_A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491._ Three more of the plagues of Egypt are related in this chapter. (1,) _ That of the frogs, which Isaiah, 1, Threatened_, Exo 8:1-4 : 2, Inflicted, Exodus 8:5; Exodus 8:6 : 3, Mimicked by the magicians, Exodus 8:7; Exodus 4, Removed at the request of Pharaoh, Exodus 8:8, who y... [ Continue Reading ]
_All thy borders_ All the land that is within thy borders. _And the river_ Nile, under which are comprehended all other rivers, streams, and ponds, as appears from Exodus 8:5. But the Nile is particularly mentioned, because God would make that an instrument of their punishment and misery, in which t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The frogs shall come up on thee_ They did not only invade their houses, but their persons, armed as they were with a divine commission and power. _And upon thy people_ Not upon the Israelites, whom God here exempts from the number of Pharaoh's people and subjects, and owns for his peculiar people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The magicians did so with their enchantments_ Through God's permission they added to the plague, but could not remove it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pharaoh said, Entreat the Lord_ This is the man, who, not long ago, proudly said, _Who is the Lord? Who is Jehovah?_ He now begins to know something of Jehovah's power and justice at least, and is glad to procure Moses and Aaron to become intercessors to Jehovah for him. It appears evident from thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Glory over me_ That is, I yield to thee. Thou shalt command me. As I have gloried over thee in laying, first my commands, and then my plagues upon thee; so now lay thy commands upon me for the time of my praying, and if I do not what thou requirest, I am content thou shouldest insult over me. Or he... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said, To-morrow_ But why not to-day? Why not immediately, since all men naturally desire to be instantly relieved of their sufferings? Probably, he hoped that this night they would _go away of themselves_, and then he should get clear of the plague, without being obliged either to God or Mos... [ Continue Reading ]
_The frogs died. And they gathered them on heaps_ God could as easily have dissolved them into dust, but he would have them to lie dead before their eyes, as a token that they were real frogs and no illusion, and as a testimony of his wonderful power.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pharaoh hardened his heart_ Observe, he did it himself, not God, any otherwise than by not hindering.... [ Continue Reading ]
The frogs were produced out of the waters, but the lice out of _the dust of the earth;_ for out of any part of the creation God can fetch a scourge wherewith to correct those that rebel against him. This plague was probably sent because it would be peculiarly grievous to the Egyptians, as being a ve... [ Continue Reading ]
_The magicians did so_ They also smote the dust of the earth to _bring forth lice with their enchantments, but they could not_ Some have said that this verse is not accurately translated, and that the true sense of it is, that the magicians endeavoured not to _bring forth_, but to _draw off_, or _ta... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the finger of God_ The devil's agents, when God permitted them, could do great things; but when he laid an embargo upon them they could do nothing. And their inability in this instance might have shown them whence they had their ability in the former instances, and that they had no power ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rise up early_ Those that would bring great things to pass for God and their generation must _rise early_, and redeem time in the morning. Pharaoh was _early up_ at his superstitious devotions to the river; and shall we be for more sleep, and more slumber, when any service is to be done which would... [ Continue Reading ]
Pharaoh was early at his false devotions to the river; and shall we be for more sleep and more slumber, when any service to the Lord is to be done? The Egyptians and the Hebrews were to be marked in the plague of flies. The Lord knows them that are his, and will make it appear, perhaps in this world... [ Continue Reading ]