WITH FROGS - Some months appear to have elapsed between this and the former plague, if the frogs made their appearance at the usual time, that is in September. The special species mentioned here is of Egyptian origin. This plague was, like the preceding, in general accordance with natural phenomena,... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THINE HOUSE - This appears to have been special to the plague, as such. It was especially the visitation which would be felt by the scrupulously-clean Egyptians. KNEADINGTROUGHS - Not dough, as in the margin. See Exodus 12:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
The magicians would seem to have been able to increase the plague, but not to remove it; hence, Pharaoh’s application to Moses, the first symptoms of yielding.... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORY OVER ME - See the margin, “have honor over me,” i. e. have the honor, or advantage over me, directing me when I shall entreat God for thee and thy servants. WHEN - Or by when; i. e. for what exact time. Pharaoh’s answer in Exodus 5:10 refers to this, by tomorrow. The shortness of the time wou... [ Continue Reading ]
VILLAGES - Literally, enclosures, or courtyards.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is observed by Hebrew commentators that the nine plagues are divided into three groups: distinct warnings are given of the first two plagues in each group; the third in each is inflicted without any previous notice; namely, the third, lice, the sixth, boils, the ninth, darkness. THE DUST OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINGER OF GOD - This expression is thoroughly Egyptian; it need not imply that the magicians recognized Yahweh, the God who performed the marvel. They may possibly have referred it to as a god that was hostile to their own protectors.... [ Continue Reading ]
COMETH FORTH TO THE WATER - See the Exodus 7:15 note. It is not improbable that on this occasion Pharaoh went to the Nile with a procession in order to open the solemn festival, which was held 120 days after the first rise, at the end of October or early in November. At that time the inundation is a... [ Continue Reading ]
SWARMS OF FLIES - Generally, supposed to be the dog-fly, which at certain seasons is described as a plague far worse than mosquitos. Others, however, adopt the opinion that the insects were a species of beetle, which was reverenced by the Egyptians as a symbol of life, of reproductive or creative po... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEVER ... - This severance constituted a specific difference between this and the preceding plagues. Pharaoh could not of course attribute the exemption of Goshen from a scourge, which fell on the valley of the Nile, to an Egyptian deity, certainly not to Chepera (see the last note), a specia... [ Continue Reading ]
TO YOUR GOD - Pharaoh now admits the existence and power of the God whom he had professed not to know; but, as Moses is careful to record, he recognizes Him only as the national Deity of the Israelites. IN THE LAND - i. e. in Egypt, not beyond the frontier.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ABOMINATION - i. e. an animal which the Egyptians held it sacrilegious to slay. The ox, bull, or cow, is meant. The cow was never sacrificed in Egypt, being sacred to Isis, and from a very early age the ox was worshipped throughout Egypt, and more especially at Heliopolis and Memphis under vario... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE DAYS’ JOURNEY - See the Exodus 3:18 note.... [ Continue Reading ]