Richard Challoner

Hardened his own heart: By this we see that Pharao was himself the efficient cause of his heart being hardened, and not God.-- See the same repeated in ver. 32. Pharao hardened his heart at this time also: likewise chap. 9. 7, 35, and chap. 13. 15.

Sciniphs: Or Cinifs, Hebrew Chinnim, small flying insects, very troublesome both to men and beast.

The abominations: That is, the things they worship for Gods: oxen, rams, etc. It is the usual style of the scriptures to call all idols and false gods, abominations, to signify how much the people of God ought to detest and abhor them.

All the beasts: That is, many of all kinds.

Hardened: See the annotations above, chap. 4. 21, chap. 7. 3, and chap. 8. 15.

Darkness upon the land of Egypt, so thick that it may be felt: By means of the gross exhalations, which were to cause and accompany the darkness.

The Lord hardened: See the annotations above, chap. 4. 21, and chap. 7. 3.

A kid: The phase might be performed, either with a lamb or with a kid: and all the same rites and ceremonies were to be used with the one as with the other.

Unleavened bread: By this it appears, that our Saviour made use of unleavened bread, in the institution of the blessed sacrament, which was on the evening of the paschal solemnity, at which time there was no leavened bread to be found in Israel.

Sprinkle: This sprinkling the doors of the Israelites with the blood of the paschal lamb, in order to their being delivered from the sword of the destroying angel, was a lively figure of our redemption by the blood of Christ.

Sanctify unto me every firstborn: Sanctification in this place means that the firstborn males of the Hebrews should be deputed to the ministry in the divine worship; and the firstborn of beasts to be given for a sacrifice.

A dark cloud, and enlightening the night: It was a dark cloud to the Egyptians; but enlightened the night to the Israelites by giving them a great light.

And Moses went up to God: Moses went up to mount Sinai, where God spoke to him.

A graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing: All such images, or likenesses, are forbidden by this commandment, as are made to be adored and served; according to that which immediately follows, thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them. That is, all such as are designed for idols or image-gods, or are worshipped with divine honour. But otherwise images, pictures, or representations, even in the house of God, and in the very sanctuary so far from being forbidden, are expressly authorized by the word of God. See Ex. 25. 15, and etc.; chap. 38. 7; Num. 21. 8, 9; 1 Chron. or Paralip. 28. 18, 19; 2 Chron. or Paralip. 3. 10.

To the gods: Elohim. That is, to the judges, or magistrates, authorized by God.

Titles: That is, pillars.

Holocausts: Whole burnt offerings, in which the whole sacrifice was consumed with fire upon the altar.

Firstfruits: Offerings of some of the best and choicest of their goods.

Setim wood: The wood of a tree that grows in the wilderness, which is said to be incorruptible.

The ephod and the rational: The ephod was the high priest's upper vestment; and the rational his breastplate, in which were twelve gems, etc.