Bible Commentaries
Exodus 8

Introduction

Overview

Exodus 8:1, Frogs are sent; Exodus 8:8, Pharaoh sues to Moses, who by prayer removes them away; Exodus 8:16, The dust is turned into lice, which the magicians could not do; Exodus 8:20, The plague of flies; Exodus 8:25, Pharaoh inclines to let the people go, but yet is hardened.

Verse 1

Go: Jeremiah 1:17-19, Jeremiah 15:19-21, Ezekiel 2:6, Ezekiel 2:7

Let my: Exodus 3:12, Exodus 3:18, Exodus 5:1, Exodus 7:16

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:20 - Let my Exodus 9:1 - General

Verse 2

refuse: Exodus 7:14, Exodus 9:2

frogs: The Hebrew tzephardêim is evidently the same with the Arabic zafda, Chaldaic oordeânaya, and Syriac oordeai, all of which denote frogs, as almost all interpreters, both ancient and modern, agree to render it; Bochart conceives, from tzifa, a bank, and rada, mud, because of delighting in muddy and marshy places. Psalms 78:45, Psalms 105:30, Revelation 16:13, Revelation 16:14

Reciprocal: Job 12:21 - poureth Jeremiah 50:33 - they refused Ezekiel 17:16 - whose oath

Verse 3

kneading troughs, or, dough, Exodus 12:34

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:21 - brought Exodus 8:11 - General Exodus 10:6 - fill Psalms 105:30 - brought Psalms 107:40 - contempt

Verse 4

Psalms 107:40, Isaiah 19:11, Isaiah 19:22, Isaiah 23:9, Daniel 4:37, Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23

Verse 5

Exodus 7:19

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:16 - Stretch Exodus 9:22 - General Exodus 14:26 - Stretch out Joshua 8:18 - Stretch 1 Samuel 6:5 - mice Psalms 110:2 - the rod Isaiah 19:10 - make Revelation 16:4 - and they

Verse 6

and the frogs: Whether the frog among the Egyptians was an object of reverence or abhorrence is uncertain. It might have been both at the same time, as many objects are known to have been among particular nations; for proof of which see the very learned Jacob Bryant, on the Plagues of Egypt, pp. 31-34. Leviticus 11:12, Psalms 78:45, Psalms 105:30, Revelation 16:13

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:19 - stretch

Verse 7

Exodus 7:11, Exodus 7:22, Deuteronomy 13:1-3, Matthew 24:24, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11, 2 Timothy 3:8, Revelation 13:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:8 - the magicians of Egypt Leviticus 19:26 - use Isaiah 47:12 - General Daniel 1:20 - the magicians Revelation 13:13 - he doeth

Verse 8

Entreat: Exodus 5:2, Exodus 9:28, Exodus 10:17, Numbers 21:7, 1 Samuel 12:19, 1 Kings 13:6, Acts 8:24

and I will: Exodus 8:25-28, Exodus 10:8-11, Exodus 10:24-27, Exodus 12:31, Exodus 12:32, Exodus 14:5, Psalms 66:3, *marg. Psalms 78:34-36, Jeremiah 34:8-16

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:22 - magicians Exodus 8:12 - General Exodus 8:28 - entreat Exodus 8:29 - deal Judges 11:8 - the elders 1 Samuel 5:7 - saw Proverbs 14:19 - General Jeremiah 34:11 - General Jeremiah 37:3 - Pray

Verse 9

Glory over me: or, Have this honour over me, Judges 7:2, 1 Kings 18:25, Isaiah 10:15

when: or, against when

to destroy: Heb. to cut of, Exodus 8:13

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:25 - General Exodus 8:11 - General Exodus 10:18 - and entreated 2 Kings 14:10 - glory of this

Verse 10

To morrow: or, against to-morrow, Proverbs 27:1, James 4:14

there is none: Exodus 9:14, Exodus 9:29, Exodus 15:11, Deuteronomy 32:31, Deuteronomy 33:26, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Psalms 9:16, Psalms 83:18, Psalms 86:8, Psalms 89:6-8, Isaiah 40:25, Isaiah 46:9, Jeremiah 10:6, Jeremiah 10:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:5 - Egyptians Exodus 7:25 - General Exodus 8:22 - know Exodus 8:29 - to morrow Exodus 10:4 - morrow Isaiah 40:18 - General Daniel 4:32 - until

Verse 11

Exodus 8:3, Exodus 8:9

Verse 12

Exodus 8:8, Exodus 8:30, Exodus 9:33, Exodus 10:18, Exodus 32:11, 1 Samuel 12:23, Ezekiel 36:37, James 5:16-18

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:2 - Ye have seen all 1 Kings 13:6 - besought

Verse 13

Deuteronomy 34:10-12

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:9 - to destroy 1 Kings 13:6 - besought

Verse 14

and the: Exodus 8:24, Exodus 7:21, Isaiah 34:2, Ezekiel 39:11, Joel 2:20

Verse 15

saw: Exodus 14:5, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Isaiah 26:10, Jeremiah 34:7-11, Hosea 6:4

he hardened: Exodus 4:21, Exodus 7:4, Exodus 7:13, Exodus 7:14, Proverbs 29:1, Zechariah 7:11, Zechariah 7:12, Hebrews 3:8, Hebrews 3:15, Revelation 16:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:19 - and Pharaoh's Exodus 8:29 - deal Exodus 8:32 - General Exodus 9:34 - saw 1 Samuel 6:6 - the Egyptians 2 Chronicles 36:13 - hardened Psalms 69:27 - Add Psalms 95:8 - Harden Proverbs 26:11 - a dog Jeremiah 34:11 - General Romans 2:5 - But after

Verse 16

Stretch: Exodus 8:5, Exodus 8:17

lice: The word kinnim is rendered by the LXX ףךיצוע, ףךינוע, or ףךםחצוע, and by the Vulgate sciniphes, Gnats; and Mr. Harmer supposes he has found out the true meaning in the word tarrentes, a species of worm. Bochart, however, seems to have proved that lice, and not gnats, are meant; because:

1. They sprang from the dust, and not from the waters;

2. They were on both man and beast, which cannot be said of gnats;

3. Their name is derived from koon, to make firm, fix, establish, which cannot agree with gnats, flies, etc., which are ever changing place, and almost constantly on the wing;

4. The term kinnah is used by the Talmudists to express the louse.

This insect must have been a very dreadful and afflicting plague to the Egyptians, and especially to the priests, who were obliged to shave all their hair off, and to wear a single linen tunic, to prevent vermin harbouring about them.

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:19 - stretch Exodus 9:8 - Take to Exodus 9:22 - General Psalms 105:31 - and lice

Verse 17

lice in man: Psalms 105:31, Isaiah 23:9, Acts 12:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:16 - Stretch 1 Samuel 6:5 - mice Psalms 107:40 - contempt

Verse 18

the magicians: Exodus 7:11

they could: Exodus 9:11, Genesis 41:8, Isaiah 19:12, Isaiah 47:12, Isaiah 47:13, Daniel 2:10, Daniel 2:11, Daniel 4:7, Daniel 5:8, Luke 10:18, 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:12 - but Aaron's Micah 3:7 - the seers Acts 8:9 - used 2 Thessalonians 2:9 - and signs Revelation 13:13 - he doeth

Verse 19

This is: 1 Samuel 6:3, 1 Samuel 6:9, Psalms 8:3, Daniel 2:10, Daniel 2:11, Daniel 2:19, Matthew 12:28, Luke 11:20, John 11:47, Acts 4:16

and Pharaoh's: Exodus 8:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:8 - the magicians of Egypt Genesis 41:24 - I told this Exodus 7:12 - but Aaron's Exodus 9:3 - the hand Exodus 9:11 - General Exodus 31:18 - the finger Psalms 109:27 - General Isaiah 47:12 - General Ezekiel 39:21 - and my Daniel 1:20 - the magicians Amos 4:10 - yet Micah 3:7 - the seers John 10:21 - Can Acts 8:9 - used 2 Timothy 3:9 - their Revelation 13:13 - he doeth

Verse 20

lo: Exodus 7:15

Let my: Exodus 8:1

Reciprocal: Exodus 7:16 - Let my Exodus 9:1 - General Exodus 9:13 - General Jeremiah 25:3 - rising

Verse 21

swarms: or, a mixture of noisome beasts, etc. The word arov is rendered ךץםןלץיב, kunomuia, the dog-fly, by the LXX (who are followed by the learned Bochart), which must have been particularly hateful to the Egyptians, because they held dogs in the highest veneration, under which form they worshipped Anubis. Psalms 78:45, Psalms 105:31, Isaiah 7:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:24 - there Exodus 10:6 - fill

Verse 22

sever: Exodus 9:4, Exodus 9:6, Exodus 9:26, Exodus 10:23, Exodus 11:6, Exodus 11:7, Exodus 12:13, Malachi 3:18

know: Exodus 8:10, Exodus 7:17, Ezekiel 30:19

midst: Psalms 74:12, Psalms 110:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:10 - in the land Genesis 47:1 - in the land Exodus 7:5 - Egyptians Exodus 33:16 - separated 1 Kings 20:28 - ye shall know Ezekiel 22:16 - thou shalt know Amos 4:7 - and I Revelation 11:4 - the God

Verse 23

a division: Heb. a redemption

to morrow: or, by to-morrow

Reciprocal: Exodus 9:5 - a set time Exodus 10:4 - morrow 2 Kings 7:1 - To morrow

Verse 24

there: Exodus 8:21, Psalms 78:45, Psalms 105:31

the land: How intolerable a plague of flies can prove, is evident from the fact that whole districts have been laid waste by them. The inhabitants have been forced to quit their cities, not being able to stand against the flies and gnats with which they were pestered. Hence different people had deities whose office it was to defend them against flies. Among these may be reckoned Baalzebub, the fly-god of Ekron; Hercules, muscarum abactor, Hercules the expeller of flies; and hence Jupiter had the titles of בנןלץיןע, לץיבדסןע, לץיןקןסןע, because he was supposed to expel flies, and especially clear his temples of these insects. See Bryant. Exodus 8:14

corrupted: or destroyed

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 6:5 - mice 2 Kings 1:16 - Baalzebub Psalms 107:40 - contempt Isaiah 7:18 - fly

Verse 25

Exodus 8:8, Exodus 9:27, Exodus 10:16, Exodus 12:31, Revelation 3:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 3:18 - that we may Exodus 10:9 - a feast

Verse 26

It is not: Exodus 3:18, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

we shall: Genesis 43:32, Genesis 46:34, Deuteronomy 7:25, Deuteronomy 7:26, Deuteronomy 12:30, Deuteronomy 12:31, Ezra 9:1, Isaiah 44:19

the abomination: i.e. The animals which they worshipped; for an account of which, see note on Exodus 9:3. 1 Kings 11:5-7, 2 Kings 23:13

Verse 27

three days': Exodus 3:18, Exodus 5:1

as he shall: Exodus 3:12, Exodus 10:26, Exodus 34:11, Leviticus 10:1, Matthew 28:20

Verse 28

I will: Hosea 10:2

entreat: Exodus 8:8, Exodus 8:29, Exodus 9:28, Exodus 10:17, 1 Kings 13:6, Ezra 6:10, Ecclesiastes 6:10, Acts 8:24

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:18 - and entreated Exodus 10:24 - Go ye Exodus 12:32 - bless me Numbers 21:7 - pray Judges 11:8 - the elders 1 Samuel 5:7 - saw Jeremiah 37:3 - Pray Jeremiah 42:2 - and pray

Verse 29

to morrow: Exodus 8:10

deal: Exodus 8:8, Exodus 8:15, Psalms 66:3, *marg. Psalms 78:34-37, Jeremiah 42:20, Jeremiah 42:21, Acts 5:3, Acts 5:4, Galatians 6:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:28 - entreat Exodus 10:18 - and entreated Exodus 21:8 - seeing Jeremiah 42:4 - I will pray

Verse 30

entreated: Exodus 8:12, Exodus 9:33, James 5:16

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:18 - went

Verse 31

Reciprocal: Psalms 14:3 - there Isaiah 26:10 - favour

Verse 32

Exodus 8:15, Exodus 4:21, Exodus 7:13, Exodus 7:14, Isaiah 63:17, Acts 28:26, Acts 28:27, Romans 2:5, James 1:13, James 1:14

Reciprocal: Exodus 9:7 - the heart 2 Chronicles 36:13 - hardened Psalms 69:27 - Add Ecclesiastes 8:11 - sentence Isaiah 26:10 - favour