Exodus 9:13-35

Hail (the seventh plague) 9:13-35

God sent the worst hailstorm Egypt had ever experienced (Exodus 9:18; Exodus 9:24) and accompanied it with thunder, fire (lightning?), and rain (Exodus 9:23; Exodus 9:34). [Note: See Robert B. Chisholm Jr., "The Polemic against Baalism in Israel’s Early History and Literature," Bibliotheca Sacra 151:603 (July-September 1994):271-74.]

"The recurring thunderclaps . . ., the lightning darting back and forth . . ., and the severity of the storm . . . all suggest the advent of Yahweh in theophany . . . and thus the Presence of Yahweh in a more dramatic and intense coming than anywhere in the mighty-act sequence to this point." [Note: Durham, p. 128.]

Pharaoh’s repentance was shallow; he acknowledged only his mistake and unfairness, but he did not repent of his blasphemy of Yahweh (Exodus 9:27). Moses perceived Pharaoh’s true attitude. The king had not yet believed that Yahweh was sovereign (Exodus 9:29). Fearing Him means bowing in submission to Him as sovereign over all the earth (Exodus 9:30; cf. Exodus 10:3).

"What would the worshippers of Nut have thought when they looked skyward not to see the blessings of the sun and warmth, but the tragedy of storm and violence. Nut was the sky goddess. It was from her domain that this tragedy originated. One reflects upon the responsibilities of both Isis and Seth who also had responsibilities relating to agricultural crops. The black and burned fields of flax were a silent testimony to the impotence and incapability of wooden and stone deities." [Note: Davis, p. 120.]

The Egyptians used flax (Exodus 9:31) to make linen cloth that they preferred over wool. The Egyptian priests, among other people, dressed in linen. This plague was a judgment on them, therefore. The Egyptians used barley (Exodus 9:31) to make beer and as animal food, but the poorer people also ate it. [Note: Kaiser, "Exodus," p. 363.] These two crops are in bud in late January and early February in lower (northern) Egypt, which enables us to identify the time of year when this plague took place.

This is the first miracle in which we see the presence of death.