Bible Commentaries

And if thou refuse to let [them] go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with ^a frogs:

(a) There is nothing so weak that God cannot use it to overcome the greatest power of man.

And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of ^b Egypt.

(b) But Goshen, where God's people dwelt, was excepted.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, ^c Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.

(c) Not love but fear causes the infidels to seek God.

And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs ^d died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.

(d) In things of this life God often hears the prayers of the just for the ungodly.

And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they ^e could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.

(e) God confounded their wisdom and authority in a thing most vile.

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This [is] ^f the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

(f) They acknowledged that this was done by God's power and not by sorcery; (Luke 11:20).

And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the ^g abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?

(g) For the Egyptians worshipped various beasts, ox, sheep and such like which the Israelites offered in sacrifice, a thing the Egyptians abhorred to see.

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not ^h go very far away: intreat for me.

(h) So the wicked instruct God's messengers how far they may go.

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms [of flies] may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal ⁱ deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.

(i) He could not judge his heart, but yet he charged him to do this honestly.

And Pharaoh ^k hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

(k) Where God does not give faith, no miracles can prevail.