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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Exodus, Chapter VII].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E X O D U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter,
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I. The dispute between God and Moses finishes, and Moses applies
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himself to the execution of his commission, in obedience to God's
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command,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. The dispute between Moses and Pharaoh begins, and a famous trial of
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skill it was. Moses, in God's name, demands Israel's release; Pharaoh
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denies it. The contest is between the power of the great God and the
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power of a proud prince; and it will be found, in the issue, that when
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God judgeth he will overcome.
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1. Moses confirms the demand he had made to Pharaoh, by a miracle,
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turning his rod into a serpent; but Pharaoh hardens his heart against
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this conviction,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:8-13">ver. 8-13</A>.
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2. He chastises his disobedience by a plague, the first of the ten,
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turning the waters into blood; but Pharaoh hardens his heart against
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this correction,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:14-25">ver. 14</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ex7_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Moses Receives a Fresh Commission.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to
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Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
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2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy
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brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of
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Israel out of his land.
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3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and
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my wonders in the land of Egypt.
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4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my
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hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, <I>and</I> my people the
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children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
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5 And the Egyptians shall know that I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, when I
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stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of
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Israel from among them.
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6 And Moses and Aaron did as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded them, so did
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they.
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7 And Moses <I>was</I> fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and
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three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. God encourages Moses to go to Pharaoh, and at last silences all his
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discouragements.
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1. He clothes him with great power and authority
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>I have made thee a god to Pharaoh;</I> that is, my representative in
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this affair, as magistrates are called <I>gods,</I> because they are
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God's vicegerents. He was authorized to speak and act in God's name and
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stead, and, under the divine direction, was endued with a divine power
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to do that which is above the ordinary power of nature, and invested
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with a divine authority to demand obedience from a sovereign prince and
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punish disobedience. Moses was a god, but he was only a <I>made</I>
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god, not essentially one by nature; he was no god but by commission. He
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was a god, but he was a god only to Pharaoh; the living and true God is
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a God to all the world. It is an instance of God's condescension, and
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an evidence that his thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace, that
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when he treats with men he treats by men, whose terror shall not make
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us afraid.
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2. He again nominates him an assistant, his brother Aaron, who was not
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a man of uncircumcised lips, but a notable spokesman: "He shall be
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<I>thy prophet,</I>" that is, "he shall speak from thee to Pharaoh, as
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prophets do from God to the children of men. Thou shalt, as a god,
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inflict and remove the plagues, and Aaron, as a prophet, shall denounce
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them, and threaten Pharaoh with them."
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3. He tells him the worst of it, that Pharaoh would not hearken to him,
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and yet the work should be done at last, Israel should be delivered and
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God therein would be glorified,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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The Egyptians, who would not know the Lord, should be made to know him.
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Note, It is, and ought to be, satisfaction enough to God's messengers
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that, whatever contradiction and opposition may be given them, thus far
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they shall gain their point, that God will be glorified in the success
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of their embassy, and all his chosen Israel will be saved, and then
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they have no reason to say that they have laboured in vain. See here,
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(1.) How God glorifies himself; he makes people know that he is
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Jehovah. Israel is made to know it by the performance of his promises
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to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+6:3"><I>ch.</I> vi. 3</A>),
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and the Egyptians are made to know it by the pouring
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out of his wrath upon them. Thus God's name is exalted both in those
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that are saved and in those that perish.
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(2.) What method he takes to do this: he humbles the proud, and exalts
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the poor,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:51,52">Luke i. 51, 52</A>.
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If God stretch out his hand to sinners in vain, he will at last stretch
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out his hand upon them; and who can bear the weight of it?</P>
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<P>
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II. Moses and Aaron apply themselves to their work without further
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objection: <I>They did as the Lord commanded them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Their obedience, all things considered, was well worthy to be
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celebrated, as it is by the Psalmist
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:28">Ps. cv. 28</A>),
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<I>They rebelled not against his word,</I> namely, Moses and Aaron,
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whom he mentions,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
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Thus Jonah, though at first he was very averse, at length went to
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Nineveh. Notice is taken of the age of Moses and Aaron when they
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undertook this glorious service. Aaron the elder (and yet the inferior
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in office) was eighty-three, Moses was eighty; both of them men of
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great gravity and experience, whose age was venerable, and whose years
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might teach wisdom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Joseph, who was to be only a servant to Pharaoh, was preferred at
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thirty years old; but Moses, who was to be a god to Pharaoh, was not so
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dignified until he was eighty years old. It was fit that he should long
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wait for such an honour, and be long in preparing for such a
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service.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex7_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Magicians of Egypt.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
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9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for
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you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast <I>it</I>
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before Pharaoh, <I>and</I> it shall become a serpent.
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10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before
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Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
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11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now
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the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their
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enchantments.
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12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became
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serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
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13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto
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them; as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had said.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The first time that Moses made his application to Pharaoh, he produced
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his instructions only; now he is directed to produce his credentials,
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and does accordingly.
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1. It is taken for granted that Pharaoh would challenge these
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demandants to work a miracle, that, by a performance evidently above
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the power of nature, they might prove their commission from the God of
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nature. Pharaoh will say, <I>Show a miracle;</I> not with any desire to
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be convinced, but with the hope that none will be wrought, and then he
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would have some colour for his infidelity.
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2. Orders are therefore given to turn the rod into a serpent,
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according to the instructions,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:3"><I>ch.</I> iv. 3</A>.
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The same rod that was to give the signal of the other miracles is now
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itself the subject of a miracle, to put a reputation upon it. Aaron
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cast his rod to the ground, and instantly it became a serpent,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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This was proper, not only to affect Pharaoh with wonder, but to strike
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a terror upon him. Serpents are hurtful dreadful animals; the very
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sight of one, thus miraculously produced, might have softened his heart
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into a fear of that God by whose power it was produced. This first
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miracle, though it was not a plague, yet amounted to the threatening of
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a plague. If it made not Pharaoh feel, it made him fear; and this is
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God's method of dealing with sinners--he comes upon them gradually.
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3. This miracle, though too plain to be denied, is enervated, and the
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conviction of it taken off, by the magicians' imitation of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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Moses had been originally instructed in the learning of the Egyptians,
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and was suspected to have improved himself in magical arts in his long
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retirement; the magicians are therefore sent for, to vie with him. And
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some think those of that profession had a particular spite against the
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Hebrews ever since Joseph put them all to shame, by interpreting a
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dream which they could make nothing of, in remembrance of which slur
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put on their predecessors these magicians withstood Moses, as it is
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explained,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+3:8">2 Tim. iii. 8</A>.
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Their rods became serpents, real serpents; some think, by the power of
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God, beyond their intention or expectation, for the hardening of
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Pharaoh's heart; others think, by the power of evil angels, artfully
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substituting serpents in the room of the rods, God permitting the
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delusion to be wrought for wise and holy ends, that those might believe
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a lie who received not the truth: and herein the Lord was righteous.
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Yet this might have helped to frighten Pharaoh into a compliance with
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the demands of Moses, that he might be freed from these dreadful
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unaccountable phenomena, with which he saw himself on all sides
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surrounded. But to the seed of the serpent these serpents were no
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amazement. Note, God suffers the lying spirit to do strange things,
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that the faith of some may be tried and manifested
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+13:3,1Co+11:19">Deut. xiii. 3; 1 Cor. xi. 19</A>),
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that the infidelity of others may be confirmed, and that he who is
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filthy may be filthy still,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:4">2 Cor. iv. 4</A>.
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4. Yet, in this contest, Moses plainly gains the victory. The serpent
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which Aaron's rod was turned into swallowed up the others, which was
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sufficient to have convinced Pharaoh on which side the right lay. Note,
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Great is the truth, and will prevail. The cause of God will undoubtedly
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triumph at last over all competition and contradiction, and will reign
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alone,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+2:44">Dan. ii. 44</A>.
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But Pharaoh was not wrought upon by this. The magicians having produced
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serpents, he had this to say, that the case between them and Moses was
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disputable; and the very appearance of an opposition to truth, and the
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least head made against it, serve those for a justification of their
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infidelity who are prejudiced against the light and love of it.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex7_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex7_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Plagues of Egypt.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart <I>is</I> hardened,
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he refuseth to let the people go.
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15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto
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the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he
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come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take
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in thine hand.
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16 And thou shalt say unto him, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of the Hebrews
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hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may
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serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest
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not hear.
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17 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, In this thou shalt know that I <I>am</I> the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: behold, I will smite with the rod that <I>is</I> in mine hand
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upon the waters which <I>are</I> in the river, and they shall be
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turned to blood.
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18 And the fish that <I>is</I> in the river shall die, and the river
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shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water
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of the river.
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19 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod,
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and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their
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streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all
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their pools of water, that they may become blood; and <I>that</I>
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there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in
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<I>vessels of</I> wood, and in <I>vessels of</I> stone.
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20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded; and he
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lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that <I>were</I> in the river,
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in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and
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all the waters that <I>were</I> in the river were turned to blood.
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21 And the fish that <I>was</I> in the river died; and the river
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stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the
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river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
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22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments:
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and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto
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them; as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had said.
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23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he
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set his heart to this also.
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24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water
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to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
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25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had
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smitten the river.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is the first of the ten plagues, the turning of the water into
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blood, which was,
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1. A dreadful plague, and very grievous. The very sight of such vast
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rolling streams of blood, pure blood no doubt, florid and high-colored,
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could not but strike a horror upon people: much more afflictive were
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the consequences of it. Nothing more common than water: so wisely has
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Providence ordered it, and so kindly, that that which is so needful and
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serviceable to the comfort of human life should be cheap, and almost
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every where to be had; but now the Egyptians must either drink blood,
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or die for thirst. Fish was much of their food
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+11:5">Num. xi. 5</A>),
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but the changing of the waters was the death of the fish; it was a
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pestilence in that element
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
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<I>The fish died.</I> In the general deluge they escaped, because
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perhaps they had not then contributed so much to the luxury of man as
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they have since; but in this particular judgment they perished
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:29">Ps. cv. 29</A>):
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<I>He slew their fish;</I> and when another destruction of Egypt, long
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afterwards, is threatened, the disappointment of those that make
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sluices and ponds for fish is particularly noticed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+19:10">Isa. xix. 10</A>.
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Egypt was a pleasant land, but the noisome stench of dead fish and
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blood, which by degrees would grow putrid, now rendered it very
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unpleasant.
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2. It was a righteous plague, and justly inflicted upon the Egyptians.
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For,
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(1.) Nilus, the river of Egypt, was their idol; they and their land
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derived so much benefit from it that they served and worshipped it more
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|
than the Creator. The true fountain of the Nile being unknown to them,
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they paid all their devotions to its streams: here therefore God
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punished them, and turned that into blood which they had turned into a
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god. Note, That creature which we idolize God justly removes from us,
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or embitters to us. He makes that a scourge to us which we make a
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competitor with him.
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(2.) They had stained the river with the blood of the Hebrews'
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children, and now God made that river all bloody. Thus he gave them
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blood to drink, for they were worthy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:6">Rev. xvi. 6</A>.
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Note, Never any thirsted after blood, but, sooner or later,
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they had enough of it.
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3. It was a significant plague. Egypt had a great dependence upon their
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river
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+14:18">Zech. xiv. 18</A>),
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so that in smiting the river they were warned of the destruction of all
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|
the productions of their country, till it came at last to their
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|
firstborn; and this red river proved a direful omen of the ruin of
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|
Pharaoh and all his forces in the Red Sea. This plague of Egypt is
|
|
alluded to in the prediction of the ruin of the enemies of the
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|
New-Testament church,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:3,4">Rev. xvi. 3, 4</A>.
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But there the sea, as well as the rivers and fountains of water, is
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turned into blood; for spiritual judgments reach further, and strike
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deeper, than temporal judgments do. And, <I>lastly,</I> let me observe
|
|
in general concerning this plague that one of the first miracles Moses
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|
wrought was turning water into blood, but one of the first miracles our
|
|
Lord Jesus wrought was turning water into wine; for the law was given
|
|
by Moses, and it was a dispensation of death and terror; but grace and
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|
truth, which, like wine, make glad the heart, came by Jesus Christ.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. Moses is directed to give Pharaoh warning of this plague. "Pharaoh's
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|
heart is hardened
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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therefore go and try what this will do to soften it,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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|
Moses perhaps may not be admitted into Pharaoh's presence-chamber, or
|
|
the room of state where he used to give audience to ambassadors; and
|
|
therefore he is directed to meet him by the river's brink, whither God
|
|
foresaw he would come in the morning, either for the pleasure of a
|
|
morning's walk or to pay his morning devotions to the river: for thus
|
|
all people will walk, every one in the name of his god; they will not
|
|
fail to worship their god every morning. There Moses must be ready to
|
|
give him a new summons to surrender, and, in case of a refusal, to tell
|
|
him of the judgment that was coming upon that very river on the banks
|
|
of which they were now standing. Notice is thus given him of it
|
|
beforehand, that they might have no colour to say it was a chance, or
|
|
to attribute it to any other cause, but that it might appear to be done
|
|
by the power of the God of the Hebrews, and as a punishment upon him
|
|
for his obstinacy. Moses is expressly ordered to take the rod with him,
|
|
that Pharaoh might be alarmed at the sight of that rod which had so
|
|
lately triumphed over the rods of the magicians. Now learn hence,
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|
|
1. That the judgments of God are all known to himself beforehand. He
|
|
knows what he will do in wrath as well as in mercy. Every consumption
|
|
is a consumption determined,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+10:23">Isa. x. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. That men cannot escape the alarms of God's wrath, because they
|
|
cannot go out of the hearing of their own consciences: he that made
|
|
their hearts can make his sword to approach them.
|
|
|
|
3. That God warns before he wounds; for he is <I>long-suffering, not
|
|
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
|
|
repentance.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Aaron (who carried the mace) is directed to summon the plague by
|
|
smiting the river with his rod,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was done in the sight of Pharaoh and his attendants; for God's true
|
|
miracles were not performed, as Satan's lying wonders were, by those
|
|
that peeped and muttered: truth seeks no corners. An amazing change was
|
|
immediately wrought; all the waters, not only in the rivers but in all
|
|
their ponds, were turned into blood.
|
|
|
|
1. See here the almighty power of God. Every creature is that to us
|
|
which he makes it to be, water or blood.
|
|
|
|
2. See the mutability of all things under the sun, and what changes we
|
|
may meet with in them. That which is water to-day may be blood
|
|
to-morrow; what is always vain may soon become vexatious. A river, at
|
|
the best, is transient; but divine justice can quickly make it
|
|
malignant.
|
|
|
|
3. See what mischievous work sin makes. if the things that have been
|
|
our comforts prove our crosses, we must thank ourselves: it is sin that
|
|
turns our waters into blood.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
and this serves Pharaoh for an excuse not to set his heart to this also
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
and a pitiful excuse it was. Could they have turned the river of blood
|
|
into water again, this would have been something to the purpose; then
|
|
they would have proved their power, and Pharaoh would have been obliged
|
|
to them as his benefactors. But for them, when there was such scarcity
|
|
of water, to turn more of it into blood, only to show their art,
|
|
plainly intimates that the design of the devil is only to delude his
|
|
devotees and amuse them, not to do them any real kindness, but to keep
|
|
them from doing a real kindness to themselves by repenting and
|
|
returning to their God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The Egyptians, in the mean time, are seeking for relief against the
|
|
plague, digging round about the river for water to drink,
|
|
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Probably they found some, with much ado, God remembering mercy in the
|
|
midst of wrath; for he is full of compassion, and would not let the
|
|
subjects smart too much for the obstinacy of their prince.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The plague continued seven days
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
and, in all that time, Pharaoh's proud heart would not let him so much
|
|
as desire Moses to intercede for the removal of it. Thus the hypocrites
|
|
in heart heap up wrath; <I>they cry not when he binds them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+36:13">Job xxxvi. 13</A>);
|
|
|
|
and then no wonder that his anger is not turned away, but his hand is
|
|
stretched out still.</P>
|
|
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