Exodus 7:8-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 7:8-13

The first time that Moses made his application to Pharaoh, he produced his instructions only; now he is directed to produce his credentials, and does accordingly. 1. It is taken for granted that Pharaoh would challenge these demandants to work a miracle, that, by a performance evidently above the power of nature, they might prove their commission from the God of nature. Pharaoh will say, Show a miracle; not with any desire to be convinced, but with the hope that none will be wrought, and then... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 7:14-25

Here is the first of the ten plagues, the turning of the water into blood, which was, 1. A dreadful plague, and very grievous. The very sight of such vast rolling streams of blood, pure blood no doubt, florid and high-colored, could not but strike a horror upon people: much more afflictive were the consequences of it. Nothing more common than water: so wisely has Providence ordered it, and so kindly, that that which is so needful and serviceable to the comfort of human life should be cheap,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:8

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron ,.... After he had given them their commission, and instructions to go to Pharaoh, and a little before they went in to him: saying , as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:9

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, show a miracle for you ,.... To prove that they came from God, the Jehovah they said they did, and that they were his ambassadors, and came in his name, and made the demand for him; which when he seriously reflected on things, he would be ready to require, hoping they would not be able to show any, and then he should have somewhat against them, and treat them as impostors: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, take thy rod ; the same that Moses had in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:10

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh ,.... Into the palace of Pharaoh boldly, and with intrepidity, clothed with such power and authority, and assured of success: and they did as the Lord had commanded ; they demanded in his name the dismission of the children of Israel, and upon his requiring a miracle to confirm their mission, wrought one as follows: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and it became a serpent : or a "dragon", as the Septuagint version; this word is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:11

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers ,.... The cunning men and wizards, a sort of jugglers and deceivers, who pretended to great knowledge of things, to discover secrets, tell fortunes, and predict things to come, and by legerdemain tricks, and casting a mist before people's eyes, pretended to do very wonderful and amazing things; and therefore Pharaoh sent for these, to exercise their art and cunning, and see if they could not vie with Moses and Aaron: now the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:12

For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents ,.... That is, they seemed to be so, as Josephus F26 Antiqu. ut supra. (l. 2. c. 13 sect. 3.) expresses it, but not really, in which he is followed by many; though some think that the devil assisted in this affair, and in an instant, as soon as the rods were cast down, removed them and put real serpents in their room: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods ; that is, the serpent that Aaron's rod was turned into,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:13

And he hardened Pharaoh's heart ,.... Or, "notwithstanding the heart of Pharaoh was hardened" F1 ויחזק "attamen obfirmatum est", Junius & Tremellius. ; though he saw the rods of his magicians devoured by rod; or "therefore" F2 "Itaque", Piscator. his heart was hardened, because he saw that the rods of his magicians became serpents as well as Aaron's; in which there was a deception of sight, and which was suffered for the hardening of his heart, there being other wonders and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:14

And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened ,.... Or "heavy" F3 כבד "grave", Montanus, Drusius. So Ainsworth. , dull and stupid, stiff and inflexible, cannot lift up his heart, or find in his heart to obey the will of God: he refuseth to let the people go ; which was an instance and proof of the hardness and heaviness of his heart, on which the above miracle had made no impression, to regard what God by his ambassadors had required of him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 7:15

Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning ,.... The next morning, a time in which the mind is most composed and sedate, and fit to attend to what may be suggested: lo, he goeth out unto the water ; the river Nile, either to take his morning's walk, and to refresh himself at the waterside, as the Jerusalem Targum; or to observe divinations upon the water, as a magician, as the Targum of Jonathan. So in the Talmud F4 T. Bab. Moed. Katon, fol. 18. 1. it is said, that the Pharaoh in the... read more

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