Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 9

Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs · Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 9

p. 27CHAP. IX.

1. God threatneth the fift Plague, the murraine of cattell, 4 but exempteth Israel. 6 The Egyptians cattell die: 7, yet Pharaoh is harned. 8, God bringeth the sixt plague, boyles upon man and beast: 11, so that the Magiciās cannot stand before Moses: 12, yet Pharaohs heart is hardned. 13, God threatneth Pharaoh more severely. 22, The seventh plague of hayle and fire, falleth upon men and beasts, and fruits of the earth. 27, Pharaoh confesseth his sinne, and sueth to Moses; 33, who praieth to God, and the plague ceaseth: 34, whereupon Pharaohs heart is hardned yet more.

AND Iehovah said unto Moses; Goe 1in unto Pharaoh, and speake unto him, Thus saith Iehovah the God of the Hebrewes, Send away my people, that they may serve me. For if thou refuse to send 23them away, & thou still wilt hold them: Behold, the hand of Iehovah is upon thy cattel which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheepe: a very grievous murraine. And Iehovah will marvellously sever 4betweene the cattell of Israel and the cattell of Egypt; and there shall not dye any thing of all that is the sons of Israel. And Iehovah 5appointed a set time, saying, To morrow Iehovah will doe this thing in the land. And 6Iehovah did this thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of the Egyptians dyed, but of the cattell of the sons of Israel died not one. And Pharaoh sent, & behold, there was not any one of the cattell of Israel dead: and the 7heart of Pharaoh was made heavy, and hee sent not away the people. And Iehovah 8said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you your hands full of ashes of the fornace, and let Moses sprinkle it towards the heavens, in the eyes of Pharaoh. And it shall be (turned) to small dust, upon all the land of 9Egypt; and it shall bee upon man and upon beast, to a boile breaking forth with scalding blaines, in all the land of Egypt. And they 10tooke ashes of the fornace, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprinkled it towards the heavens, and it was boyle … standing blaines breaking forth up on man and upon beast. And the Magicians could not stand before Moses, because of the boyle; for the 11boyle was upon the Magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. And Iehovah made strong 12the heart o… Pharaoh, and he … not unto them, even as Iehovah had spoken unto Moses. And Iehovah said unto Moses, Rise 13eately in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Iehovah, the God of the Hebrewes; Send away my people, that they may serve me. For at this 14time I will send all my plagues into thy hart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, that thou maist know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now … sent out my 15hand, and I had smitten thee and thy people with the pestilence, and thou hadst beene cut off from the earth. But in very 16deed, for this have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power, and that my name may be declared in all the earth. As yet exaltest 17thou thy selfe against my people, that thou wilt not send them away? Behold, I will 18raine, about this time to morrow, a very heavie haile, such as hath not beene the like in Egypt since the day it was founded, even untill now. And now send and speedily gather 19thy cattell and all that thou hast in the field: every man and beast which shall bee found in the field, and shall not bee gathered into the house, the haile shall even come downe upon them, and they shall die. Hee that feared 20the word of Iehovah, amongst the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattell flie into the houses. And hee that set 21not his heart unto the word of Iehovah, he left his servants and his cattell in the field. And Iehovah said unto Mosis, Stretch forth 22thine hand towards the heavens, and there shall bee haile in all the land of Egypt, upon man and upon beast, and upon every herbe of the field, in the land of Egypt. And Moses 23stretched forth his rod towards the heavens, and Iehovah gave voices, and haile; and fire went upon the ground: and Iehovah rained haile upon the land of Egypt. And 24there was haile, and fire catching it selfe among the haile, very heavie, such as there was not the like in all the land of Egypt, since it was a nation. And the haile smote 25in all the land of Egypt, all that was in the field, from man even unto beast: and the haile smote eueryevery herbe of the field, and brake every tree of the field. p. 28… the … of …, where the 26… And P… and called for M…ses and for 27…, and said …, I have sinned th… …: … and … and my peopl… … quicked▪ …, for … is 28…, that … no … voices of God, …, and I will send you away, and … shall … ▪ And Moses said 29u…, When b… …one out of the citie, I will … my hands unto Iehovah▪ the voices shall cease, and the haile shall be no more; that thou …ist know that the earth is Iehovahs. But thou and thy servants▪ 30I know that ye will not yet feare before Iehovah God. And the flaxe and the ba…ey was smitten, for the barley was in the 31eare, and the flaxe was bolled. But the wheat and the … were not smitten, for they were 32hidden. And Moses went out of the citie, from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands 33unto Iehovah; and the voices and the haile ceased, and the raine was not poured upon the earth. And Pharaoh saw that the raine, and the haile, and the voices were ceased; & 34he added for to sin, & made heavie his hart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh waxed strong, and hee sent not away 35the sons of Israel, even as Iehovah had spoken, by the hand of Moses.

Annotations.

HEbrewes] in Chaldee, Iewes: so in v. 13. and usually in other places. For they which of 1old were called Hebrewes of Heber the Patriarch, Gen. 14. 13. were after called Iewes, E…th. 3. 6. of Iu…as the Patriarch, Iakobs fourth sonne: see Gen. 29. 35. and 49. 8.

V. 3. the …and] The Chaldee expounds it, a plague f…om before the Lord. sheepe] or flocks, both sheep 3and goats. gri…v… …] or heavie pestil… ▪ the Chaldee and the Greeke calleth it, a very great death. See the notes on Exod. 5. 3. for it is the same word therensed.

V. 4. sever] In the Greeke, will glorifie: see Exod. 8. 22. any thing] Hebr. a word; that is, ought … 4may be spoken of; 10 word, is for thing, in v. 5. & 6.

V. 6. all the cattell] that is, of all sorts some: for other some renamed for an after plague, v. 19. 25. 6And this was the fift judgement, of which Asaph saith, God weighed out … path to his anger, &c. and gave up their beasts to th… …rraine, (or pestilence:) Psal. 78. 50.

V. 7. made heavie] and so, obstinate: see Exodus ….

Ver. 8. your hands full] Hebrew, the fulnesse of your … ▪ Here againe, the sixt plague is brought upon 8Egypt, without warning given them before: see the notes on Exod. 8. 16. …s…es] or, embers. The matter of this plague is from the fire; as of the former, from the earth and water; of the next from the aire. the heavens] as signifying this punishment to come upon them from God above; in speciall manner. to a boyle] or, as the Greeke translateth, boyles or sores, bo…ches. Of such oft times leprosie did breed, as Lev. 13. 18. 19. 20. scalding blaines] or, …yling blisters, a word not used but in this Egyptian plague, and it was an extraordinary & uncurable byle, such as Moses threatned among other curses, for the breach of Gods law, Deut. 28. 27. the Lord will smite thee with the boyle of Egypt, &c. wherof thou canst not be healed. The Holy Ghost expresseth it in Greeke, by an evill and a malignant boyle, Rev. 16. 2.

V. 10. it was] or there was, as the Greeke translateth there were boyles. Thus the plagues come neerer unto Pharaoh, to his skin and flesh: but greater follow, even into his heart, v. 14. VntoUnto this sixt plague of Egypt, answereth the first plague of the spirituall Egypt, where there was an evill and malignant boyle, upon the men which had the marke of the beast, and which worshiped his image, Rev. 16. 2.

V. 11. couldnot stand] as hitherto they had withstood Moses, and Pharaoh would have had them done so stille… but now their follie was manifested unto all men: see 2 Tim. 3. 8. 9. Exod. 7. 11. 12. and 8. 18. Compare also here with, Rev. 6. 17. where it is said, the great day of the Lambes) wrath is come and who shall be able to stand?

Ver. 12. made strong:] and as the Greeke translateth it, hardned. See Ex…d. 4. 21. A like event is seene in the latter Egyptians; they blaspheme the God of heaven, for their paines and for their boyles; but repent not of their workes, Rev. 16. 11.

Vers. 15. I send out my hand] by the pestilence or mu…raine among the beasts, v. 3. 6. and I had smitten thee with the same pestilence; and thou hadst beene cut off, for so thy sinnes deserved; but for another cause, (which after is declared in v. 16.) I have spared thee. This seemeth to be the proper meaning of these words. Otherwise taking the time past, for that which is to come, (for more certainty) it may be read, I will send, namely, if thou submit not. And so the Greek expounds it, I will send; and the Chaldee thus, for now it is neere before me, that I will send out my powerfull plague. pestilence] in the Greeke and Chaldee, death.

V. 16. But in very deed] or, And verily. for this] the Apostle (Rom. 9.) addeth a word of intention, for this same: meaning cause, or purpose; as the Greeke expounds it, for this cause. raised thee up] so the Apostle (in Rom. 9. 17.) expounds the Hebr. I have made thee stand up; or I have constituted (and se…) thee. The common Gr. version hath, thou hast beene reserved (or kept alive) which thought it be true, yet doth it not express the whole meaning of God, who had not onelyonly kept him alive frō the former plagues, but even raised, set and constituted him for a vessell of wrath; and an example of Gods justice and …eve…itie; as Paul applieth it to that argument. And that standing may imply the constitution or being of a thing, the Scripture p. 29elsewhere sheweth; as where one Prophet saith, the Angell of the Lord stood by the threshing floore, 1 Chron. 21. 15. another saith, the Angell was by it, 2 Sam. 24 16. for to shew] or, that I may shew: as Paul explaineth it. See the notes on Gen. 6. 19. in thee:] or, shew thee: but both the Greeke translation and the Apostle (Rom. 9. 17.) addeth the word in. Which is often to bee observed in words compounded as this is; as Gen. 30. 20. dwell with me, Psal. 5. 5. so journe with thee, Psal. 42. 5. resorted with them; Sinne against me, Prov. 8. 36. and sundry the like. bee declared] Hebr. for to declare (or tell) my name: See the notes on Gen. 6. 20. The Chaldee translateth, that they may declare the power of my name. From hence the Apostle inferreth, Therefore God hath merciemercy on whom he will; and whom he will he hardneth, Rom. 9. 18.

Vers. 18. about this time:] Greeke at this houre, 18(or time) for the Greeke useth these two indifferently; as, In that houre, Luk. 10. 21. whereas Matthew saith, In that time, Matt. 1…. 25. very heavy,] or, vehemently weighty; that is, sore and grievous. This plague proceedeth from the ayre as the former did from other elements. founded] that is, the foundation of it laid: as the Greeke saith, created.

Vers. 19. speedily gather] gather for to flee, or to retire, as the word signifieth, Ier. 4. 6. and 6. 1. This 19warning, as it implyed great danger to come; so, no lesse merciemercy in God, towards such ill deserving people. even come downe] Hebrew, and shall come downe, and they shall dye; meaning with the haile, so soone as it should fall.

Vers. 20. made to flie,] the Greeke and Chaldee 20translate, gathered; this explaineth the former word, in verse 19.

Verse 21. set not his heart,] that is, regarded not. 21See Exod. 7. 23. he left,] or, he also left. But the word also (or and) may be omitted, as is shewed on Gen. 8. 6.

Vers. 23. gave voices,] that is, sent noyses of thunder: 23so the Scripture elsewhere speaketh of the voice (or noise) of thunder, Rev. 6. 1. and thunders uttered their voices, Revel. 10. 3. And although sometime voices and thunders are mentioned distinctly, as in Rev. 4. 5. and 8. 5. yet here by voices, seeme to be meant thunders. So at the giving of the Law, Exod. 19. 16. and 20. 18. haile] with such God killed also the Canaanites, Ios. 10. 11. And unto Iob he saith; Hast thou seene the treasures of the Haile, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battell and war? Iob. 38. 22. 23. VntoUnto this seventh plague of Egypt, the Lord compareth the seventh plague of the Antichristians; where, upon the viall poured out into the aire, there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, and a great haile of talent weight fell upon men, for which they blasphemed God, Rev. 16. 17. 18. 21. fire went,] that is, ranne along on the ground, as the Greeke translateth it; which was extraordinary and most terrible: so that not the haile onelyonly, but the lightnings and fierie flames, consumed their cattle; as the Psalmist witnesseth, Psal. 78. 47. 48. and 105. 32. 33. So in other judgements, haile and fire is mentioned, in the destruction of Davids enemies, and of the Assyrians, Psal. 18. 13. 14. 15. Esay 30. 30. 31.

Vers. 24. catching it selfe;] that is, one flash of 24lightning taking hold of another, & so the flames infoulding themselves, did increase and burne more terribly. This word is used onelyonly here, and in Ezek. 1. 4. The Greeke translateth it, inflaming, (or setting on fire, which word the Apostle useth, I am. 3. 6.) and so the Chaldee saith, inflaming it selfe. And David calleth it, fire of flames, Psal. 1 5. 32. a nation] or, to a nation: which the Greek explaineth, since there was a nation upon it. A like phrase is in Re 16. 18. since men were upon the earth.

Ver. 25. from man &c.] that is, both men & beasts. 25every tree] the Gr. saith, all the trees, meaning of all sorts; for there were some left remaining for an after plague, Exod. 10. 5. A like phrase is in Act. 10. 12. all four footed beasts &c. & before in verse 6.

Vers. 26. no haile] So God had preserved them 26from former plagues, v. 6. and ch. 8 ver 22. and so God promiseth to preserve his people in quiet resting places, when it shall haile on the forrest, Esa. 32. 18. 19.

Ver. 28. for it is enough,] or, and let it be enough: 28so the Greeke Interpreters tooke it, t…anslating, and let it cease. voices of God,] that is, thunders from God, or mighty loud thunders: as mountaines of God, Psal. 26. 7. are high and strong mounts; see the notes on Gen. 30. 5. and 23. 6. The Greeke retaineth the Hebrew phrase. no longer stay] Hebr. ye shall not adde to stand: that is, to stay, or remaine, as the Greek translateth: or as the Chaldee expounds it, be delaied.

V. 29. my hands] Hebt. my palmes; that is, as the 29Chaldee explaineth it, my hands in prayer. So in v. 33. The spreading out of the palmes of the hands, was a common gesture used in prayer, as kneeling also was; signifying a desire that they might receive from God, the things they craved: so Salomon did when he prayed, 2 Chron. 6. 13. and David, Psal. 143. 6. and Ezra, Ezr. 9. 9. and others, Iob 11. 13. Like this was the lifting up of the hands; where of see Exod. 17. 11. is Iehovah's] or belongeth to Iehovah, as the Creator, Possessor, Governor of all things; doing whatsoever he pleaseth, in heavens, earth, seas, &c. Psal. 135. 6. Of this sentence there is often mention and great use in the Scriptures: see Deut. 10. 14. 15. Psal. 24. 1. &c. 1 Cor. 10. 26. 28.

V. 30. will not yet feare] this the event shewed to 30be true, v. 35. Hereby it appeareth, that the prayers of the faithful may remove temporary plagues, even from the wicked and impenitent. Compare 1 King. 18. 42. 45. Exod 32 11. 14. 34. 35.

V. 31. in the eare] the Hebrew Abib, signifieth a 31greene eare of corne with the stalke, Levit. 2. 14. Of it, the month when corde was newly ripe, is called Abib, where of see Exod. 13. 4. bolled,] or in the stalke: the Greeke translateth it seeding.

V. 32. …ye:] or the graine called Zea, or Spelt, 32in Hebrew Cussemeth: of this is mention also in Ezek. 4. 9. Esay 28. 25. The Hebrew Doctors count it a kinde of wheat: as Maimony sheweth in p. 30treat of Leven, ch. 5. S. 1. hidden:] Hebrew darke, or, obscure, that is, hid under ground, not to be seen: the Greeke translateth it, lateward.

Vers. 33. haile ceased] This sheweth the effect 33of Moses faith and prayer: the Apostle noteth the like of Elias, who prayed, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three yeeres and sixe moneths: and he prayed againe, and the heaven gaveraine. Iam. 5. 17. 18. This is written for our comfort, for they were men, subject to like passions as we are. The same is to be observed in Exod. 10. 18. 19. and the other plagues which Moses by prayer tooke away.

Vers. 34. made heavie] that is, obstinate and hard. See Exod. 7. 14.

Vers. 35. waxed strong] was made fast and hard: see Exod. 4. 21. by the hand] that is, by the ministerie 35or prophesie of Moses, who had signified so much before, verse 30. So Gods word came by the hand of Haggai. Hag. 1. 1. by the hand of Malachy, Mal. 1. 1. and by the hand of all the Prophets, 2 King. 17. 13. that is, by them as his ministers and instruments. And the hand of the Lord, sometime is the spirit of prophecie, 2 King. 3. 15.