Exodus 9:31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 9:22-35

The threatened plague of hail is here summoned by the powerful hand and rod of Moses (Exod. 9:22, 23), and it obeys the summons, or rather the divine command; for fire and hail fulfil God's word, Ps. 148:8. And here we are told, I. What desolations it made upon the earth. The thunder, and fire from heaven (or lightning), made it both the more dreadful and the more destroying, Exod. 9:23, 24. Note, God makes the clouds, not only his store-houses whence he drops fatness on his people, but his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 9:31

And the flax and the barley was smitten ,.... With the hail, thunder, and lightning, and were beat down, bruised, broken, and blasted, and destroyed; of the former there were great quantities produced in Egypt, which was famous for linen, much was made there, and there were many that wrought in fine flax, see Isaiah 19:9 and the latter were used not only to feed their cattle, but to make a drink of, as we do, ale and strong beer; and so the Egyptians use it to this day, as Dr. Shaw F16 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 9:31

The flax and the barley was smitten - The word פשתה pishtah , flax, Mr. Parkhurst thinks, is derived from the root פשט pashat , to strip, because the substance which we term flax is properly the bark or rind of the vegetable, pilled or stripped off the stalks. From time immemorial Egypt was celebrated for the production and manufacture of flax: hence the linen and fine linen of Egypt, so often spoken of in ancient authors. Barley - שערה seorah , from שער saar , to stand... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 9:31

Verse 31 31.And the flax and the barley. He relates the calamity which the hail inflicted; and shows that a part of the fruits of the earth was destroyed, viz., that which had already grown into stalk; but that the seeds which grow more slowly were spared. For God desired to give a remnant of hope, which might invite the king and his people to repentance, if only their wickedness were curable. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:13-35

The plague of hail. This plague was introduced with ampler remonstrance. Moses was commanded to proceed to Pharaoh, and to warn him in stronger and more decisive language than he had yet employed of the folly of this insane resistance. Exodus 9:15 should probably be translated, "For now indeed had I stretched forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with the pestilence, thou hadst then been out off from the earth;" and then Exodus 9:16 will give the reason why God had not cut... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:17-35

The seventh plague-the hail mingled with fire. I. CONSIDER THE PLAGUE ITSELF , 1 . God has his " to-morrow "( Exodus 9:18 ) as well as Pharaoh ( Exodus 8:10 ). Only when Pharaoh's "to-morrow" comes, there comes with it the evidence that he means not what he says. But when God's" to-morrow" comes there is the evidence of his perfect stability, how he settles everything beforehand, even to the very hour. "Tomorrow, about this time." A whole twenty-four hours then... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:22-35

I. THE TERRORS OF GOD 'S MIGHT . In that awful war of elements any moment might have been his last, and Pharaoh trembled. This plague evoked from him the first confession of sin. Hitherto he had reluctantly granted the request of Moses: now he casts himself as a sinner (27, 28) on God's mercy, and entreats the prayers of God's servant for himself and his people. There is a point at which the stoutest heart will be broken, and the cry be wrung from the lips, " I have sinned." "Can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:27-35

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:31

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 9:31-32

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

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