Exodus Chapter 7 Commentary

The Book Of Exodus Chapter 7:14-9:7

“The 10 plagues may have occurred over a period of about nine months. The 1 st (possibly) when the Nile rises (July-August). The 7 th (9:31) was in January, when barley ripens and flax blossoms….The 10 th plague (chaps. 11-12) occurred in April, the Passover month. By the plagues God was judging the gods of Egypt (of which there were many) and showing Himself superior to them (12:12; 18:11; Numbers 33:4)….Also the plagues may have been designed to oppose and show up the impotency of Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s people considered him the god Horus, son of Hathor. Hathor’s father was the god Amon-Re. The plagues also showed Pharaoh and the Egyptians that He is the Lord (Yahweh; Ex. 7:5,17; 8:10,22; 9:14,16) and showed Israel the same truth (10:2)” (Bible Knowledge Comm. pp. 119-120).

I. Chapter 7:14-25: 7:14 The word “stubborn” means, “to be heavy, to be dulled”. Pharaoh’s heart was insensitive, over the years Pharaoh had allowed his heart to become seriously callused (Ephesians 4:19ff). We should note that Pharaoh wasn’t born hardened (1 Cor. 14:20). Rather, over the years he had allowed himself to become insensitive to truth.

Water Turns Into Blood 7:15-16 “as he is going out to the water”-Apparently Pharaoh came to the Nile on a regular basis (8:20). Some feel that he was coming to bathe, but it is possible that Pharaoh was coming to the Nile to worship the Nile god. “Festivals in honor of the Nile god were held especially as the season of the annual flooding of the Nile approached” (Gispen p. 83). Moses was to take the exact same staff that had turned into a serpent. Pharaoh is also to be reminded of his rebellion in not listening to God (7:16).

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7:17-18 “it shall be turned into blood”-various writers which seek to explain away all the miracles in the bible contend that what happened here was that (1) Deposits from the Abyssian lakes often colored the flood water a dark reddishbrown, especially in the upper Nile, (2) an excessive growth of microcosms known as flagellates and associated bacteria caused the water to take on a red color. But, God didn’t say that the water would look like blood, rather it would be turned to blood. Secondly, if this was a natural event that had happened before, how would it prove that Jehovah is God? (7:17) Third, all the ponds and lakes in Egypt also turned into blood, including man-made reservoirs (7:19), bodies of water completely unconnected to the Nile! Even water standing in vessels was instantly contaminated. This wasn’t a gradual process (7:20, 25). In addition, a river full of silt was to Egypt’s advantage, since such a period of flooding was what made the land fertile.

Fields notes, “Joseph Free lists five respects in which the plagues had a miraculous nature: 1. Intensification. 2. Prediction: the time of their appearance and disappearance was predicted before several plagues. 3.

Discrimination: In the area where the Israelites lived, there were no flies (8:22), hail (9:26), etc….4. Orderliness—the severity of the plagues gradually increased (and they didn’t all happen at one time). 5. Moral purpose: The plagues were not just freaks of nature, but carried a moral purpose” (p. 172).

Point To Note: “It was appropriate that the first of the plagues should be directed against the Nile River itself, the very lifeline of Egypt and center of many of its religious ideas. The Nile was considered sacred by the Egyptians. Many of their gods were associated either directly or indirectly with this river and its productivity…

Surely the pollution of the Nile would have taken on religious implications for the average Egyptian. Those who venerated Neith, the eloquent warlike goddess who took a special interest in the lates, the largest fish to be found in the Nile, would have had second thoughts about the power of that goddess…Those Egyptians who depended heavily on fish and on the Nile would indeed have found great frustration in a plague of this nature” (Davis pp. 102-103).

“The Nile river is a huge river. The delta of the Nile is nearly 150 miles wide and 125 miles long. The enormity of this miracle is staggering” (Fields p. 165).

“The Nile was the lifeblood of Egypt. Agriculture and ultimately survival were dependent on the periodic flooding that deposited fertile soils along the river’s 4,132 miles” (Walton & Matthews p. 92).

7:19-21 This verse suggests that at the same time all the stored or standing water in Egypt, even that in individual buckets, was also changed. Areas also

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affected were irrigation canals and marshy areas left by the Nile after flooding.

Fish appear to have been a major food source for the Egyptians (Num. 11:5).

7:22-23 Obviously, the magicians only appeared to do the same and that on a very limited scale (for the vast majority of water in Egypt had already been affected). “One would think that the magicians would have shown more power (and certainly more usefulness!) if they could have changed the blood back to good water” (Fields p. 165). But Pharaoh, didn’t seem to even care. No only does he have a hard heart concerning the Hebrews, but he doesn’t even care about the hardship and suffering being inflicted upon his own people!

7:24-25 “dug around the Nile”-this may be an attempt on their part to dig down and reach water that had been filtered through the soil, digging pits in the attempt to see if the water could be filtered, or trying to reach underground springs. But we aren’t told if their results were successful or not. Verse 25 is either telling us that this plague lasted seven days or that the interval between the first and second plague was seven days. “For the very religious Egyptian who faithfully sought the guidance and protection of the various deities associated with the Nile it must have raised serious questions about the unqualified power of such deities” (Davis pp. 103-104).

II. Chapter 8: The Plague Of Frogs 8:1-4 During certain times of the year, frogs would be numerous in Egypt, especially after the annual overflowing of the Nile. In such cases they were greatly appreciated by the people, especially the farmers. “Each September after the summer overflowing of the Nile had gone down, frogs would become numerous in ponds of water all over Egypt. Their croaking was a reminder….another fruitful year lay before them” (Fields p. 183). “The receding water (after the Nile flooded), however, left many pools and ponds over the countryside which were quickly inhabited by frogs whose chorus was often heard on balmy Egyptian evenings. To the farmers this sound was music indeed because it indicated that the gods who controlled the Nile and made the land fertile had completed their work. The god Hapi was blessed and venerated on such occasions….Heqt was the wife of the great god Khnum. She was the symbol of resurrection and the emblem of fertility….The frog was one of a number of sacred animals that might not be intentionally killed, and even their involuntary slaughter was often punished with death” (Davis p. 108). But this is

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far beyond anything “natural”. Far from staying in the Nile, these frogs get into everything (8:3). They were everywhere underfoot (squish), the Egyptians found them in their beds, in their kitchens, and in their food. Note how God can use a little, seemingly helpless thing like a frog to humble the most powerful nation upon the earth! Egypt isn’t conquered by lions, but by frogs! “The Egyptians regarded frogs as having divine power. In the Egyptian pantheon the goddess Heqet had the form of a woman with a frog’s head….Therefore frogs were not to be killed” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 121)

Point To Note: “Like a blanket of filth the slimy, wet monstrosities covered the land, until men sickened at the continued squashing crunch of the ghastly pavement they were forced to walk upon. If a man’s feet slipped on the greasy mass of their crushed bodies, he fell into an indescribably offensive mass of putrid uncleanness, and when he sought water to cleanse himself, the water was so solid with frogs, he got no cleansing there” 1

8:5-6 Carefully note, these frogs weren’t the result of the annual overflowing of the Nile—for the Nile had previously been struck by a plague, and a tremendous amount of life in the Nile had died!

8:7 The Egyptian magicians (in my mind) by slight of hand were able to perform some sort of trick in which it looked like they produced frogs out of mud or something else. Producing frogs really isn’t much of a problem when the land is full of them! But Pharaoh isn’t impressed with their so-called power (8:8). If such magicians really had power, they should have been able to remove the frogs or at least a good percentage of them. “One wonders if this is not told with a touch of conscious humor, for it only increases the problem” (Cole p. 91). As if the magicians were saying to Pharaoh, “Don’t worry about the frogs your honor, we just made some more!”

8:8 Pharaoh for the moment is ready to obey God’s command to let the people go.

8:9-14 “The honor is yours to tell me”-Moses is very courteous here, he is saying to Pharaoh, “have honor over me”, “command me” in regard to the time when you want the frogs removed, “I am at your disposal”. “he declared himself 1

Harry Rimmer, Dead Men Tell Tales, p. 105 4

prepared to act as intercessor” (Gispen p. 89). Since Pharaoh is the ruler of the land (Romans 13:1ff), he is to be shown some respect. The words of Moses also make it clear to Pharaoh that the plague was both sent and removed by God! God can cause this plague to depart at any time He wills. In the land of tropical sunshine and heat, heaps, huge piles everywhere of dead frogs, would certainly cause quite a stench. “Granting Pharaoh the privilege of designating when Moses should pray for deliverance from frogs actually enhanced the power and honor of Moses (and the God he served)! Pharaoh would perceive that Moses could do this not just at some time of Moses’ choosing, but at any time Pharaoh said” (Fields pp. 185-186).

Point To Note: We might wonder why Pharaoh wanted the frogs removed on the next day instead of immediately. He might have hoped that the frogs would simply go away by themselves. “Perhaps it was a face-saving gesture for Pharaoh. It was as if he said, ‘I can tough this out another day! You have not made me cry out in utter abject helplessness’” (Fields p. 186). Note: The frogs went back into the river, indicating that the Nile had returned to its natural state.

8:15 “when Pharaoh saw that there was relief”-Like some people today, the moment that circumstances seem to improve they forget all the earnest promises they made to God when they were really in trouble. They abuse God’s patience and long-suffering (Romans 2:1-5; 2 Peter 3:9). Pharaoh saw that he had some breathing-space, the trial was over, hence he quickly reverted back to his old ways. His repentance was superficial (2 Cor. 7:10-11). From the fact that he again hardened his heart, we know that his heart was softened a bit for the moment, but he made the choice to serve self, instead of learning about and submitting to the will of God. He was more interested in keeping all this free slave labor, then in sparing Egypt and his own people. Truly, destruction often follows on the heels of human arrogance (Proverbs 18:12).

Point To Note: Pharaoh should be a warning to us, for like him, we can play around with repentance. We can get in the habit of only turning to God when we are afraid or worried, and of neglecting Him when life is comfortable. If trouble and fear are the only things that will drive us to God, or make us interested in serving Him and praying to Him—then we are acting like Pharaoh.

The Plague of Gnats 5

8:16-17 For the first time, Pharaoh was not warned in advance, this plague is mentioned in Psalm 105:31. “Gnats”-can also be translated “lice” (ASV) or mosquitoes”, some even say “fleas”. Gispen notes, “We must think especially of the family of stinging gnats…They were small, had a very painful sting, and crawled into the nose and ears. Their sting caused unbearable itching” (p. 90).

This plague may have come without warning as a consequence of Pharaoh’s deception. God is not mocked!

8:18-19 The magicians might have failed, because such insects were too small to manipulate. Give this much credit to the Egyptian magicians, unlike Pharaoh, they admitted the power they were up against! “This is the finger of God”(Exodus 31:18; Deut. 9:10; Psalm 8:3; Luke 11:20). To me their expression seems to admit that they realized that the power working through Moses was truly Divine. They didn’t say, “This is also the finger of God”, i.e. this is an equal power as is working through us. Besides rejecting God, Pharaoh is also rejecting the advise of this his own court officials. The magicians may not be converted to the God whom Moses is serving, but they do recognize Him as a God.

The Swarms Of Insects

8:20-21 God doesn’t even give Pharaoh a break! Pharaoh seeks to ignore God, but God has Moses approach Pharaoh the very next day, early in the morning. “Swarms of insects”-This may mean “many kinds”, a mixture of all sorts of insects. Psalm 78:45. “The Hebrew is a collective, and there is no accompanying noun to tell of what insects the ‘mixture’ or ‘swarm’ consisted” (Cole p. 93). Clearly, we have here a dense, heavy and oppressive swarm.

Some feel that this included the dog flies known for their painful bites.

8:22-24 Apparently for the first time the land of Goshen is spared. This should have proven to Pharaoh that God is sovereign, to the point that He can even appoint insects their place, no matter how numerous, they were set a limit beyond which they could not go. Once again, this isn’t some natural occurrence, for the insects suddenly appear, and their appearance and removal are clearly predicted by God.

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8:25 “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land”—This is the first time that Pharaoh attempts to get Moses to compromise.

Point To Note: Pharaoh is like many people today who want the benefits of being religious, but who want God to make some concessions before they obey Him. Pharaoh thinks that he has something to bargain with, in reality he has nothing. We must always remember that all the compromising, all the concessions need to be on the part of those who aren’t right with God. One writer noted, “A common failing of men in every era is their naïve belief that their own time constitutes a qualitatively different situation from all others, thereby rendering the Biblical Word somehow irrelevant for them….in spite of changing cultural conditions, man remains a sinner in desperate need of the Word of life” 2 Hence, the Bible doesn’t need to be made relevant or changed, rather, sinners need to repent!

(Acts 17:30)

8:26-27 Moses quickly responds that what Pharaoh is suggesting would insult the Egyptians. For the Hebrews sacrificed animals such as cattle, that the Egyptians held to be sacred. To the Egyptians such practices would be blasphemy and might result in rioting and physical persecution, including death.

“The gods of the Egyptians would be attacked since the Egyptians worshipped bulls (Apis) and rams, and thus they would see the sacrifices of the Israelites as a sacrificing of their gods to the God of Israel” (Gispen p. 94). Knowing the character of Pharaoh, this man might have been deliberately trying to get the Hebrews to do something that would in turn cause his own people to attack them, Pharaoh then could intervene militarily and crush these thoughts of freedom and serving this God of the Hebrews.

8:28 “you shall not go very far away”-He was prepared to let the people go into the desert, but was trying to negotiate a shorter journey. Once again, he requests that Moses will pray to God to have the plague removed. Like Pharaoh, there are people who want us to pray for them, but who never seem interested in serving God themselves.

Point To Note: Like Pharaoh, the world doesn’t mind if Christians exist, as long as such Christians don’t condemn it, refuse to conform to it, or go too far in serving God. 2

The Bible: The Living Word of Revelation, Edited by Merrill C. Tenney, p. 203.

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The world doesn’t want Christians to move too far from it. They want us to be in their power (Romans 12:1-2).

8:29 Once again, the removal of the plague is predicted. While being respectful, Moses also adds a warning, Pharaoh had been deceitful in the past, Pharaoh needs to be truthful and honest. “This was a remarkable—even daring —statement since Pharaoh was supposed to be the model of justice and truth” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 123). Note 8:31 “not one remained”—God in one day removed every insect!

III. Chapter 9:1-7: The Plague of Severe Pestilence

9:1-3 God makes it clear to Pharaoh that Pharaoh is rebelling against Him. God is being very fair: A. He demands/instructions are reasonable and clear.

Remember, Israel had voluntarily come into Egypt in the first place, hence they had the moral right to leave if they so wanted. And a three day journey in 430 years of bondage wasn’t unreasonable, but rather, long overdue. B. The consequences of disobedience are also just as clear. God has also clearly revealed what the consequences are for rejecting Jesus (2 Thess. 1:7-10). C. He has given Pharaoh some “warm up” plagues before He really starts to send plagues which are more than inconveniences or hardship. God is now going to strike their personal property. “Prior to this time the plagues had had the effect of irritation and pain, but not the widespread loss of personal property. Cattle and domestic animals were very precious to the Egyptians as witnessed both in their paintings and in their literature….Cattle, in addition of being practically necessary to daily life, were also very sacred to them” (Davis p. 119). The precise nature of this plague is hard to determine, some feel it was anthrax.

What is clear is that all the domestic animals of the Egyptians in the field were affected.

9:4-7 Once again, the power of God is clearly demonstrated. This wasn’t just a natural outbreak. It’s time was clearly predicted, the entire land of Goshen was spared, not even one animal of the Hebrews died or even was infected for a time (9:6).

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Points To Note: 1. Such a distinction between the animals of the Hebrews and the Egyptians leaves no alternative in the interpretation of the plague other than to recognize the event as essential miraculous. 2. “Such a plague would have had economic consequences in the land of Egypt. Oxen were depended upon for heavy labor in agriculture. Camels, donkeys and horses were used largely for transportation” (Davis p. 121). 3. This plague also directed affected the worship and beliefs of the Egyptians, for a large number of bulls and cows were considered sacred in Egypt. Such bulls were fed choice food, bathed, brushed, and pampered daily. On their birthdays they were brought out for the people’s adoration. When a bull died it was given an expensive burial. “Mummification of these animals is estimated to have cost $50,000 to $100,000 each” (Fields p.

202). In addition, the goddess Hathor is pictured in the form of a cow. She was the goddess of love, beauty and joy. She helped the departed soul on its perilous journey after death. 4. Since there are animals left after this plague (9:19), it appears that various animals among the Egyptians were not affected.

The plague might have killed all the animals in the field (9:3), but not those in shelters. 5. By checking on the condition of the Israelite’s livestock, it appears that Pharaoh is still trying to convince himself that these events are only accidents or bad luck. Just like people try to convince themselves that the design and complexity seen in the universe is the result of chance.

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