Bible Commentaries

And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a ^a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

(a) I have given you power and authority to speak in my name and to execute my judgments on him.

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, [and] my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great ^b judgments.

(b) To strengthen Moses' faith, God promises again to punish most severely the oppression of his Church.

And Moses [was] ^c fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

(c) Moses lived in affliction and banishment forty years before he commanded his office to deliver God's people.

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the ^d sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

(d) It seems that these were Jannes and Jambres; (2 Timothy 3:8) so the wicked maliciously resist the truth of God.

Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by ^e the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

(e) That is, the Nile river.

And the ^f fish that [was] in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

(f) To show that it was a true miracle, God plagued them in that which was most needed for the preservation of life.

And the magicians of Egypt did ^g so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

(g) In outward appearance, after the seven days were ended.