THE ROD OF MOSES TURNED INTO A SERPENT. THE FIRST PLAGUE 1. A god to Pharaoh] see on Exodus 4:16. THY PROPHET] A prophet is a spokesman. The prophets of God are those who declare His will. In doing this they may foretell His judgments and predict the future; but prediction is a secondary feature of... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Exodus 2:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY ROD] Moses had entrusted his rod to Aaron: cp. Exodus 2:15, which is spoken to Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAGICIANS] lit. 'engravers, sacred scribes': cp. Genesis 41:8 RV. They are depicted on the monuments with a quill pen on their heads and a book in their hands. A belief in magic was universal in Egypt and had a most potent influence in every department of thought and conduct. The magicians were a re... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BECAME SERPENTS] SERPENT charming is still practised in Egypt and has been described by several travellers. What was done on this occasion was probably a clever piece of sleight of hand. The magicians when they were called in might know what was expected of them, and be prepared to imitate what... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART] This should be 'Pharaoh's heart was hardened,' as in RV. The Heb. is the same here as in Exodus 7:22 : see on Exodus 4:21. 14-25. The First Plague:—The Water of the Nile turned into Blood. The Nile was regarded as a god to whom worship and sacrifice were offered. The d... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GOETH OUT UNTO THE WATER] either to bathe or to pay his devotions to the sacred river: see on Exodus 2:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
STREAMS.. RIVERS] the various canals and branches of the Nile. 20, 21. At the annual rising of the Nile its waters frequently turn a dull red colour owing to the presence of mud, vegetable débris, and minute animalcules. This plague, therefore, like the following, may have been an aggravation of a... [ Continue Reading ]
The magicians probably obtained some water by digging near the Nile (see Exodus 7:24), and in some way were able to convince Pharaoh, who of course was willing to be convinced, that they could imitate the sign wrought by Moses and Aaron. Their sign, however, must have been on a much smaller scale, s... [ Continue Reading ]
The plague lasted seven days. Nothing is said of its removal.... [ Continue Reading ]