Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers . That magic was an object of much attention and study in Egypt is abundantly evident from "The tale of Setnau", "The Magic Papyrus", and many other writings. It consisted, to a large extent, in charms, which were thought to have power over men and beasts, especially over reptiles. What amount of skill and power the Egyptian magicians possessed may perhaps be doubted. Many commentators believe them to have been in actual communication With... read more
But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods . Aaron's serpent turned upon its rivals and devoured them, thus exhibiting a marked superiority. read more
Three names for the magicians of Egypt are given in this verse. The “wise men” are men who know occult arts. The “sorcerers” are they who “mutter magic formulae,” especially when driving away crocodiles, snakes, asps, etc. It was natural that Pharaoh should have sent for such persons. The “magicians” are the “bearers of sacred words,” scribes and interpreters of hieroglyphic writings. Books containing magic formulae belonged exclusively to the king; no one was permitted to consult them but the... read more
Exodus 7:11. Moses had been originally instructed in the learning of the Egyptians, and was suspected to have improved in magical arts in his long retirement. The magicians are therefore sent for to vie with him. The two chief of them were Jannes and Jambres. Their rods became serpents, probably by the power of evil angels, artfully substituting serpents in the room of the rods, God permitting the delusion to be wrought for wise and holy ends. But the serpent which Aaron’s rod was turned... read more
Exodus 7:12. They became serpents The authors of the Universal History cast considerable light on this subject: “If it be asked,” say they, “why God suffered the magicians to act thus, by a power borrowed from the devil, in order to invalidate, if possible, those miracles which his servant wrought by his divine power, the following reasons may be given for it: First, It was necessary that those magicians should be suffered to exert the utmost of their power against Moses, in order to... read more
Forecast of coming judgment (6:28-7:13)Before Moses approached Pharaoh to give him a final opportunity to release Israel, God reminded Moses that not just Pharaoh but the whole Egyptian nation was under the threat of judgment. People and king alike were stubbornly opposed to Yahweh and were devoted followers of Yahweh’s enemies, the Egyptian gods (6:28-7:7; cf. 9:27; 12:12).These were gods of nature and were therefore connected with the river Nile, on which Egypt depended entirely for its water... read more
wise men , &c. Two sets of men mentioned. Pharaoh "called for the wise men, and for the magi cians-and these also (the sacred scribes of Egypt) did in like manner with their secret arts". Two of these named by the Holy Spirit in 2 Timothy 3:8 , "Jannes and Jambres". read more
man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . rod . Figure of speech Ampliatio ( App-6 ). The rod still called a rod, though it had become a serpent. swallowed up : and thus inflicted the first blow on the gods of Egypt. See note on Exodus 7:20 . read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 7:10-12
False imitations of things Divine not difficult of detection. It is Satan's wont, in all ages and on all possible occasions, to set up counterfeits of things Divine, in order to confuse men's minds, and make them mistake the false for the true. Aaron no sooner works a true miracle, a real proof that he is a prophet of God ( Exodus 7:1 ), than Satan's instruments, the magicians of Egypt, are ready with an imitation of the miracle, on which they base a claim that Pharaoh is not to listen... read more