Berean Study Bible The Fifth Plague: LivestockGod continued to direct Moses personally, confirming his role as His appointed spokesman before Pharaoh and Israel. Exo 6:1 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do… “Go to Pharaoh Pharaoh ruled Egypt as an absolute monarch and was regarded by his people as a divine king. Moses was sent again into the presence of the most powerful ruler in the region. Exo 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh… and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: The God of Israel openly identified Himself before Egypt’s gods and king, declaring His authority over the Hebrew people and over Pharaoh. Exo 7:16 Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews,… ‘Let My people go, Israel belonged to the LORD, not to Pharaoh. Their enslavement violated God’s purpose for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Exo 8:20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning… so that they may worship Me. Their deliverance was intended for service to God. Israel was to leave Egypt and live as a people set apart for the LORD’s worship and obedience. Exo 12:31 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said…… But if you continue to restrain them Pharaoh’s continued oppression of Israel was open resistance to God’s command. He held the people in Egypt as slaves despite the Lord’s repeated demand that they be released to worship Him. Exo 5:2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should… and refuse to let them go, His refusal would bring further judgment on Egypt. Pharaoh’s stubbornness revealed both his defiance of God and the inability of Egypt’s gods to protect the nation from the Lord’s power. Exo 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him,… then the hand of the LORD God would personally act against Egypt in judgment, displaying His authority over Pharaoh and the nation’s gods. 1Sa 5:6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod… will bring a severe plague The coming disease would be widespread and deadly, exposing the emptiness of Egypt’s supposed sources of protection and prosperity. Deu 28:59-61 He will bring upon you and your descendants… on your livestock in the field— Egypt’s economy, food supply, transportation, and agriculture depended heavily on its animals. Those kept in the open pasture would be struck. Jol 1:18-20 How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion… on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. From military horses and trade animals to cattle and sheep, every major class of livestock would suffer. The judgment reached deeply into Egyptian life while distinguishing the land of Goshen, where Israel’s animals were preserved. Zec 14:15 And a similar plague will strike the horses and mules,… But the LORD will make a distinction God would visibly separate Israel from Egypt during the plague, showing that He governed both nations and was preserving the people He had chosen. Exo 11:7 But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will… between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, Egyptian herds were essential to farming, travel, food, trade, and worship. Their loss struck Egypt’s economy and exposed the helplessness of its animal-related gods, while Israel’s preserved herds testified to the LORD’s control over the land. Exo 8:22 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land… so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’” The protection of Israel’s livestock demonstrated God’s faithfulness to His covenant and prepared for the later distinction made at Passover, when He spared Israel’s firstborn. Exo 12:13 The blood on the houses where you are staying… The LORD set a time, God fixed the day for the plague on Egypt’s livestock, showing that the judgment would come by His command and not by chance. Pharaoh was given notice before it occurred. Psa 102:13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,… saying, “Tomorrow The short delay left Pharaoh with a clear warning and time to respond, while making the fulfillment easy to recognize. Exo 8:23 I will make a distinction between My people and your people.… the LORD will do this The death of the livestock would be the LORD’s direct judgment against Egypt and its false gods, not a natural disaster. Exo 3:20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians… in the land.” The plague would strike throughout Egypt, while God would preserve the livestock of Israel in Goshen. Exo 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will… And the next day the LORD did just that. God carried out the warning He had given through Moses without delay. The plague confirmed His authority over Egypt, its rulers, and the created order, while exposing the helplessness of Egypt’s gods. 2Ki 7:1-2 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD!… All the livestock of the Egyptians died, The loss struck Egypt’s economy, food supply, transportation, farming, and religious life. Cattle held special significance in Egyptian worship, including the cult of Apis, yet no Egyptian deity could preserve the animals from the judgment of the LORD. Psa 78:48-50 He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock… but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. God made a clear distinction between Israel and Egypt. Their preserved livestock demonstrated His faithfulness to His people and provided resources they would need for worship and for their departure from Egypt. Exo 12:13 The blood on the houses where you are staying… Pharaoh sent officials Pharaoh sought independent confirmation of the report, relying on trusted servants to investigate the condition of Israel’s herds. Even after the plague had struck Egypt’s livestock, he remained unwilling to accept Moses’ word or acknowledge the Lord’s power. Gen 41:8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned… and found that none of the livestock of the Israelites had died. The officials confirmed that the plague had not touched Israel’s animals. God had made a clear distinction between His people and the Egyptians, preserving Israel while bringing judgment on Egypt. Exo 8:22-23 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land… But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, The evidence did not lead Pharaoh to repentance. His persistent pride and rebellion left him increasingly resistant to God’s command. Exo 7:13 Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would… and he would not let the people go. Pharaoh continued to withhold Israel despite the mounting judgments. His refusal would bring further plagues upon Egypt until the Lord accomplished Israel’s deliverance. Exo 10:20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not…
The Sixth Plague: BoilsGod directs the next plague through the two men He appointed to speak and act before Pharaoh. Exo 7:8 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; The soot came from the kind of furnace associated with Egypt’s harsh labor and became the visible means of God’s judgment. Deu 4:20 Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out… in the sight of Pharaoh, Pharaoh was made a witness to the sign before its effects spread throughout the land, leaving him without excuse for continued defiance. Exo 7:20 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded;… Moses is to toss it into the air. The scattered soot would become a plague of boils on Egyptians and their livestock, showing God’s power over Egypt’s people, animals, and land. Exo 8:16-17 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your… It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, Moses and Aaron scattered furnace soot into the air at God’s command, and it spread across Egypt as a sign of divine judgment. Egypt’s strength, wealth, and religious system could not protect the land from the Creator’s authority. Deu 28:24 The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust… and festering boils will break out on man and beast The sixth plague brought painful sores upon Egyptians and their livestock, disrupting daily life and exposing the helplessness of Egypt’s gods of healing and protection. The judgment reached both people and animals, showing that no part of the nation was beyond God’s power. Deu 28:27 The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt,… throughout the land.” The plague affected Egypt broadly, increasing Pharaoh’s responsibility to heed God’s command to release Israel. Yet Pharaoh continued to resist, moving the nation closer to the final judgment that would bring Israel’s deliverance. Exo 10:23 No one could see anyone else, and for three days… So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. The furnace likely recalled the brick kilns connected with Israel’s forced labor in Egypt. God turned a symbol of their oppression into an instrument of judgment against the nation that enslaved them. Moses and Aaron stood openly before Pharaoh, acting under God’s authority despite his continued resistance. Exo 8:20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning… Moses tossed it into the air, At God’s command, Moses cast the soot heavenward, and the judgment spread beyond the palace to the whole land. The act showed that the plague did not arise from natural causes or Egyptian magic but from the LORD’s direct power. Rev 8:5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire… and festering boils broke out on man and beast. Painful sores afflicted Egyptians and their livestock alike, disrupting daily life and demonstrating God’s authority over human health, animals, and the land. The plague struck a people who trusted in their gods and in Pharaoh’s power, exposing their inability to protect Egypt from the LORD’s judgment. Deu 28:35 The LORD will afflict you with painful, incurable boils… The magicians could not stand before Moses, Those who had sought to imitate Moses and Aaron’s signs were now helpless before the judgment of God. Their failure exposed the limits of Egyptian magic and the impotence of the gods Egypt trusted. Exo 34:30 Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses… because the boils had broken out on them The painful sores afflicted even the court magicians, leaving them unable to appear before Moses or carry out their usual roles. God’s judgment reached those who had openly resisted His command. Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD… and on all the Egyptians. The plague spread throughout Egypt, showing that Pharaoh’s land and people stood under God’s authority. No Egyptian power, status, or religion could shield them from His hand. Exo 15:26 If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD… But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, God confirmed Pharaoh in the rebellion he had repeatedly chosen, displaying His sovereign authority over Egypt’s ruler. Pharaoh’s hardened heart became part of God’s purpose to reveal His power through the plagues and to make clear that Israel’s deliverance came from the LORD alone. Exo 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will… and he would not listen to them, Pharaoh continued to reject Moses and Aaron, refusing both God’s command and the evidence of His power. His defiance brought further judgment upon Egypt and prolonged the conflict between the LORD and the gods Pharaoh claimed to represent. Exo 7:13 Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would… just as the LORD had said to Moses. The events unfolded exactly as God had warned Moses before he returned to Egypt. Pharaoh’s resistance did not frustrate God’s plan but led toward Israel’s release and the LORD’s public victory over Egypt. Exo 11:9 The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you…
The Seventh Plague: HailGod again gave Moses the message and authority to confront Pharaoh, confirming Moses’ role as His appointed representative. Exo 6:1 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do… “Get up early in the morning, Moses was to act without delay and meet Pharaoh at the beginning of the day. Exo 7:15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out.… stand before Pharaoh, He would appear openly before Egypt’s ruler, whose power and claimed divinity stood in opposition to the God of Israel. Exo 8:20 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning… and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: The God of the Hebrews identified Himself as the true Lord, distinct from Egypt’s gods and sovereign over Pharaoh. Exo 7:16 Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews,… ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Israel belonged to the LORD by covenant, and their release was required so they could serve and worship Him rather than remain under Pharaoh’s rule. Exo 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh… Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you and your officials and your people, God warned Pharaoh that Egypt’s continued refusal to release Israel would bring escalating judgment. The plagues reached beyond Pharaoh’s court to affect his officials and the nation, exposing the helplessness of Egypt’s gods and the failure of its rulers to resist the Lord. Exo 7:4-5 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will… so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. The judgments revealed that the God of Israel alone rules over creation and every nation. Pharaoh’s power, Egypt’s deities, and its religious system could not stand against Him. Deu 4:35 You were shown these things so that you would know… For by this time God had already shown restraint through the preceding judgments, giving Pharaoh repeated opportunities to obey. Rom 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up”… I could have stretched out My hand God possessed full authority to bring immediate and final judgment upon Egypt. Exo 3:20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians… and struck you and your people Pharaoh’s hardened refusal affected the entire nation, whose land, livestock, economy, and households suffered under the plagues. Exo 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt… with a plague A single act of God’s judgment could have ended Egypt’s resistance and exposed the helplessness of its gods. Exo 11:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring upon Pharaoh…”… to wipe you off the earth. Egypt’s survival was not due to its strength or Pharaoh’s power, but to God’s purpose in continuing the confrontation. Gen 6:7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created,… But I have raised you up for this very purpose, God placed Pharaoh in a position of authority and permitted his hardened resistance to serve His plan. Though Egyptian kings were regarded as divine, Pharaoh remained subject to the Lord’s rule. His refusal to obey would expose the emptiness of Egypt’s power and the certainty of God’s judgment. Rom 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up”… that I might display My power to you, The plagues revealed God’s authority over Egypt, its gods, its land, and its ruler. Pharaoh’s court could not stop what God decreed, and each judgment showed that Israel’s deliverance would come by the Lord’s power alone. Rom 9:22 What if God, intending to show His wrath… and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Egypt’s downfall and Israel’s rescue became known among surrounding nations. God’s acts established His name—His reputation, character, essence, and authority—as the one true God, whose power reaches beyond any kingdom and whose purposes cannot be resisted. 1Ki 8:43 Then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place… Still, you lord it over My people Pharaoh continued to hold Israel in harsh bondage despite repeated commands from the Lord. His rule over them opposed God’s claim on Israel as His covenant people and fulfilled the oppression foretold before their deliverance from Egypt. Exo 5:2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should… and do not allow them to go. Pharaoh’s refusal was defiance of God’s command to release Israel for worship and service. His hardened resistance brought Egypt under increasing judgment and prepared the way for God’s decisive deliverance of His people. Exo 5:1 After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said… Behold, at this time tomorrow God sets the judgment at a precise hour, leaving Pharaoh no uncertainty about what is coming. 1Ki 20:6 But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants… I will rain down The coming storm is not an ordinary weather event but a direct act of God against Egypt. Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire… the worst hail that has ever fallen on Egypt, Its unmatched violence displays the Lord’s authority over the land, sky, and the gods Egypt trusted. Jos 10:11 As they fled before Israel along the descent… from the day it was founded until now. Egypt’s ancient history offers no comparison, marking this plague as an unparalleled judgment. Mat 24:21 For at that time there will be great tribulation,… So give orders now to shelter your livestock and everything you have in the field. The approaching hailstorm would strike Egypt’s fields, where animals, servants, and crops were exposed. As an agrarian nation, Egypt depended heavily on livestock for food, labor, and trade. God’s warning gave Egyptians and Israelites alike an opportunity to act and preserve what could be saved, showing mercy even as judgment intensified in the seventh plague. Gen 6:19-20 And you are to bring two of every living creature into the ark… Every man or beast that remains in the field and is not brought inside will die Those who ignored the warning would suffer real and deadly loss. The judgment would fall on people and animals without distinction because both remained exposed to the storm God had announced. The disaster also exposed the weakness of Egypt’s supposed gods of the sky, weather, and fertility, who could not protect the land. Ezk 14:13 Son of man, if a land sins against Me… when the hail comes down upon them.’” Hail was uncommon in Egypt but could be devastating when accompanied by violent storms. Its arrival at the appointed time would confirm that the Lord governed the forces of nature and that His word could not be disregarded. Jos 10:11 As they fled before Israel along the descent… Those among Pharaoh’s officials Egypt’s ruling class included administrators and servants of the royal court, men with authority over households, land, laborers, and livestock. Even within Pharaoh’s government, some recognized that the God of Israel was acting with unquestionable power. Gen 41:10-13 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants… who feared the word of the LORD They accepted the warning Moses delivered and treated the coming judgment as certain. Their response showed reverence for God’s authority, though Pharaoh himself continued to resist. Isa 66:2 Has not My hand made all these things?… hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter, Acting quickly, they protected the people and animals under their care from the devastating hailstorm. Their obedience preserved life, while those who ignored the warning suffered the announced judgment. Gen 7:1-7 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark… but those who disregarded the word of the LORD Some Egyptians refused the warning God delivered through Moses. Their unbelief stood in contrast to those who feared the LORD and acted to protect what was under their care. 2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words… left their servants and livestock in the field. By ignoring the warning, they exposed their servants and animals to the coming hailstorm. The loss that followed was the direct result of rejecting God’s clear command. Job 1:14-17 While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing… Then the LORD said to Moses, God continued to direct Moses personally as He carried out His judgments against Egypt. Moses acted under divine authority, not on his own initiative. Lev 1:1 Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him… “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, Moses was commanded to make a visible act of obedience through which God would display His power. The sign linked the coming judgment to the Lord rather than to natural causes or Egyptian gods. Exo 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand”… so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt— The storm would extend across Egypt, demonstrating that the Lord ruled over the sky, weather, and the land Pharaoh claimed to govern. Psa 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, with lightning… on man and beast and every plant of the field The judgment would strike people, livestock, and crops alike. Egypt’s agricultural wealth and security would be severely damaged, exposing the helplessness of its gods and the limits of Pharaoh’s power. Jer 7:20 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, My anger… throughout the land of Egypt.” The plague’s nationwide reach made clear that no part of Egypt stood beyond God’s authority. It increased the pressure on Pharaoh to release Israel as the Lord had commanded. Exo 10:23 No one could see anyone else, and for three days… So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, Moses obeyed God’s command, using the staff that had become the visible sign of God’s authority working through him. Raised toward heaven, it showed that the coming judgment did not arise from human power but from the LORD. Exo 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand”… and the LORD sent thunder and hail, God answered at once with a storm unlike anything Egypt had known. The seventh plague struck the nation’s fields, livestock, and people while exposing the helplessness of Egypt’s rulers and gods before the Creator. Psa 78:48 He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock… and lightning struck the earth. Fire flashed through the storm, intensifying the destruction and terror. The judgment came with unmistakable force, reaching the ground and consuming what the hail had struck. Psa 77:18 Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind;… So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. Hail fell across Egypt as God had warned Pharaoh, demonstrating that He ruled the land Pharaoh claimed to govern. Yet God also provided protection in Goshen and for Egyptians who heeded His warning. Psa 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, with lightning… The hail fell The seventh plague displayed God’s authority over the forces of nature and exposed the helplessness of Egypt’s gods. Hail was highly unusual in Egypt’s climate, making the storm a clear act of divine judgment. Psa 105:32 He gave them hail for rain, with lightning… and the lightning continued flashing through it. Fire flashed amid the hail, creating a storm of extraordinary violence that came at God’s command. Psa 18:13-14 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High… The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen Its unmatched severity confirmed the seriousness of Pharaoh’s refusal to heed God’s warnings and showed that Egypt could not resist His will. Jol 2:2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.… in all the land of Egypt The destruction reached throughout the nation, damaging fields, livestock, and the ordinary life of the Egyptian people. Psa 105:27-31 They performed His miraculous signs among them,… from the time it became a nation. Egypt’s long history had known no disaster like this, marking the plague as a decisive act in God’s judgment and Israel’s approaching deliverance. Gen 10:6-7 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.… Throughout the land of Egypt, The storm reached beyond a local region, bringing judgment across the kingdom whose life and prosperity depended on the Nile and its cultivated fields. Psa 105:27-36 They performed His miraculous signs among them,… the hail struck down everything in the field, In a land where destructive hail was uncommon, the plague ruined exposed crops and laborers, revealing the Lord’s authority over Egypt’s climate, harvests, and supposed gods of sky and storm. Jos 10:11 As they fled before Israel along the descent… both man and beast; People and livestock caught in the open suffered alike. The loss struck Egypt’s workforce, transportation, herds, and religiously valued animals. Zep 1:3 “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away…”… it beat down every plant of the field Egypt’s agricultural economy faced severe loss as the growing crops were destroyed, threatening the food supply and confirming the warning given to Pharaoh. Hag 2:17 I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew,… and stripped every tree. Even the trees were shattered and stripped bare, leaving visible evidence of the breadth of God’s judgment against Pharaoh’s continued refusal to obey. Jol 1:7 It has laid waste My grapevine and splintered My fig tree.… The only place where it did not hail God’s judgment fell throughout Egypt, yet He withheld the plague from the region occupied by His people. The distinction displayed His authority over the land, the weather, and the boundaries between Egypt and Israel. Exo 8:22-23 But on that day I will give special treatment to the land… was in the land of Goshen, Goshen lay in the eastern Nile Delta, where Joseph had settled his family during the famine. Its fertile pastureland supported Israel’s growing population and became their home throughout the years of Egyptian bondage. Gen 45:10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me… where the Israelites lived. Israel’s preservation in Goshen demonstrated God’s faithfulness to the covenant made with their fathers. Though enslaved and surrounded by Egyptian power, they remained under His care as He prepared to deliver them from Egypt. Gen 47:27 Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt,… Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. The ruin caused by the hail drove Pharaoh to call for the men he had repeatedly resisted. Egypt’s king, regarded by his people as divinely favored, was forced to seek help from the representatives of the God he had defied. His summons exposed the limits of his power before the LORD. Exo 10:16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said,… “This time I have sinned,” he said. Pharaoh admitted guilt under the pressure of judgment. Yet his later actions showed that sorrow over consequences had not produced lasting repentance. He wanted relief from the plague without yielding to God’s command to release Israel. 1Sa 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned;… “The LORD is righteous, Pharaoh recognized that the LORD had acted justly. The devastation in Egypt was not random disaster but judgment for Pharaoh’s oppression, refusal, and rebellion against God’s word. 2Ch 12:6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves… and I and my people are wicked. Pharaoh included both himself and Egypt in the guilt that had brought the plague. The nation had shared in Israel’s suffering and in its ruler’s defiance, and it now stood under the judgment it had deserved. Psa 106:6 We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong… Pray to the LORD, Pharaoh admits that Israel’s God alone can stop the judgment falling on Egypt and asks Moses to intercede for him. His request arises from fear of the plague rather than repentance. 1Sa 12:19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God… for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. The seventh plague had devastated Egypt’s fields, livestock, and people caught outdoors. The storm displayed the LORD’s authority over the sky and all creation, exposing the helplessness of Egypt’s gods. Psa 18:13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High… I will let you go; Under the pressure of judgment, Pharaoh again promises to release Israel. His words continue the pattern of temporary concessions that he later withdraws when relief comes. Exo 12:31 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said…… you do not need to stay any longer.” Pharaoh speaks as though he has authority to decide Israel’s fate, yet the LORD is bringing His people out according to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Egypt’s bondage will end only when God completes His purpose. Deu 1:6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb: “You have stayed… Moses said to him, Moses speaks directly to Pharaoh as the LORD’s representative, continuing the confrontation between the God of Israel and Egypt’s king. Exo 8:8 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD… “When I have left the city, Moses will pray outside Pharaoh’s court, showing that the plague’s end depends on the LORD rather than Egyptian power or ritual. Exo 8:30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. Moses will openly appeal to the LORD, whose command alone governs the storm. 2Ch 6:13 Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long,… The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, The plague will end at the time Moses declares, proving that it came from the LORD and remains under His control. Psa 107:29 He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea… so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. Pharaoh is to recognize that the LORD rules over Egypt, Israel, every nation, and all creation. Psa 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s… But as for you and your officials, Pharaoh and Egypt’s ruling court remained responsible for resisting God’s command, even after the devastation of the plagues had exposed the weakness of Egypt’s gods. Exo 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh… I know that you still do not fear Moses recognized that their temporary distress had not produced true submission. Pharaoh’s heart and the resolve of his officials remained set against the LORD. Exo 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him,… the LORD our God.” Israel’s God stood above Pharaoh, Egypt, and every object of Egyptian worship. The plagues revealed that He alone controlled the land, the weather, life, and judgment. Psa 95:7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture… (Now the flax and barley were destroyed, Both crops were vital to Egypt. Flax supplied linen for clothing and trade, while barley provided food and was used in brewing. Their loss struck Egypt’s economy and daily provision. Psa 78:47-48 He killed their vines with hailstones… since the barley was ripe Barley ripened in late winter or early spring, placing the plague near the beginning of the agricultural harvest. The hail came when the crop was nearly ready to be gathered, turning an expected season of abundance into loss. Rut 1:22 So Naomi returned from the land of Moab… and the flax was in bloom; Flax was also at a vulnerable stage and was ruined by the storm. God’s judgment reached the land with precision, damaging crops essential to Egypt while leaving later-growing crops for a subsequent warning. Jos 2:6 But Rahab had taken them up to the roof… but the wheat and spelt were not destroyed, The hail ruined the flax and barley, which had already matured, but the wheat and spelt had not yet developed enough to be damaged. Their survival left Egypt with a future food supply after the devastation. Isa 28:25 When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway… because they are late crops.) The plague occurred around February or March, when these late-maturing grains were still growing, showing that the judgment was precise rather than indiscriminate. God preserved what had not yet ripened, while Pharaoh still had opportunity to submit to His command. Rut 2:23 So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz… Then Moses departed from Pharaoh, Moses left Pharaoh after receiving his acknowledgment of sin and request for the storm to end. Their encounter remained unresolved, for Pharaoh’s words did not reflect lasting repentance. Moses continued to serve as the Lord’s appointed representative before Egypt’s king. Exo 8:30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, went out of the city, Moses went beyond the center of Pharaoh’s authority and Egypt’s idolatrous culture to seek the Lord. His actions showed that the outcome of the plague did not rest with Pharaoh, his officials, or Egypt’s gods. Act 16:13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate… and spread out his hands to the LORD. Moses prayed openly and dependently before the Lord, asking Him to end the judgment. The gesture reflected his role as Israel’s intercessor and his confidence that the Lord alone commanded the storm. Ezr 9:5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation… The thunder and hail ceased, At Moses’ prayer, the violent storm stopped immediately. The Lord demonstrated His authority over the forces of nature and over the land Pharaoh claimed to rule. 2Sa 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice… and the rain no longer poured down on the land. The end of the rain brought relief to Egypt, yet it also gave Pharaoh another opportunity to respond rightly to the Lord. Instead, as the following events show, his heart remained hardened. Gen 8:2 The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens… When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had ceased, he hardened his heart and returned to defiance. The storm had displayed the LORD’s authority over creation and Egypt’s supposed storm deities, but its removal brought immediate relief rather than repentance. Exo 8:15 When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however,… he sinned again When Pharaoh saw that the hail had stopped, he sinned again by breaking his promise to let Israel go. His repeated refusal was not ignorance of God’s power but a willful rejection of God’s command. Exo 10:16-17 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said,… and hardened his heart—he and his officials. Pharaoh and Egypt’s leaders chose continued resistance despite the devastation they had witnessed. Their shared hardness deepened Egypt’s guilt and prepared the way for further judgment. Exo 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh… So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, Pharaoh remained fixed in rebellion despite the devastating plagues and repeated evidence of the LORD’s power. His hardness reflected both his own stubborn refusal and God’s declared purpose to make His power known in Egypt. Exo 4:21 The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, …… and he would not let the Israelites go, Egypt’s king continued to defy God’s command and kept Israel in bondage. His refusal prepared the way for the final judgment on Egypt and Israel’s deliverance from slavery. Exo 5:2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should… just as the LORD had said through Moses. Everything unfolded according to God’s warning to Moses. Pharaoh’s resistance confirmed Moses’ authority as God’s messenger and demonstrated that the LORD’s purposes would prevail. Exo 3:19-20 But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
    |