1._And the Lord spake. _Again, as if the matter were only now begun, God demands of Pharaoh His own peculiar right, viz., that His people should serve Him, but out of the land of Egypt, that His worship might be separate and pure from all defilement, for He desired (as was before said) by this separ... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron. _It is questionable whether God thus enjoined Moses in a continuous address, or whether He waited until Pharaoh contumaciously despised His command. It is probable, indeed, that after Pharaoh had paid no attention to the threats, the execution of the... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Then Pharaoh called for Moses. _Pharaoh at last appears to be softened, and to lay aside some of his fierceness; but it will soon appear that he was not really tamed. It may indeed have been that, seized with terror, he seriously took refuge in cries for pardon; but that he lied to God, and to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And Moses said unto Pharaoh. _Commentators differ as to the meaning of this passage. They are too speculative who expound it, that this honor was granted to Pharaoh, that he should fix the time in which Moses was to pray. Again, there is a flatness in the exposition, that Pharaoh might glory beca... [ Continue Reading ]
10._And he said, Tomorrow. _If you refer this to Moses, there is ambiguity in the sense; but, it being probable that they were Pharaoh’s words, I think that he is asking for a respite till tomorrow, before he lets the people go. For they fall into an absurdity, who think that he asked Moses to drive... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Blot when Pharaoh saw. _Hence it appears that the wretched tyrant, like a winding serpent, twisted and turned his mind to crooked counsels; for when he was trembling beneath the present feeling of God’s power, he dared not obstinately resist any longer; he only sought a little breathing time; no... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And the Lord said unto Moses. _In this place again, as before, Aaron is commanded to act as the inferior of Moses in punishing the tyrant; and this as being more ignominious than as if Moses alone had been employed. The nature of this third plague is very remarkable. God troubles Egypt not only... [ Continue Reading ]
18._And the magicians did so. _They “did” is here put for “they tried to do;” for they did not succeed, as presently appears. They are therefore said to have done, what they in vain attempted, or what they essayed, but without success. And in this way God took away from Pharaoh whatever excuse remai... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh. _It is probable that they were reproved harshly, because they had come to a stop in their rivalry with the servants of God; wherefore they excuse themselves by saying, that there is no more room for their wisdom and magical arts. We gather from hence that th... [ Continue Reading ]
20._And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early. _As Pharaoh advances in daring rashness, so does God on the other hand proceed to restrain his impetuosity by opposing impediments. This is what the wicked at length obtain by long and multiplied contention, that having received many wounds they peris... [ Continue Reading ]
22._And I will sever. _Although this had not been expressly declared as yet, still it must be extended to the other plagues; for it is certain, that when God inflicted punishment on the Egyptians, He did not proceed promiscuously against all men; and, therefore, that His chosen people, in whose beha... [ Continue Reading ]
25._And Pharaoh called for Moses. _Pharaoh imagines that he is granting a great thing, if the Israelites are permitted to offer sacrifice to God in Egypt. He and all his people should have humbly embraced the worship of God, and casting away their superstitions should have sought to Moses as their i... [ Continue Reading ]
26._And Moses said. _The word כון, (101) _kon, _which Moses here uses, has a wide signification; for the Hebrews say of whatever they do not approve, that it is not right ( _rectum._) Therefore almost all the interpreters agree in this, that Pharaoh demanded what was by no means equitable, because h... [ Continue Reading ]
27._We will go three days’ journey. _This is the conclusion that no change must be made in God’s command, but that His injunction must be obeyed simply, and without exception. Nor is there little praise due to the firmness of Moses, who so boldly and unreservedly rejected the pretended moderation of... [ Continue Reading ]
28._And Pharaoh said, I will let you go. _When he sees that his delays and shifts avail him nothing, he professes entire obedience; not that he then proposed to deceive and lie, because he was prevented by fear; but only, because overwhelmed with a present sense of his calamity, he dared not raise h... [ Continue Reading ]
29._And Moses said, Behold I go out from thee. _Moses does not reply to this demand, because he knew that the design of God was otherwise; and God had justly left him in ignorance as to what He did not yet wish him to know. There is, then, no reason why Moses should be accused of bad faith when he f... [ Continue Reading ]
31._And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. _“The word” here may be expounded either of the answer, or the prayer, of Moses. The former pleases me best, viz., that by the result God proved that He ratified what Moses had said, whom He had made the proclaimer of His judgment; but if any one... [ Continue Reading ]