Exodus9

Exodus 9 details three more plagues upon Egypt, demonstrating the LORD's power and Pharaoh's continued defiance. The fifth plague, a grievous murrain, killed all Egyptian livestock while sparing Israel's. This was followed by the sixth plague of boils upon both man and beast, affecting even the magicians. Finally, the seventh plague brought unprecedented hail mingled with fire, devastating the land and its inhabitants, yet sparing the land of Goshen, though Pharaoh's heart remained hardened.

The Fifth Plague: Pestilence on Livestock

Then ADONAI said to Moshe, "Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, 'Here is what ADONAI, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they can worship me.

If you refuse to let them go and persist in holding on to them,

the hand of ADONAI is on your livestock in the field - on the horses, donkeys, camels, cattle and flocks -and will make them suffer a devastating illness.

But ADONAI will distinguish between Egypt's and Isra'el's livestock - nothing belonging to the people of Isra'el will die."'"

ADONAI determined the exact time by saying, "Tomorrow ADONAI will do this in the land."

The following day, ADONAI did it - all the livestock of Egypt died; but not one of the animals belonging to the people of Isra'el died.

Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the people of Isra'el had died. Nevertheless, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn, and he didn't let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils and Blains

ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon, "Take handfuls of ashes from a kiln, and let Moshe throw them in the air before Pharaoh's eyes.

They will turn into fine dust over all the land of Egypt and become infected sores on men and animals throughout Egypt."

So they took ashes from a kiln, stood in front of Pharaoh and threw them in the air; and they became infected sores on men and animals.

The magicians couldn't even stand in Moshe's presence because of the sores, which were on them as well as on the other Egyptians.

But ADONAI made Pharaoh hardhearted, so that he didn't listen to them -just as ADONAI had said to Moshe.

The Seventh Plague Announced: Hail

ADONAI said to Moshe, "Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Here is what ADONAI says: "Let my people go, so that they can worship me.

For this time, I will inflict my plagues on you, yourself, and on your officials and your people; so that you will realize that I am without equal in all the earth.

By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such severe plagues that you would have been wiped off the earth.

But it is for this very reason that I have kept you alive -to show you my power, and so that my name may resound throughout the whole earth.

Since you are still setting yourself up against my people and not letting them go,

tomorrow, about this time, I will cause a hailstorm so heavy that Egypt has had nothing like it from the day it was founded until now.

Therefore, send and hurry to bring indoors all your livestock and everything else you have in the field. For hail will fall on every human being and animal left in the field that hasn't been brought home, and they will die."'"

Whoever among Pharaoh's servants feared what ADONAI had said had his slaves and livestock escape into the houses;

but those who had no regard for what ADONAI had said left their slaves and livestock in the field.

ADONAI said to Moshe, "Reach out your hand toward the sky, so that there will be hail in all the land of Egypt, falling on people, animals and everything growing in the field, throughout the land of Egypt."

Moshe reached out with his staff toward the sky, and ADONAI sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. ADONAI caused it to hail on the land of Egypt -

it hailed, and fire flashed up with the hail; it was terrible, worse than any hailstorm in all of Egypt since it became a nation.

Throughout all the land of Egypt, the hail struck everything in the field, people and animals; and the hail struck every plant growing in the field and broke every tree there.

But in the land of Goshen, where the people of Isra'el were, there was no hail.

Pharaoh summoned Moshe and Aharon and said to them, "This time I have sinned: ADONAI is in the right; I and my people are in the wrong.

Intercede with ADONAI - we can't take any more of this terrible thunder and hail; and I will let you go, you will stay no longer."

Moshe said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to ADONAI; the thunder will end, and there won't be any more hail - so that you can know that the earth belongs to ADONAI.

But you and your servants, I know you still won't fear ADONAI, God."

The flax and barley were ruined, because the barley was ripe and the flax in bud.

But the wheat and buckwheat were not ruined, because they come up later.

Moshe went out of the city, away from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to ADONAI. The thunder and hail ended, and the rain stopped pouring down on the earth.

When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail and thunder had ended, he sinned still more by making himself hardhearted, he and his servants.

Pharaoh was made hardhearted, and he didn't let the people of Isra'el go, just as ADONAI had said through Moshe.

Study Notes for Exodus 9

Verse 1

This is the first plague where Moses is commanded to deliver the message without a preceding sign, indicating an escalation in judgment. The Lord God of the Hebrews emphasizes Yahweh's covenant relationship with Israel, contrasting Him with the Egyptian gods.

Verse 3

The 'grievous murrain' (Heb. *deber*) targets the livestock essential to Egypt's economy, warfare, and religious life (e.g., the worship of the Apis bull). This plague directly attacks the sources of Egyptian strength and divine protection.

Verse 4

This is the third plague (following the flies and frogs) that explicitly demonstrates God’s ability to differentiate between the Egyptians and the Israelites, showcasing Yahweh's precise sovereign control within the same land.

Verse 6

The immediate execution of the judgment 'on the morrow,' as promised, validates Moses' authority and emphasizes God's absolute control over time and natural events.

Verse 7

Pharaoh verifies the miracle but still refuses to yield. This demonstrates an increasing hardness of heart, characterized by willful defiance despite overwhelming empirical evidence of God's power.

Verse 8

This plague is unique as Moses and Aaron are instructed to use a symbolic act—throwing soot/ash from a furnace—which turns into a widespread affliction. The furnace may symbolize the harsh servitude of Israel.

Verse 9

The boils (*shehin*) were painful, festering sores, possibly a reference to diseases that Egyptian deities (like Imhotep, god of medicine) were expected to prevent. This targeted the general health and purity of the populace.

Verse 11

The inability of the magicians to stand before Moses signifies their complete defeat. They cannot mimic or withstand this plague, confirming that Yahweh's power utterly eclipses all Egyptian magic and protective deities.

Verse 12

This is the first time the text explicitly attributes the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart solely to the LORD. This shift emphasizes God’s sovereign control over the ultimate outcome, ensuring His plan to demonstrate power is fulfilled.

Verse 13

Before the plague, God delivers a profound message regarding the theological purpose of the judgments. Moses must rise 'early in the morning,' indicating the urgency of the confrontation.

Verse 14

The plagues are now focused on securing the theological knowledge that 'there is none like me in all the earth.' This judgment aims to demonstrate Yahweh's absolute and incomparable nature.

Verse 16

This critical verse explains God's purpose in sustaining Pharaoh's life and reign: to display divine power and ensure that Yahweh's name is proclaimed globally through the ensuing judgments, fulfilling a divine plan.

Verse 18

Hail is extremely rare and usually mild in Egypt; a destructive storm of this magnitude would be unprecedented. This plague attacks the sky gods and the fertility of the land directly.

Verse 20

This verse shows the first visible split among the Egyptians. Those who 'feared the word of the LORD' obeyed the warning, demonstrating that the cumulative effect of the plagues was producing fear and internal division within Pharaoh’s court.

Verse 23

The description of 'thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground' suggests a severe thunderstorm with intense lightning. This imagery contrasts with the power of Egyptian deities like Nut (sky) and Shu (air).

Verse 26

The continued protection of Goshen reinforces the distinction established in previous plagues, assuring Israel that they remain safe under God's covenant protection despite the surrounding destruction.

Verse 27

Pharaoh finally confesses sin, acknowledging God's righteousness and his own wickedness. However, this confession is driven by temporary fear of the judgment, not genuine repentance, as shown by his subsequent actions.

Verse 29

Moses agrees to intercede but reiterates the core theological lesson: the cessation of the plague will confirm that 'the earth is the LORD'S,' emphasizing Yahweh's universal dominion, not just control over Egypt.

Verse 30

Moses demonstrates prophetic insight, knowing that Pharaoh and his servants lack genuine 'fear of the LORD,' indicating that their obedience is only superficial and temporary.

Verse 31

The specific destruction of barley and flax, while sparing wheat and rye, provides a precise chronological marker, placing this plague in early spring (March-April) when those crops were maturing.

Verse 34

As the immediate threat ceases, Pharaoh's resolve returns. He 'sinned yet more,' demonstrating that true change requires more than temporary relief from consequences; it requires genuine submission to God.

Verse 35

The chapter concludes by reaffirming that Pharaoh’s hardening and refusal fulfilled the prophetic word delivered by Moses, underscoring God's ultimate control over the events.

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Exodus9

The Fifth Plague: Pestilence on Livestock

The Sixth Plague: Boils and Blains

The Seventh Plague Announced: Hail

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