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.

All the cattle of Egypt died - not absolutely every beast, for we find (Exodus 9:19; Exodus 9:21) that there were still some; but a great many died of each herd-the mortality was frequent and widespread. The adaptation of this judgment consisted in the Egyptians venerating the more useful animals, such as the ox, the cow, and the ram: in all parts of the country temples were reared and divine honours paid to these domesticated beasts; and thus, while the pestilence caused a great loss in money, it struck a heavy blow at their superstition.

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