Exodus 7:11

_THEN PHARAOH ALSO CALLED THE WISE MEN AND THE SORCERERS: NOW THE MAGICIANS OF EGYPT, THEY ALSO DID IN LIKE MANNER WITH THEIR ENCHANTMENTS._ Then Pharaoh ... called the wise men and the sorcerers, х_ LACHªKAAMIYM_ (H2450), the wise men; _ WªLAMªKASHªPIYM_ (H3784), and the sorcerers] - those who use magic formulas, incantations, etc. [Septuagint, tous farmakous]; х_ CHARTUMIYM_ (H2748)], the magicians, (see the notes at Genesis 41:8). х_ BªLAHªTEEYHEM_ (H3858), by their secret arts, mystic incantations, from _ LAAHAT_ (H3857), to wrap up, to use magic arts; Septuagint, tais farmakiais autoon.] His object in calling them was to ascertai

11._Then Pharaoh also called. _The impiety of the tyrant, which had before lain hid in the recesses of his heart, now breaks forth; when he does not hesitate to enter into the lists with God. For he was sufficiently instructed in the wonderful power of God, had not his iniquity urged him onwards into desperate madness. In asking for a sign, he thought (as I before said) that he should have had just cause for despising Moses; as the wicked trust that they may do anything with impunity, unless God should openly appear from heaven to prohibit them; but, because inflexible perversity altogether has possession of their hearts, they do not hesitate to resist the manifest power of God. Thus the wickedness of Pharaoh blinded his eyes, that, seeing the light, he saw it not; but, though convinced, still he sought for darkness to hide the sight of the light from him. He received, therefore, the jus...

8-13 What men dislike, because it opposes their pride and lusts, they will not be convinced of; but it is easy to cause them to believe things they wish to be true. God always sends with his word full proofs of its Divine authority; but when men are bent to disobey, and willing to object, he often permits a snare to be laid wherein they are entangled. The magicians were cheats, trying to copy the real miracles of Moses by secret sleights or jugglings, which to a small extent they succeeded in doing, so as to deceive the bystanders, but they were at length obliged to confess they could not any longer imitate the effects of Divine power. None assist more in the destruction of sinners, than such as resist the truth by amusing men with a counterfeit resemblance of it. Satan is most to be dreaded when transformed into an angel of light....

Verse Exodus 7:11. _PHARAOH - CALLED THE WISE MEN_] חכמים _chacamim_, the men of learning. _Sorcerers_, כשפים cashshephim, those who _reveal_ hidden things; probably from the Arabic root [Arabic] _kashafa_, to _reveal, uncover_, c., signifying _diviners_, or those who pretended to _reveal_ what was in futurity, to _discover_ things lost, to _find_ hidden treasures, c. _Magicians_, חרטמי chartummey, _decypherers_ of abstruse writings. Genesis 41:8. _THEY ALSO DID IN LIKE MANNER WITH THEIR ENCHANTMENTS._] The word להתים _lahatim_, comes from להט _lahat_, to _burn_, to _set_ _on fire_ and probably signifies such incantations as required lustral fires, sacrifices, fumigations, burning of incense

Three names for the magicians of Egypt are given in this verse. The “wise men” are men who know occult arts. The “sorcerers” are they who “mutter magic formulae,” especially when driving away crocodiles, snakes, asps, etc. It was natural that Pharaoh should have sent for such persons. The “magicians” are the “bearers of sacred words,” scribes and interpreters of hieroglyphic writings. Books containing magic formulae belonged exclusively to the king; no one was permitted to consult them but the priests and wise men, who formed a council or college, and were called in by the Pharaoh on all occasions of difficulty. The names of the two principal magicians, Jannes and Jambres, who “withstood Moses,” are preserved by Paul, 2 Timothy 3:8. Both names are Egyptian. ENCHANTMENTS - The original expr

EXPOSITION THE FIRST SIGN, AND ITS FAILURE TO CONVINCE. Obeying the command given them (Exodus 7:2, Exodus 7:9), Moses and Aaron went to the court a second time, and entering into the royal presence, probably repeated their demand—as from God—that the king would let the Children of Israel go (Exodus 6:11), when Pharaoh objected that they had no authority to speak to him in God's name, and required an evidence of their authority, either in the actual words of Exodus 7:9 ("Shew a miracle for you"), or in some equiva

THEN PHARAOH ALSO CALLED THE WISE MEN AND THE SORCERERS,.... The cunning men and wizards, a sort of jugglers and deceivers, who pretended to great knowledge of things, to discover secrets, tell fortunes, and predict things to come, and by legerdemain tricks, and casting a mist before people's eyes, pretended to do very wonderful and amazing things; and therefore Pharaoh sent for these, to exercise their art and cunning, and see if they could not vie with Moses and Aaron: NOW THE MAGICIANS OF EGYPT, THEY ALSO DID IN LIKE MANNER WITH THEIR ENCHANTMENTS; or by their secret wiles and juggles, making things seem to appear to the sight when they did not really, but by dazzling the eyes of men by their wicked and diabolical art, they fancied they saw things which they did not; for the word has the signification of flames of fire, or of a flaming sword, or lance, which being brandished to and f...

LIKE Compare (2 Timothy 3:8); (Exodus 8:18). Neither Satan nor his tools can create life: (Revelation 13:15) will be a "lying wonder": (2 Thessalonians 2:9)....

CHAPTER S 6:28-7:13 THE RENEWED COMMISSION AND BEFORE PHARAOH AGAIN _ 1. Renewed commission and renewed hesitation (Exodus 6:28)_ 2. Jehovah's instructions (Exodus 7:1) 3. Before Pharaoh and the sign of the rod (Exodus 7:10) Once more Moses received his commission, and again he hesitated on account of his poor speech. After all the gracious words Jehovah had spoken he pleads again his weakness. It shows what the unbelieving heart is. Twice Jehovah said that Moses should be a god. A god to Aaron (4:16) and a god to Pharaoh (7:1). He received divine authority and power over Pharaoh, while he was to his spokesman Aaron a god, because the word he uttered to him to communicate to Pharaoh was the word of

EXODUS 7:8 P. AARON AND THE MAGICIANS: HARDENING OF PHARAOH'S HEART. Magic and religion are, in the last analysis, fundamentally diverse; for, while magic claims to put a compelling constraint upon occult powers, religion implies a relation and dependence upon a personal Being of which prayer is the characteristic expression (p. 187). But the two have been, and are still, almost inextricably intermingled. It is not surprising, therefore, to find magical powers, in all good faith, claimed for the servants of Yahweh, and allowed, in inferior degree, to exist among His enemies. Magic has been called the science of primitive times, and its obvious success is due to a mixture of bluff, shrewd prognostication, cunning contrivance (_cf._ secret arts, Exodus 7:11 _mg._), and sleight-of-hand. Serpent-charmi