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.
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The Fifth Plague: Pestilence on Livestock

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

The Sixth Plague: Boils and Blains

8
And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward 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 beast, 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 beast.
11
And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. ​
12
And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses. ​

The Seventh Plague Announced: Hail

13
And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise 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 exaltest thou thyself 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 among 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 field.
22
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent 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 beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26
Only in the land of Goshen, 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 sinned 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 smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. ​
32
But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: 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 sinned 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. ​

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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