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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 9:1

Verse 1 1.Then the Lord said. No complaint or expostulation of Moses is here recounted; and it is possible that he was quiet and silent, whilst God foresaw what it was necessary to do, and even commanded what He would have done. But since he only gives a brief summary of occurrences, we may probably conjecture that, as the evil grew worse, he had recourse from time to time to the remedy. In the denunciation, “the Lord God of the Hebrews” is no unmeaning repetition, that Pharaoh may learn that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 9:2

Verse 2 2.But if thou refuse. God again urges him to obedience through fear of punishment, as He usually deals with the froward. Yet he permits him a short space of time for repentance, (as before,) if perchance he may lay aside his perverse determination to refuse. And this Moses now relates more distinctly in the fifth verse, both to show the extreme obstinacy of his malice, because the tyrant mocks at God’s forbearance, and follows his own lust; and also to manifest more clearly from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:1

Excepting in the designation of Jehovah as "the Lord God of the Hebrews," this verse is an almost exact repetition of the first verse of Exodus 8:1-32 . Such repetitious are very characteristic of the most ancient writings. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:1-7

The burthen of man's sin presses on the brute creation, as well as on man himself. "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" ( Romans 8:22 ). Brutes are to a large extent co-partners with man in his sorrows and his wretchedness. But brute suffering is the product of man's sin. Mostly it is directly caused by man. Man not only kills animals for his food, but he chases them for his diversion, mutilates them for his convenience, vivisects them for his supposed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:1-7

The fifth plague-the murrain among the beasts. I. THE USE WHICH GOD HERE MAKES OF THE LOWER CREATION . In the three plagues immediately preceding God made the lower creation his scourges. He took little creatures, the bare existence of which many, not perceiving the wisdom of God, think to be unnecessary; and these he increased into a vast and most vexatious multitude. The killing of a frog, a gnat, a fly, we are accustomed in our heedlessness to make nothing of; such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:1-7

GOD 'S MERCY IN TEMPORAL JUDGMENTS . Hitherto no great loss had been inflicted; now their cattle is taken. In God's mercy the afflictions deepen that Egypt may forsake the path of death. When the Lord's hand falls in heavier blows it is to save from something worse which lies beyond. Israel's calamities preceded her captivity. God's chastisements fall that we may not be condemned with the world ( 1 Corinthians 11:32 ). II. CONVICTION DOES NOT ALWAYS COMPEL OBEDIENCE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:1-8

The plague of murrain of beasts. I. THE ALTERNATIVE AGAIN ( Exodus 9:1 , Exodus 9:2 ). Surely Pharaoh was well warned. The analogy of the third plague would have led us to expect that on this occasion—after a second and glaring breach of faith—there would have been no warning. Yet mercy waits upon him. Faithless though he had been, if even yet he will let the people go, all will be forgiven. If not—then judgments. Mark how sacredly, in all this, the freedom of Pharaoh is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:3

Thy cattle which is in the field . The word "cattle" here is to be taken generally, as including under it the various kinds particularised. The cattle are mentioned as being at this time "in the field," because during the inundation all of them were brought in and housed, while, after the waters had retired, and the land had dried, most of them were turned out to graze. This is always the time at which epidemics break out. The horses, the asses , etc. Horses, which had been unknown prior... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:4

The Lord shall sever . Compare Exodus 8:22 . There shall nothing die, etc The original is more emphatic, and might be rendered literally—" There shall not die of all that is the children's of Israel a thing." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:5

To-morrow . God may have interposed the interval in order that such as believed the announcement might save their animals by bringing them in out of the fields. All the cattle died — i.e , all that were "in the field" ( Exodus 9:3 ). read more

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