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 the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still,

behold, the hand of the LORD is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence.

The LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt; and nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”’”

The LORD appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.”

The LORD did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.

Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the livestock of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he didn’t let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils and Blains

The LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking out with boils on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt.”

They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became a boil breaking out with boils on man and on animal.

The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.

The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn’t listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

The Seventh Plague Announced: Hail

The LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.

For now I would have stretched out my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;

but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth;

as you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won’t let them go.

Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now.

Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. Every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn’t brought home, the hail shall come down on them, and they shall die.”’”

Those who feared the LORD’s word among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their livestock flee into the houses.

Whoever didn’t respect the LORD’s word left his servants and his livestock in the field.

The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man, and on animal, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.”

Moses stretched out his rod toward the heavens, and the LORD sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashed down to the earth. The LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.

So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

The hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and animal; and the hail struck every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field.

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

Pray to the LORD; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”

Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to the LORD. The thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.

But as for you and your servants, I know that you don’t yet fear the LORD God.”

The flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom.

But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they had not grown up.

Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands to the LORD; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth.

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

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.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Exodus9

The Fifth Plague: Pestilence on Livestock

The Sixth Plague: Boils and Blains

The Seventh Plague Announced: Hail

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options