_GOD DECLARES TO MOSES THAT PHARAOH WILL NOT BELIEVE THE MIRACLES: THE ROD OF MOSES IS CHANGED INTO A SERPENT: THE MAGICIANS PERFORM THE LIKE PRODIGY: THE ROD OF MOSES DEVOURS THEIR RODS: MOSES CHANGES THE WATER INTO BLOOD: THE MAGICIANS DO THE SAME: PHARAOH HARDENETH HIS HEART._ _Before Christ 14... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE MADE THEE A GOD— See the note on ch. Exodus 4:16.; see also John 10:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT SPEAK ALL THAT I COMMAND THEE— That is, thou shalt speak it to Aaron, and Aaron shall speak it to Pharaoh. This explains the former verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EGYPTIANS SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD— The great design of this wonderful exhibition of miracles, was to prove to the Egyptians, and so to all the world, that the _Jehovah_ of the Jews, the Almighty Deliverer of his people Israel, was not only superior to theirs, and to all the gods of the nat... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES WAS FOURSCORE YEARS OLD— So long, and indeed much longer, the Israelites had groaned under the severities of persecution and bondage: yet, though thus afflicted, they were not cast off and rejected by their God. The great lesson in trials and afflictions is, to hold fast our integrity; to pers... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN PHARAOH SHALL SPEAK UNTO YOU, SAYING, SHEW A MIRACLE— Hence it appears evidently, that miracles were judged, by the common sense of mankind, a proper and sufficient proof of a commission from God. Our Saviour constantly made this appeal: _believe me for the work's sake:—the works which I do, th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PHARAOH ALSO CALLED THE WISE-MEN, &C.— Moses and Aaron performing their commission according to the commandment of the Lord, and working the miracle, which, no doubt, Pharaoh demanded, in proof of their Divine legation; he, desirous to know whether the God of Israel was superior to his gods, se... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY CAST DOWN EVERY MAN HIS ROD— The ancient magicians were a species of profane conjurors, who, claiming Divine assistance, used frequently to contend with each other, in proof of the power of those deities whose assistance they claimed. That they were aided by the craft and subtlety of those... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART— _And Pharaoh's heart was hardened_ says Dr. Waterland. The same phrase occurs, Exodus 7:22 and ought in ours, as in other versions, to have been rendered the same in both places.... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARAOH'S HEART IS HARDENED— In the Hebrew, _is made heavy: i.e_. What was designed for his conviction, has proved the means only of aggravating his guilt, and rendering his stoney heart more heavy and obdurate.... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, HE GOETH OUT UNTO THE WATER— It was most probably Pharaoh's custom to go to wash himself in the Nile, see ch. Exodus 2:5 that, after purification, he might pay the proper worship to his gods; see ch. Exodus 8:20. Some have supposed, that he went to pay his devotion to the river Nile itself, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THIS THOU SHALT KNOW, &C.— Words and signs had been hitherto unavailing with Pharaoh: Moses therefore is now commanded to stretch the awful rod of punishment over him; and to threaten him with such severe plagues, as should cause him to acknowledge _that Jehovah,_ of whom he had said so tauntingl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EGYPTIANS SHALL LOATHE TO DRINK OF THE WATER OF THE RIVER— There are a few _wells_ in Egypt; but their waters are not drank, being unpleasant and unwholesome: the water of the Nile is what they universally make use of in this country; being looked upon to be extraordinarily wholesome, and at the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE, &C.— Pharaoh despising the Divine threatening, the Lord orders Moses to put it into execution: and Aaron is accordingly commanded to stretch out his hand upon the waters of Egypt; that is, not to stretch out his hand over all the waters of Egypt; but to stretch it out in token of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MAGICIANS—DID SO WITH THEIR INCHANTMENTS— There was perhaps no great difficulty for the magicians to imitate this miracle; and, when all the water of the land was turned into blood, to make a change in some small quantity, sufficient to mock the credulity of Pharaoh's hardened heart. The tru... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SEVEN DAYS WERE FULFILLED— It seems to follow from these words, compared with the beginning of the next chapter, that, after this plague had continued one whole week, God removed it, in order to introduce another display of his power. REFLECTIONS.—God gives warning before he strikes. Vengeance i... [ Continue Reading ]