Esodo 8:16-19

16 E IL Signore disse a Mosè: Di’ ad Aaronne: Stendi la tua bacchetta, e percuoti la polvere della terra, ed ella diverrà mosconi in tutto il paese di Egitto.

17 Ed essi fecero così; e Aaronne stese la sua mano con la sua bacchetta, e percosse la polvere della terra; e una moltitudine di mosconi venne in su gli uomini, e in su gli animali; tutta la polvere della terra divenne mosconi in tutto il paese di Egitto.

18 E i Magi si adoperarono anch’essi simigliantemente co’ loro incantesimi, per produrre mosconi; ma non poterono. E quella moltitudine di mosconi fu sopra gli uomini, e sopra gli animali.

19 E i Magi dissero a Faraone: Questo è il dito di Dio. Ma il cuor di Faraone s’indurò, e non porse loro orecchio; come il Signore ne avea parlato.

Esodo 8:16-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 8

In this chapter Pharaoh is threatened with the plague of frogs, in case he refused to let Israel go, which accordingly was brought upon him, Ex 8:1-6 and though the magicians did something similar to it, yet these were so troublesome to Pharaoh, that he promised to let the people go, and sacrifice to God, if they removed; and a time being fixed for the removal of them, it was accordingly done at the entreaty of Moses and Aaron, Ex 8:7-14 but there being a respite, Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and the plague of lice is ordered, and which was executed; and though this the magicians essayed to do, and could not, but owned it to be the finger of God, yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, Ex 8:15-19 wherefore he is threatened with a swarm of flies, which should not infest Goshen, only the places where the Egyptians dwelt, and it was so, Ex 8:20-24 upon which Pharaoh called for Moses, and declared himself willing the people would sacrifice in the land; but this not being satisfactory, he agreed they should go into the wilderness, but not so far; and on the account of the entreaty of Moses, the plague was removed; but still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go, Ex 8:25-32.