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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 8:20-32

Here is the story of the plague of flies, in which we are told, I. How it was threatened, like that of frogs, before it was inflicted. Moses is directed (Exod. 8:20) to rise early in the morning, to meet Pharaoh when he came forth to the water, and there to repeat his demands. Note, 1. Those that would bring great things to pass for God and their generation must rise early, and redeem time in the morning. Pharaoh was early up at his superstitious devotions to the river; and shall we be for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:28

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness ,.... He does not say three days, though as he allowed them to go into the wilderness and sacrifice, they could not go and come again in less time; nor would Moses have accepted of the grant, as it seems by what follows he had, if he had obliged them to less time: only you shall not go very far away ; his meaning is, as Aben Ezra observes, that they should go no further than three days'... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 8:28

I will let you go only ye shall not go very far away - Pharaoh relented because the hand of God was heavy upon him; but he was not willing to give up his gain. The Israelites were very profitable to him; they were slaves of the state, and their hard labor was very productive: hence he professed a willingness, first to tolerate their religion in the land, ( Exodus 8:25 ;); or to permit them to go into the wilderness, so that they went not far away, and would soon return. How ready is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 8:28

Verse 28 28.And Pharaoh said, I will let you go. When he sees that his delays and shifts avail him nothing, he professes entire obedience; not that he then proposed to deceive and lie, because he was prevented by fear; but only, because overwhelmed with a present sense of his calamity, he dared not raise his crest against God. Therefore (as I said before) he did not so much wish designedly to conciliate and frustrate Moses by falsehood, as he deceived himself. For we must observe that (like one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 8:20-32

The plague of flies. This torment is thought by many to have embraced winged pests of all kinds. In this case, it would include the mosquito, cattle-fly, beetles, dog-flies, and numbers of others. But see the exposition. We have to note regarding it— I. PHARAOH FINDS AS BEFORE THAT THERE IS NO ESCAPING FROM THE HANDS OF GOD . He is met at the brink of the river, and confronted with the old alternative—"Let my people go else," etc. ( Exodus 8:20 , Exodus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 8:20-32

The fourth plague-the flies: the immunities of Goshen. The mere change from one chastising agent to another is not a matter to be dwelt on in considering this plague. We note that God makes the change from gnats to flies, and that Pharaoh, who was obdurate before the gnats, is so far affected before the flies as to make an offer of submission; but it is obviously impossible for us to see why the flies should be more efficacious than the gnats. The important thing is, not the gradation... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 8:20-32

The Fourth Plague. I. THE SUPERSTITION OF EGYPT IS MADE ITS SCOURGE . 1 . The land was covered with the sacred beetle. It swarmed upon the ground and in their homes. No movement was possible without crushing or treading under foot the insect they adored. When God overthrows idolatries the very reverence with which the idols have been regarded deepens the chastisement. When the covetous sink under the loss of wealth, they themselves have given its weight to the blow... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 8:28

Only ye shall not go very far away . Here for the first time Pharaoh shows his real objection to letting the Israelites go—he is afraid that they will escape him. So he suggests the compromise, that they shall just enter the wilderness on his eastern border, remaining near the frontier, and therefore within his reach. Moses seems to have made no objection to this proviso. As Kalisch says, "he committal himself entirely to the guidance and direction of God." The three days' journey which he... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 8:27-29

Exodus 8:27-29. As he shall command us For he has not yet told us what sacrifices to offer. Ye shall not go very far away Not so far but that he might fetch them back again. It is likely he suspected that if once they left Egypt they would never come back; and therefore when he is forced to consent that they shall go, yet he is not willing they should go out of his reach. See how ready God is to accept sinners’ submissions: Pharaoh only says, Entreat for me Moses promises... read more

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