exodus-8:20-30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 8:20-32

Here is the story of the plague of flies, in which we are told, I. How it was threatened, like that of frogs, before it was inflicted. Moses is directed (Exod. 8:20) to rise early in the morning, to meet Pharaoh when he came forth to the water, and there to repeat his demands. Note, 1. Those that would bring great things to pass for God and their generation must rise early, and redeem time in the morning. Pharaoh was early up at his superstitious devotions to the river; and shall we be for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:20

And the Lord said unto Moses, rise up early in the morning ,.... Of the day following, the twenty eight of Adar, or February, according to Bishop Usher; this was the fittest time to meet with Pharaoh, and the most likely to make impressions on him: and stand before Pharaoh : meet him as he comes along, and stop him, and stand before him as having something to say to him; this was using great boldness and freedom with a king; but as Moses was ordered to do it by the King of kings, it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:21

Else, if thou wilt not let my people go ,.... But remainest obstinate and inflexible: behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee ; the word used is generally thought to signify a "mixture", and is interpreted by many a mixture of various creatures; the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it a mixture of wild beasts, and so Josephus F11 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 14. sect. 3. understands it of all sorts of beasts, of many forms, and such as were never seen before; according to Jarchi, all sorts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:22

And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell ,.... Distinguish it from other parts of the land of Egypt: that no swarms of flies shall be there ; which was a very wonderful thing, and so the word may be rendered. "I will marvellously sever or separate" F15 והפליתי "faciamque mirabilem", V. L. "miraculose agam", Fagius; "marvellously sever", Ainsworth. , and so the Targum of Jonathan, "I will do wonders or miracles in that day": as they were to make... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:23

And I will put a division between my people and thy people ,.... Or, a "redemption" F16 פדות "redemptionem", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; ; for by distinguishing them in his providence from the Egyptians, he might be said to redeem or deliver them; thus God makes a difference between his chosen people and the rest of the world, through his Son's redemption of them by his blood, out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation: tomorrow shall this sign be : which, according to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:24

And the Lord did so ,.... And this he did immediately of himself without any means; not by the rod of Aaron, to let the Egyptians see that there was nothing in that rod, that it had no magic virtue in it, and what was done by it was from the Lord himself, who could as well inflict plagues without it as with it; see Psalm 105:31 and there came a grievous swarm of flies; or a "heavy" F17 כבד "gravis", Montanus, "gravissime", V. L. one, which was both very numerous, and very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:25

He and his people not being able to endure this plague of flies any longer; and we read in profane history of such creatures being so troublesome, that people have been obliged to quit their habitations, and seek for new ones; so Pausanias F20 Achaica, sive l. 7. p. 400. relates of the inhabitants of Myus, that such a number of flies rose out of the lake, that the men were obliged to leave the city, and go to Miletus; so Aelian F21 De Animal. l. 11. c. 28. reports, that the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:26

And Moses said, it is not meet so to do ,.... It being the command and will of God that they should go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice there; and besides it was dangerous, the Egyptians might be provoked by their sacrifices to fall upon them, and kill them: for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God ; by which Moses is not to be understood as calling the idols of Egypt an abomination, as being so to God and to all good men, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:27

We will go three days' journey into the wilderness ,.... As was first insisted on, and from which demand they should not depart: and sacrifice unto the Lord our God, as he shall command us ; both what sacrifices shall be offered, and the manner in which they shall be done, both which seemed for the present in a good measure undetermined and unknown; and therefore it was possible, and very probable, that in one or the other they should give offence to the Egyptians, should they sacrifice... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:28

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness ,.... He does not say three days, though as he allowed them to go into the wilderness and sacrifice, they could not go and come again in less time; nor would Moses have accepted of the grant, as it seems by what follows he had, if he had obliged them to less time: only you shall not go very far away ; his meaning is, as Aben Ezra observes, that they should go no further than three days'... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 8:20-32

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 8:28

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