In this chapter, I. The dispute between God and
Moses finishes, and Moses applies himself to the execution of his
commission, in obedience to God's command,
1 And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. 6 And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they. 7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
Here, I. God encourages Moses to go to
Pharaoh, and at last silences all his discouragements. 1. He
clothes him with great power and authority (
II. Moses and Aaron apply themselves to
their work without further objection: They did as the Lord
commanded them,
8 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
The first time that Moses made his
application to Pharaoh, he produced his instructions only; now he
is directed to produce his credentials, and does accordingly. 1. It
is taken for granted that Pharaoh would challenge these demandants
to work a miracle, that, by a performance evidently above the power
of nature, they might prove their commission from the God of
nature. Pharaoh will say, Show a miracle; not with any
desire to be convinced, but with the hope that none will be
wrought, and then he would have some colour for his infidelity. 2.
Orders are therefore given to turn the rod into a serpent,
according to the instructions,
14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. 15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. 16 And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. 17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. 18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river. 19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said. 23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. 24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. 25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river.
Here is the first of the ten plagues, the
turning of the water into blood, which was, 1. A dreadful plague,
and very grievous. The very sight of such vast rolling streams of
blood, pure blood no doubt, florid and high-colored, could not but
strike a horror upon people: much more afflictive were the
consequences of it. Nothing more common than water: so wisely has
Providence ordered it, and so kindly, that that which is so needful
and serviceable to the comfort of human life should be cheap, and
almost everywhere to be had; but now the Egyptians must either
drink blood, or die for thirst. Fish was much of their food
(
I. Moses is directed to give Pharaoh
warning of this plague. "Pharaoh's heart is hardened (
II. Aaron (who carried the mace) is
directed to summon the plague by smiting the river with his rod,
III. Pharaoh endeavours to confront the
miracle, because he resolves not to humble himself under the
plague. He sends for the magicians, and, by God's permission, they
ape the miracle with their enchantments (
IV. The Egyptians, in the meantime, are
seeking for relief against the plague, digging round about the
river for water to drink,
V. The plague continued seven days
(