Exodus Lesson 9 The Fifth Plague: Livestock Diseased 9 Then the LORD said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let My people ( ) go, that they may serve ( ) Me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, 3 behold ( ), the hand ( ) of the LORD will be on your cattle ( ) in the field, on the horses ( ), on the donkeys, on the camels ( ), on the oxen, and on the sheep ( ) a very severe pestilence ( ). 4 And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock ( ) of Israel and the livestock ( ) of Egypt. So nothing shall die ( ) of all that belongs to the children ( ) of Israel. 5 Then the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing ( ) in the land ( ). 9:1-5 With the flying insects gone and the Israelites still in Egypt, the LORD sends Moses into Pharaoh again. He is to announce that this message is from the LORD God of the Hebrews. He is to tell Pharaoh to let the people go so they can serve their God or the hand of the LORD will strike their livestock with a very severe pestilence ( deh'-behr) or plague. This word simply refers to a disease that is usually fatal and appears also in 5:3 and 9:15. 1 While some scholars have suggested that the disease was anthrax due to the rotting frog carcasses, I believe Durham is correct in his observation that such speculation is misleading because it discredits the theological tenor of the biblical narrative, which will admit no naturalistic and hence nonmiraculous explanations. 2 As in the previous plague of flying insects, the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Egypt and that of the Israelites so that the plague will only afflict the Egyptians. The LORD promises that none of the livestock of the children of Israel will die during this fifth plague. Once again, a definite time is set for the plague to begin so that there is no question that the LORD is in control. 6 So the LORD did this thing ( ) on the next day, and all the livestock ( ) of Egypt died ( ); but of the livestock ( ) of the children ( ) of Israel, not one died ( ). 7 Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed ( ), not even one of the livestock ( ) of the Israelites was dead ( ). But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people ( ) go. 9:6-7 The narrator does not record the actual relay of the LORD s message to Pharaoh by Moses but states that the LORD did the thing ( dah-bar') He promised the next day. While the text states that all the livestock ( meek-neh') of Egypt died, the meaning must be that a great number died since some will still be alive when the plague of hail falls (verses 19-21). 3 The text also says that none of the livestock of the children of Israel died just as the LORD had said. Pharaoh even sent his representatives to confirm that none of the livestock of the Israelites had died. Even so, Pharaoh s heart hardened and he did not let the people go. This particular plague may have been aimed 1 Osborn, N. D., & Hatton, H. A. (1999). A handbook on Exodus (p. 205). New York: United Bible Societies. 2 Durham, J. I. (1998). Exodus (Vol. 3, p. 118). Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 3 Roper, C.D. (2008). Exodus (p.145). Searcy, AR: Resource Publications. 1
at Hathor (the Egyptian cow goddess) and Apis (a bull-deity often symbolizing the Pharaoh). 4 The goddess Hathor gives Pharaoh Seti I a collar. 5 A bronze figure of Apis 6 4 Kranz, J. (2014, November/December). 10 Critical Hits. Bible Study Magazine, 28. 5 Myers, Richard. Images from Helps to the Study of the Bible; Logos Bible Software. 6 Smith, William. Images from A Dictionary of the Bible; Logos Bible Software. 2
The Sixth Plague: Boils 8 So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Take ( ) for yourselves handfuls of ashes ( ) from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens ( ) in the sight ( ) of Pharaoh. 9 And it will become fine dust ( ) in all the land ( ) of Egypt, and it will cause boils ( ) that break out in sores ( ) on man ( ) and beast ( ) throughout all the land ( ) of Egypt. 10 Then they took ashes ( ) from the furnace and stood ( ) before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven ( ). And they caused boils ( ) that break out in sores ( ) on man ( ) and beast ( ). 11 And the magicians could not stand ( ) before Moses because of the boils ( ), for the boils ( ) were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed ( ) them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses. 9:8-12 With no seeming break in the action, the LORD announces the sixth plague to Moses and Aaron. They are to take handfuls of ashes ( pee'-ahch) or soot from a furnace and let Moses scatter it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. Evidently this plague is to be inflicted on the people and animals of Egypt without demands or warning. The ashes or soot will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt. The previous plague had afflicted the bodies of animals but this one will affect the bodies of both people and animals. The fine dust will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast ( b e -hay-mah'). Moses obeyed the LORD and stood before Pharaoh as he scattered the ashes toward the heavens. This caused the boils to break out in sores on man and beast. The impotency of the magicians is now evident since they are afflicted with the boils and unable to stand before Moses. They are infected with boils as are all the Egyptians. The LORD had told Moses He would harden Pharaoh s heart in 4:21 and now, after the sixth plague, the text states that the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh. Since Pharaoh hardened his own heart after each of the first five plagues, I tend to agree with the moral Cole finds in this: God hardens those who harden themselves. 7 As a result of this hardening, Pharaoh did not listen to Moses and Aaron. The plague of painful boils may be to show God s superiority over Heka, the god of magic summoned in Egyptian medicine for healing. 8 In Ancient Egypt Heka (Hike) was the patron of magic and therefore also of medicine. The Egyptian word for magic was "heka" (which literally means "using the Ka") and Heka was the personification of magic. His name (and the word magic) were depicted as a twist of flax and a pair of raised arms. The flax was often placed with the arms, and was thought to resembles two snakes. According to myth, Heka fought and conquered two serpents, and so two intertwined serpents became symbolic of his power. This symbol is still associated with medicine today. 9 7 Cole, R. A. (1973). Exodus: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 2, p. 103). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. 8 Kranz, J. (2014, November/December). 10 Critical Hits. Bible Study Magazine, 28. 9 Hill, J. (2010). http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/heka.html 3
The Seventh Plague: Hail 13 Then the LORD said to Moses, Rise early in the morning and stand ( ) before Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let My people ( ) go, that they may serve ( ) Me, 14 for at this time I will send all My plagues ( ) to your very heart, and on your servants ( ) and on your people ( ), that you may know ( ) that there is none like Me in all the earth ( ). 15 Now if I had stretched out My hand ( ) and struck you and your people ( ) with pestilence ( ), then you would have been cut off from the earth ( ). 16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up ( ), that I may show My power in you, and that My name ( ) may be declared in all the earth ( ). 17 As yet you exalt yourself against My people ( ) in that you will not let them go. 18 Behold ( ), tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail ( ) to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. 19 Therefore send now and gather your livestock ( ) and all that you have in the field, for the hail ( ) shall come down on every man ( ) and every animal ( ) which is found in the field and is not brought home ( ); and they shall die ( ). 9:13-19 The plagues seem to come in groups of three. As the LORD gives Moses instructions for the seventh plague, they are very similar to those for the first and fourth except there is no indication that Pharaoh will be at the water. In this beginning of the third triad of plagues. Moses is to approach Pharaoh early in the morning and identify his message as coming from the LORD God of the Hebrews. His demand is simple: Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But, this time, the LORD outlines the aim of the remaining plagues the heart of Pharaoh. They will afflict Pharaoh s servants and the people of Egypt in order that Pharaoh would know that there was none like the LORD God of Israel in all the earth. 9 He reminds the king of Egypt that He could have destroyed him and his people with pestilence as He had destroyed their livestock with the fifth plague. However, there is a reason why Pharaoh is still alive. The NKJV s for this purpose I have raised you up ( ah-mahd') may be slightly misleading. This Hebrew verb literally means to stand as in verses 10-11 although a different verb is translated stand in verse 13. The NASB s for this reason I have allowed you to remain or the HCSB s I have let you live for this purpose may capture the meaning better. It is also important to note that the pronoun you that appears twice in verse 16 is singular and refers to the king or Pharaoh. 10 God was showing His great power through the stubbornness of Pharaoh so that the LORD s name would be declared in all the earth. Roper correctly observes that the mighty works of God in Egypt greatly impressed the Gentile nations that Israel encountered in the years that followed (18:1; Josh. 2:10-11; 9:9; 1 Sam. 4:8). 11 The LORD says that Pharaoh has been exalting himself against His people by not letting them go. He tells Pharaoh to notice what is going to happen about the same time tomorrow as a very heavy hail storm is going to strike Egypt such as has not been seen since Egypt began. Unlike the previous plagues, this one will take human 9 Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 318). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson. 10 Osborn, N. D., & Hatton, H. A. (1999). A handbook on Exodus (p. 219). New York: United Bible Societies. 11 Roper, C.D. (2008). Exodus (p.149). Searcy, AR: Resource Publications. 4
lives and the LORD gives Pharaoh ample warning for man and beast to take cover or they will die. 20 He who feared the word ( ) of the LORD among the servants ( ) of Pharaoh made his servants ( ) and his livestock ( ) flee to the houses ( ). 21 But he who did not regard the word ( ) of the LORD left his servants ( ) and his livestock ( ) in the field. 9:20-21 By this time, some of Pharaoh s servants who were members of his court feared the LORD. As a result, they made their servants and livestock flee (or take refuge) into their houses/shelter. But whoever did not regard the word of the LORD left his servants and livestock in the field. 22 Then the LORD said to Moses, Stretch out your hand ( ) toward heaven ( ), that there may be hail ( ) in all the land ( ) of Egypt on man ( ), on beast ( ), and on every herb of the field, throughout the land ( ) of Egypt. 23 And Moses stretched out his rod ( ) toward heaven ( ); and the LORD sent thunder and hail ( ), and fire darted to the ground ( ). And the LORD rained hail ( ) on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail ( ), and fire mingled with the hail ( ), so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation ( ). 25 And the hail ( ) struck throughout the whole land ( ) of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man( ) and beast ( ); and the hail ( ) struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land ( ) of Goshen, where the children ( ) of Israel were, there was no hail ( ). 9:22-26 Once again, the record of Moses giving the LORD s message to Pharaoh is omitted but we know it occurred based on the actions in the previous two verses. Then the LORD gave Moses the command to stretch his hand toward the sky to initiate the plague of hail on the land of Egypt. Moses then stretched his rod toward heaven and the LORD sent thunder and hail and fire (probably lightning ) to the ground. It was the most severe hail storm to strike Egypt since it became a nation. It struck both man and beast as well as every herb and broke every tree of the field. While there should be no doubt that this plague was under the LORD s control, it would be further confirmed by the fact that the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, was untouched by the hail. 27 And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous ( ), and my people ( ) and I are wicked ( ). 28 Entreat ( ) the LORD, that there may be no more mighty ( ) thundering ( ) and hail ( ), for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay ( ) no longer. 9:27-28 We can only imagine how frightening the hail storm was but it was enough for Pharaoh to summon Moses and Aaron. He confessed that he had sinned and that he and his people were wicked in contrast to the LORD who was righteous ( tsahd-deek'). For the third time (8:8, 28), Pharaoh asks God s messengers to entreat ( ah-tar') the LORD or pray for him asking that there be no more mighty thundering ( literally, voices of God ) and hail. Pharaoh has had enough and says he will let them go. 5
Notice the last phrase in verse 28 and you shall stay ( ah-mahd') no longer. As we noticed earlier, literally means to stand but takes on a little different meaning depending on the context as in verse 16. 29 So Moses said to him, As soon as I have gone out of the city ( ), I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder ( ) will cease, and there will be no more hail ( ), that you may know ( ) that the earth ( ) is the LORD s. 30 But as for you and your servants ( ), I know ( ) that you will not yet fear the LORD God. 9:29-30 Moses promises to intercede for Pharaoh as soon as he leaves the city stating that the thunder and hail will stop so that Pharaoh can know that the LORD rules over the earth. Interestingly, Moses adds that he knows Pharaoh and his servants do not fear the LORD God. 31 Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops. 9:31-32 These small details of barley ripening and flax blossoms place the hail storm in January. 12 The wheat and spelt were spared because they are later crops. 33 So Moses went out of the city ( ) from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the LORD; then the thunder ( ) and the hail ( ) ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth ( ). 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail ( ), and the thunder ( ) had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants ( ). 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children ( ) of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses. 9:33-35 Moses did as he had promised and the thunder, hail and rain ceased. And, when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned even more by hardening his heart along with his servants. With his hardened heart, Pharaoh would not let the children of Israel go just as Moses had said and the LORD had already stated. Since human life was lost in the hail storm based upon the wording of verse 19, this plague may have been directed at Osiris, the god of death. 12 Cole, R. A. (1973). Exodus: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 2, p. 105). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. 6