Bible Commentaries

the LORD (Hebrew. Jehovah. said. See note on Exodus 3:7, and compare note on Exodus 6:10.

Thus saith the LORD God (Hebrew. Jehovah.Elohim) of the, Hebrews. Occurs only three times, Exodus 9:1, Exodus 9:13 and Exodus 10:3.

hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6). Also Metonymy (of Cause), "hand" being put for the judgments inflicted by it.

in the field. The cattle, &c., were in the field in the spring and early summer.

upon. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "and upon".

murrain, or pestilence. See Exodus 9:15.

children = sons.

all the cattle. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6= all kinds of cattle.

Israelites. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, and Septuagint, read "sons of Israel".

hardened. See note on Exodus 4:2.

man. Hebrew. "adam, with art. = mankind.

beast. Other than those "in the field", Exodus 9:3.

ashes of the furnace: i.e. one of the altars on which human sacrifices were sometimes offered to propitiate their god Typhon (i.e. the Evil Principle). These were doubtless being offered to avert the plagues, and Moses, using the ashes in the same way, produced an- other plague instead of averting it.

Egyptians. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "all the land of Egypt".

as = according as.

upon = into.

raised thee up = made thee to stand, i.e., with Septuagint, "preserved thee "through all the plagues and till the end.

As yet . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6).

hail. Plague directed against Isis and Osiris. See Exodus 12:12.

and shall not be brought home = Figure of speech Pleonasm (App-6).

mingled = catching hold of itself like a chain.

all the land. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6. all parts of it.

sinned. Hebrew. chat"a. See App-44.

righteous = the righteous One.

wicked = wicked ones. Hebrew. rash`a. See App-44.

mighty thunderings = Hebrew "voices of Elohim " = a strong superlative.

Note the Introversion in this verse.
a flax - These ripened in middle of February or
b barley - early. in March. Israel left early in
b barley - April.
a flax

boiled. A word of Scandinavian origin, like bulged, i.e. swelled, or ripe. But Hebrew = blossom, i.e. the cap: sules formed. True to the seasons in Egypt to this day.

spoken. Compare Exodus 4:2.

by Moses. Lit, by the hand of Moses. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct): hand being put for instrumentality.

The eighth plague was directed against the god Serapis, who was supposed to protect the land from locusts. They came at Moses" bidding, and retired only at his bidding. Thus the impotence of Serapis was manifest.