Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Exodus Ch.9 / 40 Ch.s
EX:9
* The murrain of beasts. (1-7) The plague of boils and blains.
(8-12) The plague of hail threatened. (13-21) The plague of hail
inflicted. (22-35)
#1-7 God will have Israel released, Pharaoh opposes it, and the
trial is, whose word shall stand. The hand of the Lord at once
is upon the cattle, many of which, some of all kinds, die by a
sort of murrain. This was greatly to the loss of the owners;
they had made Israel poor, and now God would make them poor. The
hand of God is to be seen, even in the sickness and death of
cattle; for a sparrow falls not to the ground without our
Father. None of the Israelites' cattle should die; the Lord
shall sever. The cattle died. The Egyptians worshipped their
cattle. What we make an idol of, it is just with God to remove
from us. This proud tyrant and cruel oppressor deserved to be
made an example by the just Judge of the universe. None who are
punished according to what they deserve, can have any just cause
to complain. Hardness of heart denotes that state of mind upon
which neither threatenings nor promise, neither judgements nor
mercies, make any abiding impression. The conscience being
stupified, and the heart filled with pride and presumption, they
persist in unbelief and disobedience. This state of mind is also
called the stony heart. Very different is the heart of flesh,
the broken and contrite heart. Sinners have none to blame but
themselves, for that pride and ungodliness which abuse the
bounty and patience of God. For, however the Lord hardens the
hearts of men, it is always as a punishment of former sins.
#8-12 When the Egyptians were not wrought upon by the death of
their cattle, God sent a plague that seized their own bodies. If
lesser judgments do not work, God will send greater. Sometimes
God shows men their sin in their punishment. They had oppressed
Israel in the furnaces, and now the ashes of the furnace are
made a terror to them. The plague itself was very grievous. The
magicians themselves were struck with these boils. Their power
was restrained before; but they continued to withstand Moses,
and to confirm Pharaoh in his unbelief, till they were forced to
give way. Pharaoh continued obstinate. He had hardened his own
heart, and now God justly gave him up to his own heart's lusts,
permitting Satan to blind and harden him. If men shut their eyes
against the light, it is just with God to close their eyes. This
is the sorest judgment a man can be under out of hell.
#13-21 Moses is here ordered to deliver a dreadful message to
Pharaoh. Providence ordered it, that Moses should have a man of
such a fierce and stubborn spirit as this Pharaoh to deal with;
and every thing made it a most signal instance of the power of
God has to humble and bring down the proudest of his enemies.
When God's justice threatens ruin, his mercy at the same time
shows a way of escape from it. God not only distinguished
between Egyptians and Israelites, but between some Egyptians and
others. If Pharaoh will not yield, and so prevent the judgment
itself, yet those that will take warning, may take shelter. Some
believed the things which were spoken, and they feared, and
housed their servants and cattle, and it was their wisdom. Even
among the servants of Pharaoh, some trembled at God's word; and
shall not the sons of Israel dread it? But others believed not,
and left their cattle in the field. Obstinate unbelief is deaf
to the fairest warnings, and the wisest counsels, which leaves
the blood of those that perish upon their own heads.
#22-35 Woful havoc this hail made: it killed both men and
cattle; the corn above ground was destroyed, and that only
preserved which as yet was not come up. The land of Goshen was
preserved. God causes rain or hail on one city and not on
another, either in mercy or in judgment. Pharaoh humbled himself
to Moses. No man could have spoken better: he owns himself
wrong; he owns that the Lord is righteous; and God must be
justified when he speaks, though he speaks in thunder and
lightning. Yet his heart was hardened all this while. Moses
pleads with God: though he had reason to think Pharaoh would
repent of his repentance, and he told him so, yet he promises to
be his friend. Moses went out of the city, notwithstanding the
hail and lightning which kept Pharaoh and his servants within
doors. Peace with God makes men thunder-proof. Pharaoh was
frightened by the tremendous judgment; but when that was over,
his fair promises were forgotten. Those that are not bettered by
judgments and mercies, commonly become worse.