mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 9.xml

<div2 id="Ex.x" n="x" next="Ex.xi" prev="Ex.ix" progress="35.06%" title="Chapter IX">
<h2 id="Ex.x-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.x-p0.2">CHAP. IX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.x-p1">In this chapter we have an account of three more
of the plagues of Egypt. I. Murrain among the cattle, which was
fatal to them, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.1-Exod.9.7" parsed="|Exod|9|1|9|7" passage="Ex 9:1-7">ver. 1-7</scripRef>.
II. Boils upon man and beast, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.8-Exod.9.12" parsed="|Exod|9|8|9|12" passage="Ex 9:8-12">ver.
8-12</scripRef>. III. Hail, with thunder and lightning. 1. Warning
is given of this plague, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.13-Exod.9.21" parsed="|Exod|9|13|9|21" passage="Ex 9:13-21">ver.
13-21</scripRef>. 2. It is inflicted, to their great terror,
<scripRef id="Ex.x-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.22-Exod.9.26" parsed="|Exod|9|22|9|26" passage="Ex 9:22-26">ver. 22-26</scripRef>. 3. Pharaoh,
in a fright, renews his treaty with Moses, but instantly breaks his
word, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.27-Exod.9.35" parsed="|Exod|9|27|9|35" passage="Ex 9:27-35">ver. 27</scripRef>,
&amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.x-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9" parsed="|Exod|9|0|0|0" passage="Ex 9" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.x-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.1-Exod.9.7" parsed="|Exod|9|1|9|7" passage="Ex 9:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.9.1-Exod.9.7">
<h4 id="Ex.x-p1.8">The Plagues of Egypt. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1491.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.x-p2">1 Then the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p2.1">Lord</span>
said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p2.2">Lord</span> God of the Hebrews, Let my
people go, that they may serve me.   2 For if thou refuse to
let <i>them</i> go, and wilt hold them still,   3 Behold, the
hand of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p2.3">Lord</span> is upon thy cattle
which <i>is</i> in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon
the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: <i>there shall
be</i> a very grievous murrain.   4 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p2.4">Lord</span> shall sever between the cattle of Israel
and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all <i>that
is</i> the children's of Israel.   5 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p2.5">Lord</span> appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p2.6">Lord</span> shall do this thing in the
land.   6 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p2.7">Lord</span> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p3">Here is, I. Warning given of another
plague, namely, the murrain of beasts. When Pharaoh's heart was
hardened, after he had seemed to relent under the former plague,
then Moses is sent to tell him there is another coming, to try what
that would do towards reviving the impressions of the former
plagues. Thus is the wrath of God revealed from heaven, both in his
word and in his works, <i>against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men.</i> 1. Moses puts Pharaoh in a very fair
way to prevent it: <i>Let my people go,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.1" parsed="|Exod|9|1|0|0" passage="Ex 9:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. This was still the demand. God
will have Israel released; Pharaoh opposes it, and the trial is,
<i>whose word shall stand.</i> See how jealous God is for his
people. When <i>the year of his redeemed has come,</i> he will
<i>give Egypt for their ransom;</i> that kingdom shall be ruined,
rather than Israel shall not be delivered. See how reasonable God's
demands are. Whatever he calls for, it is but <i>his own:</i> They
are my people, therefore let them go. 2. He describes the plague
that should come, if he refused, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.2-Exod.9.3" parsed="|Exod|9|2|9|3" passage="Ex 9:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2, 3</scripRef>. <i>The hand of the Lord</i>
immediately, without the stretching out of Aaron's hand, <i>is upon
the cattle,</i> many of which, some of all kinds, should die by a
sort of pestilence. This was greatly to the loss of the owners:
they had made Israel poor, and now God would make them poor. Note,
The hand of God is to be acknowledged even in the sickness and
death of cattle, or other damage sustained in them; for a
<i>sparrow falls not to the ground without our Father.</i> 3. As an
evidence of the special hand of God in it, and of his particular
favour to his own people, he foretells that none of their cattle
should die, though they breathed in the same air and drank of the
same water with the Egyptians' cattle: <i>The Lord shall sever,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.x-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.4" parsed="|Exod|9|4|0|0" passage="Ex 9:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Note, When God's
judgments are abroad, though they may fall both on the righteous
and the wicked, yet God makes such a distinction that they are not
the same to the one that they are to the other. See <scripRef id="Ex.x-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.27.7" parsed="|Isa|27|7|0|0" passage="Isa 27:7">Isa. xxvii. 7</scripRef>. The providence of God
is to be acknowledged with thankfulness in the life of the cattle,
for he preserveth man and beast, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.36.6" parsed="|Ps|36|6|0|0" passage="Ps 36:6">Ps.
xxxvi. 6</scripRef>. 4. To make the warning the more remarkable,
the time is fixed (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.5" parsed="|Exod|9|5|0|0" passage="Ex 9:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>): <i>To-morrow</i> it shall be done. We know not what
any day will bring forth, and therefore we cannot say what we will
do to-morrow, but it is not so with God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p4">II. The plague itself inflicted. The cattle
died, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.6" parsed="|Exod|9|6|0|0" passage="Ex 9:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Note, The
creature is made subject to vanity by the sin of man, being liable,
according to its capacity, both to serve his wickedness and to
share in his punishment, as in the universal deluge. <scripRef id="Ex.x-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.20 Bible:Rom.8.22" parsed="|Rom|8|20|0|0;|Rom|8|22|0|0" passage="Ro 8:20,22">Rom. viii. 20, 22</scripRef>. Pharaoh and the
Egyptians sinned; but the <i>sheep, what had they done?</i> Yet
they are plagued. See <scripRef id="Ex.x-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.12.4" parsed="|Jer|12|4|0|0" passage="Jer 12:4">Jer. xii.
4</scripRef>, For the <i>wickedness of the land, the beasts are
consumed.</i> The Egyptians afterwards, and (some think) now,
worshipped their cattle; it was among them that the Israelites
learned to make a god of a calf: in this therefore the plague here
spoken of meets with them. Note, What we make an idol of it is just
with God to remove from us, or embitter to us. See <scripRef id="Ex.x-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.19.1" parsed="|Isa|19|1|0|0" passage="Isa 19:1">Isa. xix. 1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p5">III. The distinction put between the cattle
of the Egyptians and the Israelites' cattle, according to the word
of God: Not <i>one of the cattle of the Israelites died,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.x-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.6-Exod.9.7" parsed="|Exod|9|6|9|7" passage="Ex 9:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>. Does God
take care of oxen? Yes, he does; his providence extends itself to
the meanest of his creatures. But it is written also for our sakes,
that, trusting in God, and making him our refuge, we may not be
<i>afraid of the pestilence that walketh in darkness,</i> no, not
though <i>thousands fall at our side,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.6-Ps.91.7" parsed="|Ps|91|6|91|7" passage="Ps 91:6,7">Ps. xci. 6, 7</scripRef>. Pharaoh sent to see if the
cattle of the Israelites were infected, not to satisfy his
conscience, but only to gratify his curiosity, or with design, by
way of reprisal, to repair his own losses out of their stocks; and,
having no good design in the enquiry, the report brought to him
made no impression upon him, but, on the contrary, his heart was
hardened. Note, To those that are wilfully blind, even those
methods of conviction which are ordained to life prove a savour of
death unto death.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.x-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.8-Exod.9.12" parsed="|Exod|9|8|9|12" passage="Ex 9:8-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.9.8-Exod.9.12">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.x-p6">8 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p6.1">Lord</span>
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 <i>with</i>
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 <i>with</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p6.2">Lord</span>
hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p6.3">Lord</span> had spoken unto Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p7">Observe here, concerning the plague of
boils and blains,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p8">I. When they were not wrought upon by the
death of their cattle, God sent a plague that seized their own
bodies, and touched them to the quick. If less judgments do not do
their work, God will send greater. Let us therefore humble
ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and go forth to meet him in
the way of his judgments, that his anger may be turned away from
us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p9">II. The signal by which this plague was
summoned was the sprinkling of warm ashes from the <i>furnace,
towards heaven</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.8 Bible:Exod.9.10" parsed="|Exod|9|8|0|0;|Exod|9|10|0|0" passage="Ex 9:8,10"><i>v.</i> 8,
10</scripRef>), which was to signify the heating of the air with
such an infection as should produce in the bodies of the Egyptians
sore boils, which would be both noisome and painful. Immediately
upon the scattering of the ashes, a scalding dew came down out of
the air, which blistered wherever it fell. Note, Sometimes God
shows men their sin in their punishment; they had oppressed Israel
in the furnaces, and now the ashes of the furnace are made as much
a terror to them as ever their task-masters had been to the
Israelites.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p10">III. The plague itself was very grievous—a
common eruption would be so, especially to the nice and delicate,
but these eruptions were inflammations, like Job's. This is
afterwards called the <i>botch of Egypt</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.27" parsed="|Deut|28|27|0|0" passage="De 28:27">Deut. xxviii. 27</scripRef>), as if it were some new
disease, never heard of before, and known ever after by that name,
Note, Sores in the body are to be looked upon as the punishments of
sin, and to be hearkened to as calls to repentance.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p11">IV. The magicians themselves were struck
with these boils, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.11" parsed="|Exod|9|11|0|0" passage="Ex 9:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. 1. Thus they were punished, (1.) For helping to
harden Pharaoh's heart, as Elymas for seeking to <i>pervert the
right ways of the Lord;</i> God will severely reckon with those
that strengthen the hands of the wicked in their wickedness. (2.)
For pretending to imitate the former plagues, and making themselves
and Pharaoh sport with them. Those that would produce lice shall,
against their wills, produce boils. Note, It is ill jesting with
God's judgments, and more dangerous than playing with fire. <i>Be
you not mockers, lest your bands be made strong.</i> 2. Thus they
were shamed in the presence of their admirers. How weak were their
enchantments, which could not so much as secure themselves! The
devil can give no protection to those that are in confederacy with
him. 3. Thus they were driven from the field. Their power was
restrained before (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.8.18" parsed="|Exod|8|18|0|0" passage="Ex 8:18"><i>ch.</i> viii.
18</scripRef>), but they continued to confront Moses, and confirm
Pharaoh in his unbelief, till now, at length, they were forced to
retreat, and could not stand before Moses, to which the apostle
refers (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.3.9" parsed="|2Tim|3|9|0|0" passage="2Ti 3:9">2 Tim. iii. 9</scripRef>) when
he says that their <i>folly was made manifest unto all men.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p12">V. Pharaoh continued obstinate, for now
<i>the Lord hardened</i> his heart, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.12" parsed="|Exod|9|12|0|0" passage="Ex 9:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Before, he had hardened his own
heart, and resisted the grace of God; and now God justly gave him
up to his own heart's lusts, to a reprobate mind, and strong
delusions, permitting Satan to blind and harden him, and ordering
every thing, henceforward, so as to make him more and more
obstinate. Note, Wilful hardness is commonly punished with judicial
hardness. If men shut their eyes against the light, it is just with
God to close their eyes. Let us dread this as the sorest judgment a
man can be under on this side hell.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.x-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9" parsed="|Exod|9|0|0|0" passage="Ex 9" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.x-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.13-Exod.9.21" parsed="|Exod|9|13|9|21" passage="Ex 9:13-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.9.13-Exod.9.21">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.x-p13">13 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p13.1">Lord</span>
said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before
Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p13.2">Lord</span> 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 <i>there is</i> 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
<i>cause</i> have I raised thee up, for to show <i>in</i> 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, <i>and</i> gather thy cattle, and all that thou
hast in the field; <i>for upon</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p13.3">Lord</span> 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
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p13.4">Lord</span> left his servants and his
cattle in the field.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p14">Here is, I. A general declaration of the
wrath of God against Pharaoh for his obstinacy. Though God has
hardened his heart (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.12" parsed="|Exod|9|12|0|0" passage="Ex 9:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), yet Moses must repeat his applications to him; God
suspends his grace and yet demands obedience, to punish him for
requiring bricks of the children of Israel when he denied them
straw. God would likewise show forth a pattern of long-suffering,
and how he waits to be gracious to a <i>rebellious and gainsaying
people</i> Six times the demand had been made in vain, yet Moses
must make it the seventh time: <i>Let my people go,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.13" parsed="|Exod|9|13|0|0" passage="Ex 9:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. A most dreadful message
Moses is here ordered to deliver to him, whether he will hear or
whether he will forbear. 1. He must tell him that he is marked for
ruin, that he now stands as the butt at which God would shoot all
the arrows of his wrath, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.14-Exod.9.15" parsed="|Exod|9|14|9|15" passage="Ex 9:14,15"><i>v.</i>
14, 15</scripRef>. "Now I will send <i>all my plagues.</i>" Now
that no place is found for repentance in Pharaoh, nothing can
prevent his utter destruction, for that only would have prevented
it. Now that God begins to <i>harden his heart,</i> his case is
desperate. "I will send my plagues <i>upon thy heart,</i> not only
temporal plagues upon thy body, but spiritual plagues upon thy
soul." Note, God can send plagues upon thy soul." Note, God can
send plagues upon the heart, either by making it senseless or by
making it hopeless—and these are the worst plagues. Pharaoh must
now expect no respite, no cessation of arms, but to be followed
with plague upon plague, till he is utterly consumed. Note, When
God judges he will overcome; none ever hardened his heart against
him and prospered. 2. He must tell him that he is to remain in
history a standing monument of the justice and power of God's wrath
(<scripRef id="Ex.x-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.16" parsed="|Exod|9|16|0|0" passage="Ex 9:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): "<i>For this
cause have I raised thee up</i> to the throne at this time, and
made thee to stand the shock of the plagues hitherto, to <i>show in
thee my power.</i>" Providence ordered it so that Moses should have
a man of such a fierce and stubborn spirit as he was to deal with;
and every thing was so managed in this transaction as to make it a
most signal and memorable instance of the power God has to humble
and bring down the proudest of his enemies. Every thing concurred
to signalize this, that God's name (that is, his incontestable
sovereignty, his irresistible power, and his inflexible justice)
might be declared throughout all the earth, not only to all places,
but through all ages while the earth remains. Note, God sometimes
raises up very bad men to honour and power, spares them long, and
suffers them to grow insufferably insolent, that he may be so much
the more glorified in their destruction at last. See how the
neighbouring nations, at that time, improved the ruin of Pharaoh to
the glory of God. Jethro said upon it, <i>Now know I that the Lord
is greater than all gods,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.18.11" parsed="|Exod|18|11|0|0" passage="Ex 18:11"><i>ch.</i> xviii. 11</scripRef>. The apostle illustrates
the doctrine of God's sovereignty with this instance, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.17" parsed="|Rom|9|17|0|0" passage="Ro 9:17">Rom. ix. 17</scripRef>. To justify God in these
resolutions, Moses is directed to ask him (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.17" parsed="|Exod|9|17|0|0" passage="Ex 9:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), <i>As yet exaltest thou thyself
against my people?</i> Pharaoh was a great king; God's people were
poor shepherds at the best, and now poor slaves; and yet Pharaoh
shall be ruined if he exalt himself against them, for it is
considered as exalting himself against God. This was not the first
time that God reproved kings for their sakes, and let them know
that he would not suffer his people to be trampled upon and
insulted, no, not by the most powerful of them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p15">II. A particular prediction of the plague
of hail (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.18" parsed="|Exod|9|18|0|0" passage="Ex 9:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), and
a gracious advice to Pharaoh and his people to send for their
servants and cattle out of the field, that they might be sheltered
from the hail, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.19" parsed="|Exod|9|19|0|0" passage="Ex 9:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>.
Note, When God's justice threatens ruin his mercy, at the same
time, shows us a way of escape from it, so unwilling is he that any
should perish. See here what care God took, not only to distinguish
between Egyptians and Israelites, but between some Egyptians and
others. If Pharaoh will not yield, and so prevent the judgment
itself, yet an opportunity is given to those that have any dread of
God and his word to save themselves from sharing in the judgment.
Note, Those that will take warning may take shelter; and those that
will not may thank themselves if they fall by the overflowing
scourge, and the hail which will <i>sweep away the refuge of
lies,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.28.17" parsed="|Isa|28|17|0|0" passage="Isa 28:17">Isa. xxviii. 17</scripRef>.
See the different effect of this warning. 1. <i>Some believed the
things that were spoken,</i> and they feared, and housed their
servants and cattle (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.20" parsed="|Exod|9|20|0|0" passage="Ex 9:20"><i>v.</i>
20)</scripRef>, like Noah (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.7" parsed="|Heb|11|7|0|0" passage="Heb 11:7">Heb. xi.
7</scripRef>), and it was their wisdom. Even among the servants of
Pharaoh there were some that trembled at God's word; and shall not
the sons of Israel dread it? But, 2. Others believed not: though,
whatever plague Moses had hitherto foretold, the event exactly
answered to the prediction; and though, if they had had any reason
to question this, it would have been no great damage to them to
have kept their cattle in the house for one day, and so, supposing
it a doubtful case, to have chosen the surer side; yet they were so
foolhardy as in defiance to the truth of Moses, and the power of
God (of both which they had already had experience enough, to their
cost), to leave their cattle in the field, Pharaoh himself, it is
probable, giving them an example of the presumption, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.21" parsed="|Exod|9|21|0|0" passage="Ex 9:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. Note, Obstinate
infidelity, which is deaf to the fairest warnings and the wisest
counsels, leaves the blood of those that perish upon their own
heads.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.x-p15.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.22-Exod.9.35" parsed="|Exod|9|22|9|35" passage="Ex 9:22-35" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.9.22-Exod.9.35">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.x-p16">22 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.1">Lord</span>
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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.2">Lord</span> sent thunder and hail, and the fire
ran along upon the ground; and the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.3">Lord</span> 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 <i>was</i> 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 <i>were,</i> was there no hail.  
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto
them, I have sinned this time: the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.4">Lord</span> <i>is</i> righteous, and I and my people
<i>are</i> wicked.   28 Intreat the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.5">Lord</span> (for <i>it is</i> enough) that there be no
<i>more</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.6">Lord</span>; <i>and</i> the thunder
shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest
know how that the earth <i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.7">Lord</span>'s.   30 But as for thee and thy
servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.8">Lord</span> God.   31 And the flax and the barley
was smitten: for the barley <i>was</i> in the ear, and the flax
<i>was</i> bolled.   32 But the wheat and the rye were not
smitten: for they <i>were</i> not grown up.   33 And Moses
went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.9">Lord</span>: 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.x-p16.10">Lord</span> had spoken by Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p17">The threatened plague of hail is here
summoned by the powerful hand and rod of Moses (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.22-Exod.9.23" parsed="|Exod|9|22|9|23" passage="Ex 9:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22, 23</scripRef>), and it obeys the
summons, or rather the divine command; for <i>fire and hail fulfil
God's word,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.148.8" parsed="|Ps|148|8|0|0" passage="Ps 148:8">Ps. cxlviii.
8</scripRef>. And here we are told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p18">I. What desolations it made upon the earth.
The thunder, and fire from heaven (or lightning), made it both the
more dreadful and the more destroying, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.23-Exod.9.24" parsed="|Exod|9|23|9|24" passage="Ex 9:23,24"><i>v.</i> 23, 24</scripRef>. Note, God makes the
clouds, not only his store-houses whence he drops fatness on his
people, but his magazines whence, when he pleases, he can draw out
a most formidable train of artillery, with which to destroy his
enemies. He himself speaks of the <i>treasures of hail which he
hath reserved against the day of battle and war,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.22-Job.38.23" parsed="|Job|38|22|38|23" passage="Job 38:22,23">Job xxxviii. 22, 23</scripRef>. Woeful havoc
this hail made in the land of Egypt. It killed both men and cattle,
and battered down, not only the herbs, but the trees, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.25" parsed="|Exod|9|25|0|0" passage="Ex 9:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. The corn that was above
ground was destroyed, and that only preserved which as yet had not
come up, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.31-Exod.9.32" parsed="|Exod|9|31|9|32" passage="Ex 9:31,32"><i>v.</i> 31,
32</scripRef>. Note, God has many ways of <i>taking away the corn
in the season thereof</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.2.9" parsed="|Hos|2|9|0|0" passage="Ho 2:9">Hos. ii.
9</scripRef>), either by a secret blasting, or a noisy hail. In
this plague the <i>hot thunderbolts,</i> as well as the hail, are
said to destroy <i>their flocks,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.47-Ps.78.48" parsed="|Ps|78|47|78|48" passage="Ps 78:47,48">Ps. lxxviii. 47, 48</scripRef>; and see <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.105.32-Ps.105.33" parsed="|Ps|105|32|105|33" passage="Ps 105:32,33">Ps. cv. 32, 33</scripRef>. Perhaps David
alludes to this when, describing God's glorious appearances for the
discomfiture of his enemies, he speaks of the hailstones and coals
of fire he threw among them, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.12-Ps.18.13" parsed="|Ps|18|12|18|13" passage="Ps 18:12,13">Ps.
xviii. 12, 13</scripRef>. And there is a plan reference to it on
the pouring out of the seventh vial, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.9" osisRef="Bible:Rev.16.21" parsed="|Rev|16|21|0|0" passage="Re 16:21">Rev. xvi. 21</scripRef>. Notice is here taken (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p18.10" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.26" parsed="|Exod|9|26|0|0" passage="Ex 9:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>) of the land of Goshen's
being preserved from receiving any damage by this plague. God has
the directing of the pregnant clouds, and causes it to rain or hail
on one city and not on another, either in mercy or in judgment.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.x-p19">II. What a consternation it put Pharaoh in.
See what effect it had upon him, 1. He humbled himself to Moses in
the language of a penitent, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.27-Exod.9.28" parsed="|Exod|9|27|9|28" passage="Ex 9:27,28"><i>v.</i> 27, 28</scripRef>. No man could have spoken
better. He owns himself on the wrong side in his contest with the
God of the Hebrews: "<i>I have sinned</i> in standing it out so
long." He owns the equity of God's proceedings against him: <i>The
Lord is righteous,</i> and must be justified when he speaks, though
he speak in thunder and lightning. He condemns himself and his
land: "<i>I and my people are wicked,</i> and deserve what is
brought upon us." He begs the prayers of Moses: "<i>Entreat the
Lord</i> for me, that this direful plague may be removed." And,
<i>lastly,</i> he promises to yield up his prisoners: <i>I will let
you go.</i> What could one desire more? And yet his heart was
hardened all this while. Note, The terror of the rod often extorts
penitent acknowledgments from those who have no penitent
affections; under the surprise and smart of affliction, they start
up, and say that which is pertinent enough, not because they are
deeply affected, but because they know that they should be and that
<i>it is meet to be said.</i> 2. Moses, hereupon, becomes an
intercessor for him with God. Though he had all the reason in the
world to think that he would immediately repent of his repentance,
and told him so (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.30" parsed="|Exod|9|30|0|0" passage="Ex 9:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>), yet he promises to be this friend in the court of
heaven. Note, Even those whom we have little hopes of, yet we
should continue to pray for, and to admonish, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.12.23" parsed="|1Sam|12|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 12:23">1 Sam. xii. 23</scripRef>. Observe, (1.) The place
Moses chose for his intercession. He went <i>out of the city</i>
(<scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.33" parsed="|Exod|9|33|0|0" passage="Ex 9:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>), not only for
privacy in his communion with God, but to show that he durst
venture abroad into the field, notwithstanding the hail and
lightning which kept Pharaoh and his servants withindoors, knowing
that every hail-stone had its direction from his God, who meant him
no hurt. Note, Peace with God makes men thunderproof, for thunder
is the voice of their Father. (2.) The gesture: He <i>spread abroad
his hands unto the Lord</i>—an outward expression of earnest
desire and humble expectation. Those that come to God for mercy
must stand ready to receive it. (3.) The end Moses aimed at in
interceding for him: <i>That thou mayest know,</i> and be
convinced, <i>that the earth is the Lord's</i> (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.29" parsed="|Exod|9|29|0|0" passage="Ex 9:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>), that is, that God has a
sovereign dominion over all the creatures, that they all are ruled
by him, and therefore that thou oughtest to be so. See what various
methods God uses to bring men to their proper senses. Judgments are
sent, judgments removed, and all for the same end, to make men know
that he Lord reigns. (4.) The success of it. [1.] He prevailed with
God, <scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.33" parsed="|Exod|9|33|0|0" passage="Ex 9:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. But, [2.]
He could not prevail with Pharaoh: <i>He sinned yet more, and
hardened his heart,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.34-Exod.9.35" parsed="|Exod|9|34|9|35" passage="Ex 9:34,35"><i>v.</i>
34, 35</scripRef>. The prayer of Moses opened and shut heaven, like
Elias's (<scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:Jas.5.17-Jas.5.18" parsed="|Jas|5|17|5|18" passage="Jam 5:17,18">Jam. v. 17,
18</scripRef>), and such is the power of God's two witnesses
(<scripRef id="Ex.x-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.6" parsed="|Rev|11|6|0|0" passage="Re 11:6">Rev. xi. 6</scripRef>); yet neither
Moses nor Elias, nor those two witnesses, could subdue the hard
hearts of men. Pharaoh was frightened into a compliance by the
judgment, but, when it was over, his convictions vanished, and his
fair promises were forgotten. Note, Little credit is to be given to
confessions upon the rack. Note also, Those that are not bettered
by judgments and mercies are commonly made worse.</p>
</div></div2>