Êxodo 9

Êxodo 9

MacArthur - The discriminatory nature of this plague was unannounced beforehand, but the national distinction previously declared and observed again prevailed. Although unstated, those who were in the strife-torn regions and who obeyed instructions obviously found their livestock equally safe and sound. (MacArthur Study Bible) Mattoon - God's people were spared from judgment, demonstrating again to Pharaoh that the Lord was in control and that He was God. He could inflict judgment upon the Egyptians but spare His own people. (Treasures from Exodus) Currid - Some commentators have attempted to explain away this distinction by saying that storms hammering Egypt in the Nile Valley would have been trapped there and unable to strike Goshen. That interpretation is impossible to justify in the light of God’s elective work, which is so evident in the plague account...As an aside, it is important to note what Pharaoh does not do. He does not summon his magicians to repel or replicate the plague. Nor does he send messengers to Goshen to see if it has been affected. What had happened, or was going to happen, was all too obvious. (Exodus Commentary) Exodus 9:27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. I have - Ex 10:16 Nu 22:34 1Sa 15:24,30 26:21 Mt 27:4 the Lord - 2Ch 12:6 Ps 9:16 129:4 145:17 La 1:18 Da 9:14 Ro 2:5 3:19 CONFESSION OF SIN Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones - Pharaoh is saying that Yahweh is right, and the Egyptians are not—so they are at fault, guilty. Pharaoh confessed and said the words suggesting repentance but he did not follow through with the obedience! His heart was only hardened more after God relented and showed mercy. THOUGHT - Notice that Pharaoh speaks truth in Ex 9:27 but then turn around and immediately speaks lies in Ex 9:28. Do I ever confess and even claim to repent and when tempted soon thereafter, immediately fall face down and commit the same sin? That is a rhetorical question. John MacArthur - Any improvement in Pharaoh’s theological understanding, notwithstanding the following confession of a righteous Lord and of a wicked people, was rendered suspect by the face-saving caveat “this time.” Lacking repentance, it brushed aside all previous reaction and disobedience as having no significance. (MacArthur Study Bible) Cole calls this “the easy confession of sin, and the shallow repentance that springs only from a desire to avert the consequences.” (TOTC-Ex) Bruckner - In spite of the penitent words, his admission of guilt was under the duress of booming thunder, pounding hail, pouring rain, and ground-strike lightning that would not quit. This was the third time he had said that he would let them go (Ex 8:8, 28; 9:28). (Exodus (Understanding the Bible Commentary) Currid - Pharaoh’s self-condemnation is not very convincing because he is not acknowledging his earlier, previous sins and arrogance. He is only speaking of the present situation. In support of this point is his use of ‘this time’, or ‘now’, which mirrors God’s use of the same expression in verse 14. It would be a mistake to conclude that Pharaoh has seen the light and that he exhibits a repentant heart. He may be weakening but he still plays the snake—lying, manipulating and twisting. Even so, it is striking that Pharaoh should make any such confession at all. The ancient Egyptians believed in the purity of their sovereign. Individuals who approached Pharaoh were commanded to prostrate themselves, ‘smelling the earth, crawling on the ground’, while ‘invoking this perfect god and exalting his beauty’. God is attacking this notion of Pharaoh’s character being pure and untainted. There is only one who is good and perfect. (Exodus Commentary) Cassuto - Pharaoh still remains arrogant, and declines to acknowledge his earlier and primary sins; hence he adds: this time, as though he had no other sin on his conscience except his refusal on this occasion. (A Commentary on the Book of Exodus) J Ligon Duncan - Pharaoh was considered a god, and Pharaoh was considered so righteous that when you came into his presence, you had to lick the dust because you were in the presence of the righteous god of Egypt; the one who had administered justice....Moses is showing us here how the one who claims to be a god and the one who claims to be righteous, admits his own wickedness. God is sovereign, God is upright, Pharaoh is not. Pharaoh has to ask for prayer again. He has to promise to let them go in order to find relief from the plague. (Exodus 9:8-35 The 6th & 7th Plagues: Boils and Hail) NET Note - Pharaoh now is struck by the judgment and acknowledges that he is at fault. But the context shows that this penitence was short-lived. What exactly he meant by this confession is uncertain. On the surface his words seem to represent a recognition that he was in the wrong and Yahweh right. (Exodus 9) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus I have sinned this time. As it can hardly be supposed that Pharaoh, intended to limit this confession of his sin to the present instance of his unbelief, we are no doubt authorized to extend the import of the phrase ‘this time’ to the whole course of his disobedience during the occurrence of the preceding plagues. This sense of the phrase strikingly confirms the interpretation put upon it in v. 14, as implying the time of a future series of judgments. Overcome by the tremendous display of the divine indignation which he had just witnessed, and which had proved fatal to many of his subjects, he confessed himself on the wrong side in his contest with the God of the Hebrews, declares that he has sinned in standing it out so long, and owns the equity of God’s proceedings against him: ‘The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Under the pressure of his convictions he humbles himself still farther, and entreats that this direful plague may at once be stayed, promising without any qualification that the people shall be dismissed. Perhaps he sincerely fell and intended all that he said at the time as the terror of the rod often extorts penitent acknowledgments from those that have no penitent affections; but the result proved that he knew little of the plague of his own heart, whatever he had been compelled to know of the plague of God’s hand. Moses, however, though he evidently placed no reliance upon his promise, v. 30, did not hesitate to listen to his request, and engaged at once to obtain a cessation of the storm; thus teaching us that even those of whom we have little hopes, and who will probably soon repent of their repentance are still to be prayed for and admonished. Righteous, &c. Heb. הצדיק hatz-tzaddik, the righteous one הרשעים hareshaim, the sinners; thus showing that the original is far more emphatic than our translation. It was equivalent to saying that he and his people fully deserved all that had been brought upon them. Mighty thunderings. Heb. קלת אלהים koloth Elohim, voices of God; i. e. loud and deafening peals of thunder, called voices or thunderings of God as ‘mountains of God’ are large and lofty mountains See Note on Gen. 23:6. Shall stay no longer. Heb. לא תספון לעמד lo tosiphun laamod, shall not add to stand. Chal. ‘I will detain you no longer.’ Mattoon on I have sinned - Pharaoh is crying, "Uncle!" This is the first time that he makes a public confession of his error. The so called "Mr. Perfection" admits imperfection, "I have sinned." One can find forgiveness when they make this admission, yet, another may go into further depths of sin. What makes the difference? The answer is the attitude and genuine repentance of the person making the admission. A number of people made this admission in the Bible. Unfortunately, many did not demonstrate genuine repentance. 1. Balaam: Numbers 22:34-And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. Balaam was an example of double-mindedness. After his confession, he went on to sin willingly and worked for the wages of unrighteousness. He tried to serve two masters, God and money and could not. Matthew 6:24-No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Balaam's confession was worthless because he did not mean it. He was caught, but not convicted. 2. Saul: 1 Samuel 15:24-And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Saul was a picture of an insincere man. He confesses and then gives an excuse, "I feared the people." Insincerity was a trait of Saul. He loved to please people and agree with the crowd. Some folks insincerely confess sin to please others in order to get them off their back. Admission of sin is worthless if it is not genuine. God is not fooled by our phoniness. 3. Achan: Joshua 7:20-And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: Achan's confession is doubtful. He was an example of a death-bed confession which creates doubt. One question that comes to mind when death-bed decisions are made is, "Did they really mean what they said?" Doubt is created because the admission or profession of faith, has not been tested by the person's life. 4. Judas Iscariot: Matthew 27:4-Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. Judas' admission was made in a time of remorse and despair. He saw death face to face. He had no hope. He knew the treachery of his betrayal. He knew he was condemned. If you know you are lost, your hopelessness can be changed to hope by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. 5. Job: Job 7:20-I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? Job pictures the repentance of a saint. Job loved God, but he was a sinner like everyone else. Christians are sinners saved by grace but they still have to contend with their fleshly nature. Do you need to get something right with God? Do you need to come to Him and say, "Lord, I've sinned?" If so, there is cleansing in Christ. 1 John 1:9-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 6. The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:18-I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, This is an example of a blessed confession of a lost man. He is truly repentant. His Father saw him with eyes of mercy, ran with legs of mercy, embraced his neck with arms of mercy, and kissed him with kisses of mercy. Pharaoh said, "I have sinned." Did he really mean it? No, he did not. Pharaoh is a picture of a hardened sinner whose confession is born in the storms of life, but dies in the calm. The storms of disease, danger, and desperation will drive people to cry out to God, but when life returns to normal, the Lord is forgotten. Pharaoh's confession is superficial and worthless, "I have sinned THIS TIME." The man just didn't get it. He has been sinning every time. His confession is mouthed with no meaning. Even Moses knew what was going on (vs. 30). There was no change in the heart of the king. False repentance has roots in a shallow, flippant view of sin. Sin is not taken seriously, somberly, soberly, and solemnly. Pharaoh's responsibility for his sin was diverted in a sense, "I am my people are wicked." Not all the Egyptians were wicked for some of them believed in the Lord. Exodus 12:38-And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. Pharaoh was trying to ease his guilt by having his people share the blame, yet, he is the one responsible. His decisions have led his people astray. Never underestimate the power of your example, whether it is good or bad. We will also note that true repentance leads you to confess your own sin, not the sins of others. Have you taken responsibility for your actions? Do you have a serious or flippant attitude toward your sin? If so, realize that it will ruin your life. (Treasures from Exodus) Exodus 9:28 "Make supplication to the LORD, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." Make supplication to the LORD - Ex 8:8,28 10:17 Ac 8:24 God's thunder - Heb. voices of God, Ps 29:3,4 ye shall - Ex 11:1 PHARAOH'S LYING LIPS Make supplication to the LORD - Pharaoh seems to believe in the power of prayer (especially when he is in distress - that's when even skeptics resort to prayer!) for this is the third time he asks Moses to pray for him (Ex 8:8, Ex 8:28). for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail - Literally "make ye supplication unto Jehovah, and plead that there be no voices of God and hail." Note that God's thunder is "God's voice." Pharaoh seems to fully grasp that the severe hailstorm is from a divine Source. He knows it was God but he uses elohim which could be rendered "gods" and " is a more generic name for deity in the ancient Near East." Cassuto - He does not refer to the thunder as ‘the Lord’s voices’ but as ‘God’s voices’; he regards it generally as a Divine phenomenon, but not as the specific act of YHWH, the God of Israel. (A Commentary on the Book of Exodus) NET Note - The expression וְרַב מִהְיֹת (vérav mihyot, “[the mighty thunder and hail] is much from being”) means essentially “more than enough.” This indicates that the storm was too much, or, as one might say, “It is enough.” (Exodus 9) and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer - literally Pharaoh says ‘You [plural] will not again have to stand." Once again he seems to be willing to comply with Jehovah's request, implying that they need no further audience with him. He is again being deceitful and lying again. Mattoon - What he is doing is bargaining with God. Many people do this. Lord, get me out of my mess and I'll serve you. They usually don't when they get out of their mess. (Treasures from Exodus) Exodus 9:29 Moses said to him, "As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the LORD'S. spread - Ex 9:33 1Ki 8:22,38 2Ch 6:12,13 Ezr 9:5 Job 11:13 Ps 143:6 Isa 1:15 that the earth - De 10:14 Ps 24:1,2 50:12 95:4,5 135:6 1Co 10:26,28 THE PURPOSE OF GOD ANSWERING PHARAOH'S REQUEST Moses said to him, "As soon as I go out of the city - Why go out of the city to pray? There is not definitive answer. I will spread out my hands to the LORD - This is is an expression signifying the act of prayer (read 1 Ki 8:38; Ezra 9:5) The thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer that you may know that the earth is the LORD'S - Moses is telling Pharaoh he would pray, and the purpose was the Jehovah is the sovereign Lord over all the earth. Moses uses the word for know which know by experience. This is why God answered the request to immediately stop the hail. It would be clear evidence of His supernatural, sovereign power to control the elements and that in turn would be clear evidence that not just Israel belonged to Jehovah, but the entire earth belonged to Him! The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. -- Psalm 24:1 Currid - It is Yahweh who rules over the earth, not the Egyptian gods, and certainly not Pharaoh (who was considered ruler over the two lands of Upper and Lower Egypt). (Exodus Commentary) J Ligon Duncan - (Moses says) I will pray for you, but I will pray for you so that you will know that the earth belongs to the Lord." I command the sky because God owns the sky. God is in charge of the world, and the reason that I’m going to pray, is not because I believe what you just said, but because I want you to know that the world belongs to God. The world belongs to the God of Israel. (Exodus 9:8-35 The 6th & 7th Plagues: Boils and Hail) NET Note - This clause provides the key for the exposition of this plague: God demonstrated his power over the forces of nature to show his sovereignty—the earth is Yahweh’s. He can destroy it. He can preserve it. If people sin by ignoring his word and not fearing him, he can bring judgment on them. If any fear Yahweh and obey his instructions, they will be spared. A positive way to express the expositional point of the chapter is to say that those who fear Yahweh and obey his word will escape the powerful destruction he has prepared for those who sinfully disregard his word. (Exodus 9) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus As soon as I am gone out of the city. He would retire from the city not only for purposes of privacy, in his intercession with God, but also to show that he was not afraid to expose himself to the action of the elements in the open field. By thus venturing forth in the midst of the tempest with a perfect confidence of impunity, Moses gave to Pharaoh a striking proof that he was the special object of the divine protection, and consequently that his message ought to be diligently heeded. That thou mayest know, &c. That is, that thou mayest be convinced that the God of the Hebrews is no local deity like the fancied gods of Egypt, but the absolute and universal Sovereign, holding sway over all creatures, controlling the elements, and making every department of nature obsequious to his will. ‘See what various methods God uses to bring men to their proper senses. Judgments are sent, and judgments removed, and all for the same end, to make men know that the Lord reigns.’ Henry. Exodus 9:30 "But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God." Pr 16:6 Isa 26:10 63:17 MOSES CONFRONTS PHARAOH'S "COUNTERFEIT CONFESSION" But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God - In essence Moses is saying Pharaoh's confession was a "counterfeit confession." In short, Moses is not impressed by Pharaoh's confession. Moses fearlessly confronts Pharaoh about his false fear! God had revealed this truth to Moses, for no man can see into another man's heart! What does this say about God? Which attribute of God does this describe? The omniscient God was not duped, cajoled nor hoodwinked by Pharaoh's polite promise (nor by ours beloved). He knew Pharaoh's heart (He knows ours)! The last part of Pr 16:6 says "by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil." God knew that Pharaoh had not chosen to depart from evil! THOUGHT - We need to carefully weigh what we promise to do for the Lord, for He knows our hearts. Do you fear the LORD God? Don't answer with a simple "Yes." Answer with your thoughts, words and actions that (enabled by the Spirit) seek to continually (not perfectly because we are not yet glorified beloved!) depart from evil and seek good. (Read Ps 34:14, Ps 37:27, Pr 13:19, Pr 16:17, 1 Th 5:21-22) And ultimately how do you know if someone makes a genuine decision for Jesus? We cannot read their heart but we can watch their life! Currid - The Egyptians may have feared the plagues and may have been afraid of some sort of divine power, but they did not yet fear Yahweh. (Exodus Commentary) Cassuto - Although you are afraid of the severity of the plague, and also generally of the Divine power, nevertheless the Lord God, the God whom we designate by the name YHWH, you have still not recognized and you still do not fear. (A Commentary on the Book of Exodus) NET Note - Moses is saying that he knew that Pharaoh did not really stand in awe of God, so as to grant Israel’s release, i.e., fear not in the religious sense but “be afraid of” God—fear “before” him (Exodus 9) Exodus 9:31 (Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. barley - Ru 1:22 2:23 Am 4:9 Hab 3:17 A DAMAGE REPORT Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud - This fact helps date the time of year of this plague to February. Mattoon writes "The time of the year is believed to be around mid-February. In Egypt the cattle are sent into open country from January to April when the grass is abundant. They remain in the stalls the rest of the year. The barley was in the ear. It ripens in February in Northern Egypt. It was the food of the poor and for horses. It was grown for beers. The phrase "flax bolled"means it was in blossom which takes place in Mid-February and early March. Flax was used to make linen and was used exclusively by the priest. White linen is a picture of righteousness." (Treasures from Exodus) MacArthur - God’s timing of the disaster to two crops left room for Pharaoh to repent before the other crops might be destroyed. (MacArthur Study Bible) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus The flax was bolled. That is, podded. Heb. הפשתה גבעל happishtah gibol The original word occurs only here, and its true import is not easily fixed. Nearly all the ancient versions understand it as intimating a stage of maturity in the flax in which it was past flowering. We think it probable that the genuine scope of the Heb. term expresses the formation of that small globous fruit, pod, or capsule on the top of the stalk of flax which succeeds the flower, and contains the seed. Gr. ‘The flax was in seed, or seeding.’ The Egyptians sowed all sorts of grain soon alter the waters of the Nile had subsided; but flax and barley being of more rapid growth would at any given time be more forward than wheat and rye which explains the circumstance mentioned in the text. The interval between the two harvests is usually about a month. Exodus 9:32 But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they ripen late.) not grown up - Heb. hidden, or dark, Ex 10:22 WHEAT AND SPELT SAVED But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they ripen late - Spelt is a species of wheat, spelt, a grain with split kernels which ripened later than flax and barley (Ex. 9:32; Isa. 28:25; Ezek. 4:9). Currid - First, the preservation of the young, tender plants shows the miraculous nature of the plague. It is normally that very stage that is devastated by hail, but on this occasion God excludes it from the destruction. Secondly, it shows God’s grace in the midst of judgement. God still gives sustenance to Egypt, and allows them to survive despite the plague....And, finally, the fact that some of the crops are kept alive provides material to receive the onslaught of the next plague, the locusts. (Exodus Commentary) Gilbrant adds this note on spelt - See Wikipedia article. This species of emmer was considered of inferior quality because the chaff clings to the grain and is hard to remove. According to Herodotus, the Egyptians used it for bread. It has been identified as Triticum dicoccum, a hard-grained variety common in the Near East. The grain was domesticated in Israel as early as the Chalcolithic period. It will grow in conditions less fertile and humid than those required by wheat. (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) NET - "The word כֻּסֶּמֶת (kussemet) is translated “spelt”; the word occurs only her e and in Isa 28:25 and Ezek 4:9. Spelt is a grain closely allied to wheat." (Exodus 9) Mattoon - These accounts are in harmony with the natural history of Egypt. According to Pliny, the barley is reaped in the sixth month after the sowing-time, the wheat in the seventh. The barley is ripe about the end of February or beginning of March; the wheat, at the end of March or beginning of April. The flax is boiled or in flower in mid-February or early March. (Treasures from Exodus) Exodus 9:33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the LORD; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth. spread - Ex 9:29 8:12 and the thunder - Ex 10:18,19 Jas 5:17,18 MOSES RETREATS TO SUPPLICATE So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to the LORD; and the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth - NLT - "So Moses left Pharaoh's court and went out of the city. When he lifted his hands to the LORD, the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased." Exodus 9:34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. saw - Ex 8:15 Ec 8:11 and hardened - Ex 4:21 7:14 2Ch 28:22 33:23 36:13 Ro 2:4,5 SINNING AGAIN = HARDENING ONE'S HEART But - This often marks a "change of direction" and certainly does in this context! When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants - This is a frightening passage. Why? Because it clearly equates sinning with hardening of one's heart! Once the threat is over he becomes more hardened in his wickedness. Note the phrase and his servants which is the first time we see hardening of their hearts. Thus the words of Moses in Ex 9:30 are fulfilled, as they always are in one who is a true prophet of God. Pharaoh follows up his confession of sin with more sin! THOUGHT - The application is clear - if we confess and repent and run back immediately to our "pet sin," the natural consequence is that our heart becomes a little more hardened to the God, to His Word, to the things of God! Does this thought frighten you? It frightens me! It recalls the warning in Hebrews 3:12-13+ "Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day (THIS IS WHY WE ALL NEED ANOTHER GODLY PERSON OF THE SAME GENDER IN OUR LIFE BELOVED! ARE YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO ANYONE? REALLY ACCOUNTABLE?), as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." There it is - clear as a bell - sin (which promises good but brings grief = deceitful) will harden my heart!!! God grant each of us (writer and reader) the power of His Spirit (His desire and His power - Php 2:13NLT+) to run from the first hint of sin's seductive snare. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Cassuto - The danger having passed, his fear also passed away; and he who had promised that the children of Israel would not continue to stay (v. 28), now continued to sin, and he hardened [literally, ‘made heavy’] his heart, he and his servants, even as the hail was heavy. (A Commentary on the Book of Exodus) NET has an interesting note - The text is clearly interpreting as sin the hardening of Pharaoh's heart and his refusal to release Israel. At the least this means that the plagues are his fault, but the expression probably means more than this – he was disobeying Yahweh God. (Exodus 9) Mattoon - Pharaoh is going to cry out, "I have sinned." Will everything be all right now? If you cry out to God, "I have sinned," will everything be OK for you? Surprisingly, the answer is "No!" Admitting this is not enough to get you out of trouble. (Treasures from Exodus) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus The thunders and the hail ceased. The prayer of Moses was in this case invested with a power like that of Elias, and the two witnesses of the Apocalypse, James, 5:17, 18, Rev. 11:6, to open and shut heaven, and yet the mercy now accorded to Pharaoh tended as little to soften his heart as the previous judgment had done. As if the sun which now shone forth in the clear sky and hardened the soaked and saturated earth had produced a similar effect upon his heart, he is merely emboldened by this respite of wrath to persist in a course of more determined rebellion. Yet the language of the text implies that this increased hardness of heart was an increased measure of guilt: ‘He sinned yet more and more, and hardened his heart;’ i. e. sinned by hardening his heart. God’s foretelling the result, therefore, and permitting it, did not go to lessen his criminality. Exodus 9:35 Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses. Pharaoh's heart was hardened - Why? Was it God's fault in this context? Did God harden his heart? I think not. I think it is because he sinned again with the result being that his heart became a little more hard to God just like Hebrew 3:12-13+ warns! and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses - As Currid says "The account of the seventh plague ends with this formula that is found, in one variation or another, at the conclusion of every plague thus far (Ex 7:22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12). It is a convention of this section of Exodus signalling the final end of a particular plague episode." (Exodus Commentary) Mattoon - There is a story about a monastery in Europe perched high on a cliff several hundred feet in the air. The only way to reach the monastery was to be suspended in a basket which was pulled to the top by several monks who pulled and tugged with all their strength. Obviously the ride up the steep cliff in that basket was terrifying. One tourist got exceedingly nervous about halfway up as he noticed that the rope by which he was suspended was old and frayed. With a trembling voice, he asked the monk who was riding with him in the basket how often they changed the rope. The monk thought for a moment and answered very harshly, "Whenever it breaks." Beloved, don't wait until your rope breaks to change the direction of your life if you are going the wrong direction. If you are not saved, put your faith in Jesus Christ to take you to Heaven. If you are a Christian, get your life right with God today. (Treasures from Exodus) Currid applies the truth of this plague - We read in the Apocalypse of John the following description of the seventh bowl of wrath that will be meted out on unbelievers: ‘And the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty … And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe’ (Rev. 16:17–21+). The similarities between this seventh plague in Revelation and the seventh plague in Egypt are striking. First, it should be noted that both plagues are accompanied by thunder and lightning. Secondly, the extent of the two plagues is underscored: in Egypt nothing like it had been seen in the land since it was founded as a nation (9:24); in Revelation nothing like it had occurred since man came to be on the earth. Both plagues were extremely severe, and in both instances mankind’s response to them was hardness of heart or blasphemy. The size of the hailstones in Revelation underscores the absolute extremity and severity of the plague at the end times—it is so much greater than the plague in Egypt. The disaster that befell the Egyptians was simply a mere foretaste of the final judgement. That ought to give us pause. And it ought to drive us to share the good news of Christ that delivers people from such an end.(Exodus Commentary)