Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Book 2 · Chapter 7 · Questions 2
Certaine generall questions concerning the plagues of Egypt.
QUEST. XXV. Of the number of the plagues of Egypt.
FIrst for the number of these plagues: it is certaine they were these ten, the turning of the water into bloud, the bringing of frogs, of lice, of swarmes of noysome flies, the murrane of cattell, biles and botches, thunder, haile and lightning, grashoppers, the thicke darknesse, the slaughter of the first borne. 2. These plagues in other places of Scripture, are neither rehearsed in the same number, nor order; as Psal. 78. there are omitted the third of lice, the sixth of botches, the ninth of darknesse; and in the 115. Psal. two are passed over in silence, the first of the murrane of cattell, and the sixt of the botches. 3. Hence it is evident, that Austen is deceived, who thinketh that there were more than ten plagues: because according to the Septuagint, whom the vulgar Latine followeth, it is said, Psal. 78.46. He gave their fruits to the mildew, foreign; and vers. 47. He killed their wild fig-trees with the hoary frost; and vers. 48. Hee gave their possession to the fire. But these three doe belong to the other plagues, for in the first plague according to the originall, we must reade, He gave their fruits to the caterpiller, for the word is chasil: In the next, the word chanamal signifieth hailestones; so this is referred to the seventh plague of lightning and haile, as the other to the eight plague of locusts: and in the third place, the best reading is, Hee gave their sheep lareshaphim, to burning coales, that is, to the thunderbolts, which was part of the seventh plague.
QUEST. XXVI. The greatnesse of the plagues of Egypt, how the Egyptians were every way punished.
FUrther let it be observed, that the Egyptians were every way plagued. Philo noteth that the number of ten signifieth perfection, and so their plagues were perfect and absolute. True it is that their punishment was indeed absolute: howsoever the observation of the number seemeth somewhat curious: 1. they were punished by all kind of creatures, as by the elements, the earth, the water, ayre, fire: by living creatures, as frogges, lice, caterpillars, flies: by the starres, in that the light was restrained: they were punished by men, as Moses and Aaron that were instruments of the plagues: And by the Angels the Ministers of the plagues, Psalm 78.44. 2. They were punished in all things wherein they delighted, in all manner of fruit, in their cattell, in their bodies, in their children. 3. They were punished in all their senses, in their sight by that thicke darkenesse, and the horrible sights which appeared, as it is noted, Wisdom. 17.6, 7. in their taste, by the waters turned into bloud, and their thirst: in their smelling, by the stinch of the frogges, and of their ulcers: in their feeling, by the griefe of their ulcers, and the biting of flies and vermin: in their hearing, by the terrible thunder: in their inward sense, by feare and terror. And to make up the full measure of their punishments, they were overthrowne and drowned in the red sea. Ex Perer.
QUEST. XXVII. Where the plagues of Egypt and to what place they were first sent.
COncerning the place: 1. all Egypt generally was smitten, chap. 3.20. which is called the land of Cham, Psalm 105. because Mizraim, which was the father of the Egyptians, (and in Hebrew Egypt is so called, Mizraim) was one of Chams sonnes, Gen. 10. But whereas it is said, Psalm 78.12. Hee did marvellous things in the land of Zohan, which the Septuagints call Tanis, there was the Kings seat, and there first the plagues began: the head is first smitten, then the members, and from thence the plagues passed over all Egypt. And it is said in the fields of Zohan, because all Egypt was as a plaine. Ex Perer.
QUEST. XXVIII. At what time the plagues were sent upon Egypt.
FOr the time when the plagues were sent: 1. Iulius Africanus is deceived, who thinketh that Egypt was plagued at the same time, when Ogyges floud was: but that cannot be, for he maketh that floud 1020. yeeres before the Olympiades, which began in the eighth yeere of Achaz King of Judah: unto which time, from the plagues of Egypt there are not above 763. yeeres. 2. Paulus Orosius commeth neerer the truth. lib. 1.9.10. that these plagues came upon Egypt in the time of Deucalions floud, when most part of the inhabitants of Thessalia were destroyed, a few escaping unto the hill Pernassus, where Deucalion raigned. About the same time the Sunne parched the world with burning heate, not onelyonly in Aethiopia and other hill countries, but in Scythia, and others under cold climates: which gave occasion unto the Poets fabulous fiction of Phaeton. 3. These plagues were from the beginning of the world 2483. yeeres; from Noahs floud 797. before the battell of Troy, which happened in the time of Sampson or Heli, 356. yeeres; before the first Olympiade 763. yeeres, before the building of Rome 789. yeeres. Ex Pererio.
QUEST. XXIX. In what time all the plagues were finished.
FOr the time how long the ten plagues continued, and in what space they were finished: 1. The Hebrewes thinke, whom Genebrard followeth, that these plagues were all sent upon Egypt, not in lesse time than of twelve moneths, with some respite betweene every plague. 2. Some thinke that these plagues continued the space of ten moneths, taking beginning when the Sunne entred into Cancer, about the twelfth of June, and ending in the vernall equinoctiall, about the fourteenth of March, when the first borne were slaine: the first miracle in the turning of the waters they would have done, when Nilus beginneth to increase, which is when the Sunne entreth into Cancer, and so Nilus continueth in his increasing forty dayes, and forty dayes more it decreaseth: eighty dayes therefore after the first plague, when Nilus being abated leaveth a great slime behind, they thinke the second plague of frogges was sent. Borrh. But these conjectures are very uncertaine and improable: for first, whereas during the first plague they are said to have digged round about the river, chap. 7.17. this could they not have done in the overflowing of Nilus. 2. Though the slime had beene a fit matter naturally for the procreation of frogs, yet their plagues were extraordinary and beyond the worke of nature: and the text sheweth that the frogs came not out of the slime, but out of the river, chap. 8.3. 3. Beside, if there had beene such respite given Pharaoh betweene plague and plague, the hand of God had not beene so strong upon Pharaoh, as now when they followed one in the necke of another. 3. Pererius bringeth them all within the compasse of 27. dayes, or about a monethmonth, which hee doth thus collect: the first plague of converting the waters into bloud, continued seven dayes, chap. 7.25. then upon the eight day came the frogs, and the next day after, chap. 8.9. which was the ninth, they were taken away: upon the tenth day the lice were sent: upon the eleventh day, the swarmes of noisome flies are threatned; upon the next day being the twelfth, they are sent, and the morrow after they are taken away, chap. 8.29. which was the 13. day: upon the 14. the fifth plague of the murrane of cattell is threatned, the morrow after it is sent, chap. 9.6. which was the 15. day: upon the 16. day, the sixt plague of botches and sores followeth: the 17. day, the 7. plague of haile is threatned, sent the next day, chap. 9.18. which was the 18. day, and taken away the next, which was the 19. day: on the 20. day the 8. plague of grashoppers is threatned, sent the 21. day, and removed the 22. day: the three dayes following the thicke darknesse came, chap. 10.22. the 23.24. and 25· dayes: upon the 26. day Pharaoh expelled Moses from his presence, and about midnight following, the beginning of the 28. day, the first borne were slaine. So that from the first plague to the last, there was not above a monethmonth: the last plague then of the slaughter of the first borne falling upon the 14. day of Nisan, the first monethmonth of the Hebrewes, the first began about the middle of Adar, the last monethmonth, which answereth to our February, as Nison doth unto March. Pererius. And that it is more likely, that all these plagues came together in the space of one monethmonth, rather than of twelve moneths, it may thus appeare▪ first, because the plagues following one immediatly upon another, without any pause or respite, they were so much the more grievous, and this was the strong hand of God, whereby Pharaoh was constrained to let Israel goe, chap. 6.1. Secondly, the plagues were such as Egypt never saw, nor felt before, chap. 9.24. and 10.14. and if they had continued long, the Egyptians could not have endured. Thirdly, whereas the Israelites spent full forty yeeres in the wildernesse, Iosh. 5.6. and Mos…s was 80. yeere old, chap. 7.7. before any of the plagues began, and 120. yeere old, in the end of the 40. yeeres travell in the wildernesse, Deut. 34. much time could not bee spent in Egypt after the hand of God, by the ministry of Moses, began to worke upon them.
QUEST. XXX. Whether the good Angels or bad were the ministers of the Egyptian plagues.
COncerning the author of these plagues, there is no question, but that they came from God, who thereby did most justly punish the Egyptians, for the unjust vexation of his people: for so the Lord saith, He will smite Egypt with all his wonders, chap. 3.20. But there ariseth a greater doubt, who were the ministers of these plagues, whether the good angels, or evill. 1. Genebrard thinketh because it is said, Psalm 78.49. By the sending of evill Angels, that the evill spirits were executioners of these plagues. But Augustines reason is very strong against this opinion; for in the two first plagues, which were counterfeited by the Sorcerers, it is evident, that the evill Angels were doers, by whom the Magicians wrought, they certainly were not the ministers of the true plagues, for then as he saith,August. in … 77. Angeli mali ex utra que parte consisterent, the evill Angels should be of both sides, hinc illos affligentes, inde fallentes: affl…cting the Egyptians on the side, and deceiving them on the other: If the evill Angels then were not ministers of the first plagues, neither were they used in the rest: and beside we have a more evident argument, that when in the third plague the Sorcerers attempted to doe the like they could not: the Lord inhibited and restrained the evill spirits, that they should worke no longer by their ministers the Sorcerers. If the Lord restrained their power, then he loosed it not, or used it. 2. Wherefore they are called evill Angels, not in respect of their office but of the effect, because they were messengers and ministers of evill plagues: Perer. 3. But I thinke with Iunius ▪ that it is not necessary here to understand Angels for those ministring spirits: but the word malac…, may here signifie messengers, and is referred to Moses and Aaron, that were the messengers and ministers of these plagues: And this interpretation is confirmed by two reasons: because in this historie it is directly expressed, that most of the plagues were procured by Moses and Aaron, as the three first by Aaron, the sixt, seventh, eight and ninth by Moses: the fourth and fift, though it be not expressed, yet it may bee supposed to bee done by the same instruments▪ and againe that place, Psalm 105.26. may helpe to expound this; Hee sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen, they shewed among them the message of his signes. The messengers then and ministers of these evill plagues, were Moses and Aaron. 4. Yet I deny not, but that God used also therein the ministry of his Angels: as it is evident in the last plague of the destruction of the first borne, Exod. 12.3. but the meaning of this place in the Psalme is more properly referred to Moses and Aaron. And although God useth both the ministry of good Angels in punishing the wicked, as in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrha, and of the evill sometime to trie the righteous, as in the temptation of Iob, much more in judging the wicked: yet in this place for the reasons before alleaged the good Angels are thought rather to have beene used than the evill.
QUEST. XXXI. For what ends and causes the Lord wrought such wonders in Egypt.
THe ends wherefore it pleased the Lord, thus to judge Egypt, and to shew his mighty workes were divers. 1. That the Lord might take just revenge of the Egyptians, for the unrighteous vexing and oppressing of his people, Exod. 4.23. 2. That they by this meanes might bee forced to let Israel goe, Exod. 6.1. 3. That Gods power might bee knowne to all the world, which exceedeth the law of nature, or naturall things; and that his justice might be made manifest in judging the wicked: so the Lord saith: For th… cause have I appointed thee, to shew my power in thee, and to declare my name throughout all the world, Exod. 9.16. 4. That the Hebrewes and people of God hereby might perceive the singular care and love of God toward them, as Moses urgeth, Deut. 4.20. The Lord hath taken you and brought you out of the iron f…rnace, out of Egypt. 5. That the fame of these great workes might keepe other nations in feare and awe of them, by whom they should passe, that they should not molest or trouble them, neither that the Heb…ewes should be affraid of them: so Rahab saith, Iosh. 2.10. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the red sea before you, when yee came out of Egypt. To this purpose the Priests of the Philistims thus say: Wherefore harden yee your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardned their hearts▪ when he wrought wonderfully among them? 1. Sam. 6 6. 6. That the Hebrewes by the remembrance of these great workes, should bee kept in obedience to the law of God, as it is therefore set before the ten Commandements, Exod. …0.2. 7. That the just confusion and subversion of the Egyptians might bee made manifest to all men, that hardned their hearts notwithstanding such grievous plagues. Perer.
QUEST. XXXII. Who were exempted from the plagues of Egypt.
FUrther it will be inquired, who were exempted from these plagues in Egypt, whether they were generally upon all. 1. It is certaine, that all the Israelites that dwelt in the land of Goshen were exempted: wherein three things are to be considered: first, that although this exception and reservation bee expressed only in five plagues, as in the swarmes of noisome flies and beasts, chap. 8.23. in the murrane of the cattell, chap. 9.7. in the haile, chap 9.26. the thicke darknesse, chap. 20.23. and in the destruction of the first borne. chap. 12.23. Yet by the same analogy, it is to be understood, that the Israelites were also freed from …he rest of the plagues. Secondly, mention is first made of this privilege in the fourth plague, when the Sorcerers were hindred from working, for this cause, that whereas before they tried their skill in their counterfeit signes in the land of Goshen (for in all Egypt the plagues overspread) and from thence it is like that they had the water which they turned into bloud) now it is insinuated, that they had no longer power to doe any such thing, no not in the land of Goshen, as they had before. Thirdly, not onelyonly the persons of the people of Israel were free, as Exod. 12.23. from the death of the first borne, but even their cattell, chap. 9.7. and their ground, the land of Goshen where they dwelt, chap. 8.22.
2. Another sort is likely also to have beene exempted from these plagues: namely such strangers as sojourned of other nations in Egypt: for the story runneth upon the Egyptians, that they were plagued▪ because they only were guilty of the wrong done to the Lords people: the other that were not accessary, might either withdraw themselves out of Egypt, seeing the hand of God so heavy upon them, or they might through the mercy of God be spared.
3. Whereas these plagues did most of all light upon Pharaoh ▪ and next upon the Ministers and Officers of his Kingdome, as the chiefe authors of the affliction of the Israelites, and then generally upon all the common sort of people, who executed the Kings cruell edict for the drowning of the Hebrewes children, Exod. 2.23. yet wee are to thinke, that although in other generall plagues, which came upon Israel, many righteous persons did suffer in the calamity of the City, as in the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Babylonian captivity▪ yet that in these universall plagues they that feared God of the Egyptians were spared: as is expresly mentioned in the seventh plague, that they which feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh, were delivered from it, chap. 9.20. that hereby it might appeare, that the Egyptians were punished for their cruelty towards the Lords people. Perer.
QUEST. XXXIII. Whether the Egyptians which inhabited with Israel in the land of Goshen were exempted from the plagues.
BUt it is more doubted of the Egyptians, which dwelt among the Israelites in the land of Goshen, for they were mingled together, as is evident chap 3.22. whether they were freed from these generall plagues. 1. Thostatus thinketh tha… they also tasted of all the plagues, as well as the rest of Egypt, because their hatred was no lesse towards the Lords people. But in some plagues, as in the fourth of the swarmes, and in the seventh of the haile, it is affirmed that there were none in the land of Goshen: If the Country were freed, then the inhabitans also: and though these Egyptians that cohabited were haters of them also, yet the Lord might spare them for his peoples sake: because some plagues should also have touched the Israelites, if they had fallen upon their neighbours, as the haile and lightning. 2. Augustine thinketh, that the Egyptians inhabiting Goshen, were free from all the plagues, but the last upon the first borne, because this was upon their persons, the other upon the ground it selfe, wherein Goshen was privileged, quaest. 44. in Exod. But this is not like neither: for in the fifth plague only the cattell and beasts of Israel are preserved from the murrane, chap. 9.4. the beasts of the Egyptians, though dwelling among Israel, cannot bee said to bee the cattell of Israel. 3 Wherefore this distinction and difference must bee made, that all those plagues which might be inflicted upon the persons, or substance of the Egyptians, without any damage or annoyance to the Israelites, among whom they dwelt, did as well fall upon them, as other Egyptians: as such plagues as their persons were smitten with, as the sixth of botches and sores, and the tenth of the first borne: as also which fell upon their cattell, as the fifth plague, likewise the ninth plague of darknesse come upon the Egyptians also, who, as it is observed, Wisdome 18.1. did heare the Israelites, but saw them not: even the Egyptians, which were neighbours to the Israelites, felt of that plague also: But from the other plagues, which were an annoyance to the ground it selfe, and to all the inhabitans, even the Egyptians also were freed, that cohabited with them: as from the plague of waters turned into bloud: for herein the Egyptians there dwelling could not be punished, but the harme would likewise redound to the Israelites; such were the plagues of the frogs, lice, swarmes, haile, grashoppers, which were noisome to all the inhabitants where they fell: and in some of these plagues it is expressed directly, that the land of Goshen was free, as chap. 8.22. in the 4. plague of the swarmes, and in the 7. of the haile, chap. 9.26.
QUEST. XXXIV. Of the diversity in the manner of the plagues.
THe last of these generall considerations is, both of the divers manner of inflicting these plagues, and of Pharaohs divers behaviour, that is, for the diversity of the plagues: some of them were sent upon their persons, as the 6.9. and 10. some upon their cattell, as the fifth, some upon their fruits, as the seventh, some upon the water and the earth, as the rest: some continued seven dayes, as the first, some three, as the ninth, most of them but one, as is shewed before, Quest. 29. Some of them are sent without any warning given before, as the third plague, chap. 8.16. and the sixt, chap. 9.8. and the ninth, chap. 10.20. Some plagues are expresly mentioned to have beene removed by the prayer of Moses: as the second of frogs, chap. 8.9. the fourth of swarmes, chap. 8.30. the seventh of haile and lightning, chap. 9.33. the eight of the grashoppers, chap. 10.19. the other plagues have no such note. But it is like that when a new plague came the former ceased.
QUEST. XXXV. Of Pharaohs divers and variable behaviour.
2. AS touching Pharaohs behaviour, it was very variable and divers: at the first comming of Moses, he was at defiance with God, and said hee knew him not, chap. 5. At the first, the third, the fift, and sixt plague he was nothing at all mollified, but his heart was hardned still: in the second, the fourth, the seventh, the eight and ninth he somewhat yeelded, and made some semblance of repentance: yet all was but in hypocrisie.
So in dismissing the people of Israel hee was of divers mindes: first hee would give them leave only to sacrifice in the land of Egypt, chap. 8.25. then he would grant them to goe into the wildernesse to sacrifice there, but they must not goe farre away, chap. 8.28. afterward he would let the men only goe, neither the women, nor children, chap. 10. ver. 10.11. then he giveth leave for the children to goe also, but their sheep and cattell should stay behind, chap. 10.24. at the last he is content they shall all goe with all they had, chap. 12. Perer.
QUEST. XXXVI. Why the Lord sent divers plagues upon Pharaoh not destroying him at once.
NOw it pleased God, whereas he could have destroyed Pharaoh and all the Egyptians at once, yet to multiply his plagues, for these causes, 1. That Gods mercy might appeare in giving unto them time of repentance, and not consuming them together. 2. And by this variety of plagues and judgements the omnipotent power of God is set forth. 3. This also addeth to the affliction and misery of the Egyptians, that were not cut off at one blow, but by this diversity of plagues, their punishment was made so much the more grievous.
4 Hereby also Pharaohs obstinacie and hardnesse of heart is made manifest, that could by no meanes relent notwithstanding so many plagues.