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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
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<h2><a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'all');">Exd 8</a> - Plagues Upon Egypt</h2>
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<p>A. The second plague: Frogs.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'1-4');">1-4</a>) The warning of the second plague.</p>
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<p class="c2">And the <span class="c6">Lord</span> spoke to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the <span class="c6">Lord</span>: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me. But if you refuse to let <i>them </i>go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants."' "</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Go to Pharaoh</span></b>: In His good mercy God gives Pharaoh another chance at repentance, but Pharaoh will not take it.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">I will smite all your territory with frogs</span></b>: God threatened a plague of <b><span class="c3">frogs</span></b> for a specific reason. The Egyptian goddess <i>Heqt</i> was always pictured with the head of a frog. For this reason frogs were considered sacred and could not be killed. God will show the Egyptians the foolishness of a frog-god!</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Egyptians worshipped the frog as a female goddess because frogs were common around the Nile, because they reproduced rapidly, and because being amphibians they are part of two worlds, creatures of both land and water.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'5-7');">5-7</a>) God brings frogs upon the land through Moses and Aaron and the magicians of Egypt do the same.</p>
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<p class="c2">Then the <span class="c6">Lord</span> spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.'" So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt</span></b>: It's hard to miss God's sense of humor. He shows just how ridiculous it is to worship a frog-god as He says, "If you want to worship frogs, I'll give you all the frogs you want!"</p>
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<p class="c5">i. "Though he is the Lord of hosts he has no need of powerful armies, the ministry of angels, or the thunderbolts of justice to punish a sinner or a sinful nation; the <i>frog</i> or the <i>fly</i> in his hands is a sufficient instrument of vengeance." (Clarke)</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs</span></b>: The ability of the magicians to do the same <b><span class="c3">with their enchantments</span></b> points to a supernatural power present; this isn't the work of a skilled illusionist, this is occult power at work.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. For all their occult powers, all the magicians can do is make <i>more</i> frogs! This increases the problem instead of solving it, yet it gives Pharaoh an excuse to further harden his heart.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'8-15');">8-15</a>) Pharaoh asks Moses for help.</p>
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<p class="c2">Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the <span class="c6">Lord</span> that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the <span class="c6">Lord</span>." And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, <i>that </i>they may remain in the river only." So he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, <i>"Let it be </i>according to your word, that you may know that <i>there is </i>no one like the <span class="c6">Lord</span> our God. And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only." Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. So the <span class="c6">Lord</span> did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the <span class="c6">Lord</span> had said.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Entreat the <span class="c6">Lord</span> that He may take away the frogs</span></b>: Here, God's previous promise (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',7,1);">Exd 7:1</a>) is fulfilled. Pharaoh will not go to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> himself, but he will go to Moses as if he were God.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">So the <span class="c6">Lord</span> did according to the word of Moses</span></b>: When Moses prays, God answers - and all the frogs die! The understated description "<b><span class="c3">the land stank</span></b>" gives a hint at how nauseating it was.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">He hardened his heart</span></b>: Even when Pharaoh's plea was granted, his heart did not change - <b><span class="c3">he hardened his heart</span></b> - yet Pharaoh did just as God said he would.</p>
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<p>B. The third plague: Lice.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'16-17');">16-17</a>) God tells Moses to initiate the plague of lice.</p>
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<p class="c2">So the <span class="c6">Lord</span> said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.'" And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Stretch out your rod</span></b>: This plague comes unannounced. This time God does not show Pharaoh the mercy of a warning and an invitation to repentance.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. We must never think God is unfair when He does not show mercy. If someone is <i>totally</i> fair, they would <i>never</i> show mercy.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast</span></b>: This plague struck at the heart of all Egyptian worship, especially at their priests. The Egyptian priesthood was extremely scrupulous about hygiene and ritual cleansing and an infestation of lice made them unable to worship their gods.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. The plague of lice was also upon every <b><span class="c3">beast</span></b>. The gods of Egypt would not receive the sacrifice of lice-infested animals, so this stopped their sacrificial system.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'18-19');">18-19</a>) The magicians of Egypt are unable to duplicate this plague.</p>
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<p class="c2">Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This <i>is </i>the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the <span class="c6">Lord</span> had said.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not</span></b>: If these magicians could use occult powers to change a rod into a snake, to turn water into blood, and to summon frogs, why couldn't they bring forth lice? Because as great as Satan's power is, it is limited - and it comes to its limit rather early.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">This is the finger of God</span></b>: When the magicians say this to Pharaoh, it shows they know there is a power greater than their own, yet it is a power that they do not honor and serve.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them</span></b>: The hardness of Pharaoh's heart is shown when he will not even heed the analysis of his own advisers. There is no rational reason why he insists on resisting the <span class="c6">Lord</span> God.</p>
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<p>C. The fourth plague: Flies.</p>
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<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'20-23');">20-23</a>) Moses warns Pharaoh of a plague of flies.</p>
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<p class="c2">And the <span class="c6">Lord</span> said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, 'Thus says the <span class="c6">Lord</span>: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms <i>of flies </i>on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms <i>of flies, </i>and also the ground on which they <i>stand</i>. And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms <i>of flies </i>shall be there, in order that you may know that I <i>am </i>the <span class="c6">Lord</span> in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be."' </p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Let My people go, that they may serve Me</span></b>: There is no record of a specific reply from Pharaoh to this request, but since the plague came, he obviously did not soften his heart towards the <span class="c6">Lord</span> God or Israel. Perhaps the reaction isn't described because there was no reaction - perhaps he just ignored Moses' message.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">In order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land</span></b>: To coldly ignore God is to communicate our hatred of Him as clearly as if we were to try and kill Him. It is a terrible insult to have God in your midst and to act as if He doesn't matter.</p>
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<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,24);">24</a>) The plague of flies comes.</p>
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<p class="c2">And the <span class="c6">Lord</span> did so. Thick swarms <i>of flies </i>came into the house of Pharaoh, <i>into </i>his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms <i>of flies</i>.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Thick swarms of flies came</span></b>: Literally, it says God sent <i>a swarm</i> (Hebrew, <i>awrob</i>) upon Egypt; it does not specify what the swarm is. It may have been a variety of gross insects. <a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,45);">Psa 78:45</a> says these swarms <i>devoured them</i>, and this indicates that there were "biting" insects in the swarm.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies</span></b>: This shows that the point of this plague was probably the same as the plague of lice. The Egyptian gods could not be worshipped amidst this uncleanness.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt</span></b>: God promised (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,22);">Exd 8:22</a>) that the land of Goshen, the place where the children of Israel lived, would be spared this disgusting plague.</p>
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<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'25-27');">25-27</a>) Pharaoh tries to compromise with Moses.</p>
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<p class="c2">Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in the land." And Moses said, "It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us? We will go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> our God as He will command us."</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Go, sacrifice to your God in the land</span></b>: In this, Pharaoh suggests a compromise, allowing Israel a holiday for their God, but demanding they stay within the land of Egypt to worship. This is the natural course of action for politicians but God is no politician. He will strike no bargain with Pharaoh.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us?</span></b> Moses reminds Pharaoh of the social uproar this would cause, and sticks to the original request, refusing to compromise.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. We see God building character and strength in Moses. Perhaps when he first appeared before Pharaoh he would have been willing to strike this kind of bargain. Now he really knows that God is control, and he doesn't have to settle for less than the perfect will of God.</p>
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<p class="c1">4. (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',8,'28-32');">28-32</a>) Pharaoh's false repentance.</p>
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<p class="c2">And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me." Then Moses said, "Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, that the swarms <i>of flies </i>may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the <span class="c6">Lord</span>." So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the <span class="c6">Lord</span>. And the <span class="c6">Lord</span> did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms <i>of flies </i>from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.</p>
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<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Intercede for me</span></b>: This shows Pharaoh knows exactly who the plagues are coming from, and how they can be stopped (by appealing to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> God). Nevertheless, <b><span class="c3">Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">I will let you go<span>, that you may sacrifice to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> your God in the wilderness</span></span></b>: This is a clear promise, and one that Pharaoh did not live up to. We cannot tell if Pharaoh deliberately lied to Moses or simply changed his mind once the plague of flies was gone.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. Many people "turn to God" in a time of calamity, and when things get better, almost immediately turn their hearts back in hardness to God. Pharaoh isn't an unusual specimen of humanity; he is a rather typical one.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. As we continue in sin, God can allow our hearts to harden. A man doesn't start by gambling away his paycheck; it starts with continuing on in friendly betting, and his heart grows hard. A man doesn't start with unspeakable perversion; it starts with a few magazines, a couple of videos, and his heart grows hard. A woman doesn't start addicted to alcohol; it starts with some social drinking and her heart grows hard.</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. "The drunkard, the murderer himself, is a man who at first did evil as far as he dared, and afterwards dared to do evil which he would once have shuddered at." (Chadwick)</p>
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