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
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
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
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
Show a miracle for you - A miracle, מופת mopheth , signifies an effect produced in nature which is opposed to its laws, or such as its powers are inadequate to produce. As Moses and Aaron professed to have a Divine mission, and to come to Pharaoh on the most extraordinary occasion, making a most singular and unprecedented demand, it was natural to suppose, if Pharaoh should even give them an audience, that he would require them to give him some proof by an extraordinary sign that their... read more
It became a serpent - תנין tannin . What kind of a serpent is here intended, learned men are not agreed. From the manner in which the original word is used in Psalm 74:13 ; Isaiah 27:1 ; Isaiah 51:9 ; Job 7:12 ; some very large creature, either aquatic or amphibious, is probably meant; some have thought that the crocodile, a well-known Egyptian animal, is here intended. In Exodus 4:3 ; it is said that this rod was changed into a serpent, but the original word there is נחש ... read more
Pharaoh - called the wise men - חכמים chacamim , the men of learning. Sorcerers, כשפים cashshephim , those who reveal hidden things; probably from the Arabic root kashafa , to reveal, uncover, etc., signifying diviners, or those who pretended to reveal what was in futurity, to discover things lost, to find hidden treasures, etc. Magicians, חרטמי chartummey , decipherers of abstruse writings. See Clarke's note on Genesis 41:8 . They also did in like manner with their... read more
Verse 8 8.And the Lord spake. No wonder that Moses often repeats the same thing, because he wrote for persons of rude and dull minds. But it behooves us, lest we should be disgusted by his simple and popular style, diligently to examine how little we are inclined to be acute and earnest in our consideration of the works of God. No doubt there is here related what we have already heard respecting the change of the rod into a serpent, except that he now tells us that the miracle which had before... read more
Verse 10 10.And Moses and Aaron went in. Although they were now fully conscious of their vocation; and knew that they were endued with divine power for working miracles, yet would they never have dared to approach the fierce and cruel tyrant, unless the inward inspiration of the Spirit had armed them to persevere. Hence, then, arose their magnanimity to overcome all terrors; because God raised them by faith above everything that is lofty on earth, and sustained them by this support. Therefore... read more
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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