I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord . True fear of God is shown by obedience to his commands. Pharaoh and his servants had the sort of fear which devils have—" they believed and trembled." But they had not yet that real reverential fear which is joined with love, and has, as its fruit, obedience. So the event showed. (See Exodus 9:34 , Exodus 9:35 .) read more
The flax and the barley was smitten . Flax was largely cultivated by the Egyptians, who preferred linen garments to any other (Herod. 2:37), and allowed the priests to wear nothing but linen. Several kinds of flax are mentioned as grown in Egypt (Plin. H . N . 19.1); and the neighbourhood of Tanis is expressly said to have been one of the places where the flax was produced. The flax is boiled , i.e. blossoms towards the end of January or beginning of February, and the barley comes... read more
These verses seem out of place, containing, as they do, an account of the damage done by the hail, and being thus exegetical of Exodus 9:25 . They are a sort of afterthought, inserted parenthetically, and prepare the way for the understanding of the next plague; since, if the damage done by the hail had extended to all the crops, there would have been nothing left for the locusts to devour. read more
The wheat and the rie were not smitten, for they were not grown up . In Egypt the wheat harvest is at least a month later than the barley harvest, coming in April, whereas the barley harvest is finished by the end of March. Rye was not grown in Egypt; and it is generally agreed that the Hebrew word here translated "rie" means the Holcus sorghum , or doora , which is the only grain besides wheat and barley represented on the Egyptian monuments. The doora is now raised commonly as an... read more
The rain was not poured upon the earth . Rain had not been previously mentioned, as it was no part of the plague, that is, it caused no damage. But Moses, recording the cessation as an eye-witness, recollects that rain was mingled with the hail, and that, at his prayer, the thunder, the hail, and the rain all ceased. The touch is one which no later writer would have introduced. read more
He sinned yet more, and hardened his heart . Altogether there are three different Hebrew verbs, which our translators have rendered by "harden," or "hardened"— kabad , qashah , and khazaq. The first of these, which occurs in Exodus 7:14 ; Exodus 8:15 , Exodus 8:32 ; Exodus 9:7 and Exodus 9:34 , is the weakest of the three, and means to be "dull" or "heavy," rather than "to be hard." The second, which appears in Exodus 7:3 , and Exodus 13:15 , is a stronger term, and means... read more
With the plague of hail begins the last series of plagues, which differ from the former both in their severity and their effects. Each produced a temporary, but real, change in Pharaoh’s feelings.Exodus 9:14All my plagues - This applies to all the plagues which follow; the effect of each was foreseen and foretold. The words “at this time” point to a rapid and continuous succession of blows. The plagues which precede appear to have been spread over a considerable time; the first message of Moses... read more
Exodus 9:22-23. Upon man Upon those men that presumed to continue in the field after this admonition. The Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt This was the more extraordinary, as rain seldom falls in Egypt, and in some parts of the country is scarcely known at all. And snow and hail are still more rare, the climate not being so cold as to produce them. Sometimes, however, they do fall, as is implied in the next verse, and is attested by eye-witnesses. read more
Exodus 9:24. Fire mingled with hail Which strange mixture much increased the miracle. The Hebrew is, fire infolding or catching itself among the hail; “One flash of lightning,” says Ainsworth, “taking hold on another, and so the flames, infolding themselves, increased and burned more terribly.” The same Hebrew word is used Ezekiel 1:4, and rendered, a fire infolding itself. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:29
As soon as I am gone out of the city . "The city" is probably Tanis (Zoan). We may gather from the expression of this verse, and again of Exodus 9:33 , that Moses and Aaron did not live in the city, but in the country with the other Israelites. When it was necessary for them to have an interview with the king, they sought the city: when their interview was over they quitted it. To obtain for Pharaoh a speedy accomplishment of his wish, Moses undertakes to pray for the removal of the plague... read more