:6 - -- Doth God take care for oxen? Yes, he doth, his providence extends itself to the meanest of his creatures.
Doth God take care for oxen? Yes, he doth, his providence extends itself to the meanest of his creatures.
JFB: Exo 9:3-5 - -- A fifth application was made to Pharaoh in behalf of the Israelites by Moses, who was instructed to tell him that, if he persisted in opposing their d...
A fifth application was made to Pharaoh in behalf of the Israelites by Moses, who was instructed to tell him that, if he persisted in opposing their departure, a pestilence would be sent among all the flocks and herds of the Egyptians, while those of the Israelites would be spared. As he showed no intention of keeping his promise, he was still a mark for the arrows of the Almighty's quiver, and the threatened plague of which he was forewarned was executed. But it is observable that in this instance it was not inflicted through the instrumentality or waving of Aaron's rod, but directly by the hand of the Lord, and the fixing of the precise time tended still further to determine the true character of the calamity (Jer 12:4).

JFB: Exo 9:6 - -- Not absolutely every beast, for we find (Exo 9:19, Exo 9:21) that there were still some left; but a great many died of each herd--the mortality was fr...
Not absolutely every beast, for we find (Exo 9:19, Exo 9:21) that there were still some left; but a great many died of each herd--the mortality was frequent and widespread. The adaptation of this judgment consisted in Egyptians venerating the more useful animals such as the ox, the cow, and the ram; in all parts of the country temples were reared and divine honors paid to these domesticated beasts, and thus while the pestilence caused a great loss in money, it also struck a heavy blow at their superstition.
Clarke: Exo 9:1 - -- The Lord God of the Hebrews - It is very likely that the term Lord, יויה Yehovah , is used here to point out particularly his eternal power and...
The Lord God of the Hebrews - It is very likely that the term Lord,

The hand of the Lord - The power of God manifested in judgment

Clarke: Exo 9:3 - -- Upon the horses - סוסים susim . This is the first place the horse is mentioned; a creature for which Egypt and Arabia were always famous. ס...
Upon the horses -

Clarke: Exo 9:3 - -- A very grievous murrain - The murrain is a very contagious disease among cattle, the symptoms of which are a hanging down and swelling of the head, ...
A very grievous murrain - The murrain is a very contagious disease among cattle, the symptoms of which are a hanging down and swelling of the head, abundance of gum in the eyes, rattling in the throat, difficulty of breathing, palpitation of the heart, staggering, a hot breath, and a shining tongue; which symptoms prove that a general inflammation has taken place. The original word

Clarke: Exo 9:5 - -- To-morrow the Lord shall do this - By thus foretelling the evil, he showed his prescience and power; and from this both the Egyptians and Hebrews mu...
To-morrow the Lord shall do this - By thus foretelling the evil, he showed his prescience and power; and from this both the Egyptians and Hebrews must see that the mortality that ensued was no casualty, but the effect of a predetermined purpose in the Divine justice.

Clarke: Exo 9:6 - -- All the cattle of Egypt died - That is, All the cattle that did die belonged to the Egyptians, but not one died that belonged to the Israelites, Exo...
All the cattle of Egypt died - That is, All the cattle that did die belonged to the Egyptians, but not one died that belonged to the Israelites, Exo 9:4, Exo 9:6. That the whole stock of cattle belonging to the Egyptians did not die we have the fullest proof, because there were cattle both to be killed and saved alive in the ensuing plague, Exo 9:19-25. By this judgment the Egyptians must see the vanity of the whole of their national worship, when they found the animals which they not only held sacred but deified, slain without distinction among the common herd, by a pestilence sent from the hand of Jehovah. One might naturally suppose that after this the animal worship of the Egyptians could never more maintain its ground.
Calvin: Exo 9:1 - -- 1.Then the Lord said No complaint or expostulation of Moses is here recounted; and it is possible that he was quiet and silent, whilst God foresaw wh...
1.Then the Lord said No complaint or expostulation of Moses is here recounted; and it is possible that he was quiet and silent, whilst God foresaw what it was necessary to do, and even commanded what He would have done. But since he only gives a brief summary of occurrences, we may probably conjecture that, as the evil grew worse, he had recourse from time to time to the remedy. In the denunciation, “the Lord God of the Hebrews” is no unmeaning repetition, that Pharaoh may learn that he, whom he thought to have repelled in the abundance of his pride, was still in the field against him. For God insults his ferocity, and by setting forth his name contemptuously defies his wrath. We have already said that Pharaoh is convicted of sacrilege, both in his oppression of God’s people and in defrauding God Himself of His due honor; therefore those words, “Let my people go, that they may serve me,” have the force of aggravating his sin.

Calvin: Exo 9:2 - -- 2.But if thou refuse God again urges him to obedience through fear of punishment, as He usually deals with the froward. Yet he permits him a short sp...
2.But if thou refuse God again urges him to obedience through fear of punishment, as He usually deals with the froward. Yet he permits him a short space of time for repentance, (as before,) if perchance he may lay aside his perverse determination to refuse. And this Moses now relates more distinctly in the fifth verse, both to show the extreme obstinacy of his malice, because the tyrant mocks at God’s forbearance, and follows his own lust; and also to manifest more clearly from the circumstance of time, that the cattle of Egypt were smitten not by chance but by the hand of God. There is also an implied reproof of his senseless obstinacy, as though Moses said, that God was already enough, and more than enough, provoked; and therefore, unless he should desist, that God had new and more terrible plagues at hand, whereby He would overwhelm him. The murrain is appositely called God’s “hand,” because it arose from His just judgment; for this expression is opposed to natural causes, to the arts and devices of men, and to accidental chances — as if Moses had said that the hand of God would appear in “the very grievous murrain,” that Pharaoh may perceive the Deity to be wroth with him. Moreover, though this might seem a lighter plague than those preceding it, yet it was doubtless more grievous and afflictive to the Egyptians, because it involved much greater injury at a future period. The hand of God had before been adverse to them for a short time, and the evil had been removed together with the infliction; but now the destruction of the cattle will affect them for many years. For this kind of gradation in the judgments of God must be observed, as the Law also denounces against transgressors punishments sevenfold greater, if they do not speedily return into the way. (See Lev 26:18.) As to his saying that “all the cattle died,” it is a comprehensive 103 expression, for immediately it will appear that a considerable number of animals still remained. But he means that the herds were everywhere destroyed, and the flocks smitten by the murrain; or, if you prefer it, that the murrain was general in its attack, and that it reduced Egypt to a state of poverty by the destruction of their cattle and other animals. Finally, the universal term merely refers to this plague having been a remarkable proof of God’s anger, because the pestilence did not only kill a few animals, as it usually does, but made havoc far and wide of a vast number of herds and flocks.
Defender -> Exo 9:6
Defender: Exo 9:6 - -- It is futile to attempt naturalistic explanations for these selective miracles. The plagues of flies, cattle murrain (probably anthrax), boils, hail, ...
It is futile to attempt naturalistic explanations for these selective miracles. The plagues of flies, cattle murrain (probably anthrax), boils, hail, thick darkness, and the death of the firstborn were all visited only on the Egyptians, sparing the Israelites (Exo 8:22; Exo 9:6, Exo 9:11; Exo 10:23; Exo 12:23). These were true miracles with the purpose of creating Israel as God's elect nation and of demonstrating this fact to all nations, both to Israel and the Gentiles."

TSK: Exo 9:2 - -- Exo 4:23, Exo 8:2, Exo 10:4; Lev 26:14-16, Lev 26:23, Lev 26:24, Lev 26:27, Lev 26:28; Psa 7:11, Psa 7:12, Psa 68:21; Isa 1:20; Rom 2:8; Rev 2:21, Rev...

TSK: Exo 9:3 - -- the hand : Exo 7:4, Exo 8:19; 1Sa 5:6-11, 1Sa 6:9; Act 13:11
murrain : We may observe a particular scope and meaning in this calamity, if we consider ...
the hand : Exo 7:4, Exo 8:19; 1Sa 5:6-11, 1Sa 6:9; Act 13:11
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


TSK: Exo 9:5 - -- a set time : Exo 9:18, Exo 8:23, Exo 10:4; Num 16:5; Job 24:1; Ecc 3:1-11; Jer 28:16, Jer 28:17; Mat 27:63, Mat 27:64

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes: Exo 9:3 - -- A very grievous murrain - Or "pestilence;"but the word "murrain,"i. e. "a great mortality,"exactly expresses the meaning. This terrible visitat...
A very grievous murrain - Or "pestilence;"but the word "murrain,"i. e. "a great mortality,"exactly expresses the meaning. This terrible visitation struck far more severely than the preceding, which had caused distress and suffering; it attacked the resources of the nation.
The camels - These animals are only twice mentioned, here and Gen 12:16, in connection with Egypt. Though camels are never represented on the monuments, they were known to the Egyptians, and were probably used on the frontier.
Poole: Exo 9:3 - -- The hand of the Lord; in an immediate manner, not by my rod, that thou mayst know it is not I, but the Lord, which doth all these things to thee.
T...
The hand of the Lord; in an immediate manner, not by my rod, that thou mayst know it is not I, but the Lord, which doth all these things to thee.
Thy cattle which they kept for their wool or milk, or manifold uses and services, though not for food and sacrifice.

Poole: Exo 9:6 - -- All the cattle either of all sorts, or a very great number of them, as the word all is frequently used; or rather, all that were in the field, as i...
All the cattle either of all sorts, or a very great number of them, as the word all is frequently used; or rather, all that were in the field, as it is expressly limited, Exo 9:3 , but not all absolutely, as appears from Exo 9:9,19,25 14:23 .
Haydock: Exo 9:1 - -- Lateward. The hail fell in February. (Bonfrere) Aristophanes (in Avibus) says, the Egyptians and Phenicians have their harvest when the cuckoo beg...
Lateward. The hail fell in February. (Bonfrere) Aristophanes (in Avibus) says, the Egyptians and Phenicians have their harvest when the cuckoo begins to sing. The month Nisan, which answers to part of March and April, was honoured with the first fruits, chap. xiii. 4. (Menochius)

My hand. God inflicts the fourth, fifth, and tenth plagues without Moses.

Land. Moses related all this to the king, according to the Samaritan copy.

Haydock: Exo 9:6 - -- All the beasts. That is, many of all kinds. (Challoner) ---
So it is said, (Jeremias ix. 26,) all the nations are uncircumcised, though some f...
All the beasts. That is, many of all kinds. (Challoner) ---
So it is said, (Jeremias ix. 26,) all the nations are uncircumcised, though some few observed the rite of circumcision with the Jews. (Haydock)
Gill: Exo 9:1 - -- Then the Lord said unto Moses,.... The same day the plague of the flies was removed:
go in unto Pharaoh boldly, without any fear of him or his cour...
Then the Lord said unto Moses,.... The same day the plague of the flies was removed:
go in unto Pharaoh boldly, without any fear of him or his court:
and tell him, thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: speak in the name of Jehovah, the God whom the Hebrews worship, and who owns them for his people, and has a special love for them, and takes a special care of them, and is not ashamed to be called their God, as poor and as oppressed as they be:
let my people go, that they may serve me; this demand had been often made, and, though so reasonable, was refused.

Gill: Exo 9:2 - -- For if thou refuse to let them go,.... Continue to refuse, as he had done:
and wilt hold them still; in the land, and under his dominion and oppres...
For if thou refuse to let them go,.... Continue to refuse, as he had done:
and wilt hold them still; in the land, and under his dominion and oppression.

Gill: Exo 9:3 - -- Behold, the hand of the Lord,.... Which was stronger than his, with which he held the Israelites:
is upon thy cattle which is in the field: this ta...
Behold, the hand of the Lord,.... Which was stronger than his, with which he held the Israelites:
is upon thy cattle which is in the field: this takes in all in general, of which the particulars follow, though limited to such as were in the field, and so did not take in what were at home in their out houses and stables:
upon the horses: of which there was great plenty in Egypt, as appears from various places of Scripture:
upon the asses; used for carrying burdens from place to place:
and upon the camels; used the like purposes, and to ride upon, and particularly to travel with through desert places for commerce, being able to proceed on without water for a considerable time:
upon the oxen, and upon the sheep; oxen were for labour to plough with, and sheep for their wool, and all of them to trade with: there shall be
a very grievous murrain: or "pestilence" y, a very noisome one, and which would carry off great numbers; the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan render it a "death", as the Jews commonly call a pestilence, whether on man or beast, because it generally sweeps away large numbers.

Gill: Exo 9:4 - -- And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt,.... Make such a difference and distinction between them, that the murra...
And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt,.... Make such a difference and distinction between them, that the murrain should not be on the one, when it was on the other, and which was a very marvellous thing; and especially in the land of Goshen, where the Egyptians had much cattle, and Pharaoh himself, see Gen 47:6 and yet, though the cattle of Israel breathed in the same air, drank of the same water, and fed in the same pastures, they had not the murrain as the cattle of Egypt had; and the word here used signifies a marvellous separation, as has been observed on Exo 7:22,
and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel; not an horse, nor an ass, nor an ox, nor a sheep.

Gill: Exo 9:5 - -- And the Lord appointed a set time,.... For the coming of this plague, that it might plainly appear it came from him, and was not owing to any natural ...
And the Lord appointed a set time,.... For the coming of this plague, that it might plainly appear it came from him, and was not owing to any natural cause:
saying, tomorrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land; thus giving him time and space, as he had often done before, to consider the matter well, repent of his obstinacy, and dismiss the people of Israel, and so prevent the plague coming upon the cattle, as threatened.

Gill: Exo 9:6 - -- And the Lord did that thing on the morrow,.... Brought a murrain, or a pestilential disease on the cattle. This, according to Bishop Usher, was on the...
And the Lord did that thing on the morrow,.... Brought a murrain, or a pestilential disease on the cattle. This, according to Bishop Usher, was on the second day of the seventh month, which afterwards became the first month, the month Abib, which answers to part of March and part of April, and seems to be about the seventeenth of March:
and all the cattle of Egypt died; not all absolutely, for we read of some afterwards, Exo 9:9 but all that were in the field, Exo 9:3 and it may be not strictly all of them, but the greatest part of them, as Aben Ezra interprets it; some, and a great many of all sorts, in which limited sense the word "all" is frequently used in Scripture:
but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one; at least of the murrain, or by the hand of God, and perhaps not otherwise, which was very wonderful, since such a disorder is usually catching and spreading.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Exo 9:1 This plague demonstrates that Yahweh has power over the livestock of Egypt. He is able to strike the animals with disease and death, thus delivering a...

NET Notes: Exo 9:2 עוֹד (’od), an adverb meaning “yet, still,” can be inflected with suffixes and used as a predicator of exist...

NET Notes: Exo 9:3 The older view that camels were not domesticated at this time (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 70; W. F. Albright, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, 96; e...

NET Notes: Exo 9:4 The lamed preposition indicates possession: “all that was to the Israelites” means “all that the Israelites had.”


Geneva Bible -> Exo 9:4
Geneva Bible: Exo 9:4 And the LORD shall ( a ) sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all [that is] the children's of Is...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Exo 9:1-35
TSK Synopsis: Exo 9:1-35 - --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 ye...
MHCC -> Exo 9:1-7
MHCC: Exo 9:1-7 - --God will have Israel released, Pharaoh opposes it, and the trial is, whose word shall stand. The hand of the Lord at once is upon the cattle, many of ...
Matthew Henry -> Exo 9:1-7
Matthew Henry: Exo 9:1-7 - -- Here is, I. Warning given of another plague, namely, the murrain of beasts. When Pharaoh's heart was hardened, after he had seemed to relent under t...
Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 9:1-2 - --
The fifth plague consisted of a severe Murrain, which carried off the cattle ( מקנה , the living property) of the Egyptians, that were in the f...

Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 9:3-5 - --
" The hand of Jehovah will be ( הויה , which only occurs here, as the participle of היה , generally takes its form from הוה , Neh 6:6; E...

Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 9:6 - --
In the words " all the cattle of the Egyptians died, " all is not to be taken in an absolute sense, but according to popular usage, as denoting such...
Constable: Exo 1:1--15:22 - --I. THE LIBERATION OF ISRAEL 1:1--15:21
"The story of the first half of Exodus, in broad summary, is Rescue. The ...

Constable: Exo 5:1--11:10 - --B. God's demonstrations of His sovereignty chs. 5-11
God permitted the conflict between Moses and Pharao...
