Exodus 8 Study Notes

8:20-21 The use of two somewhat rhyming forms of a Hebrew word for send marks the cause-and-effect connection that Pharaoh needed to recognize. An idea of the tone may be indicated by a rendering such as, “If you won’t send out, I will send in.”

8:22-23 During the fourth plague and others to follow, the Lord would distinguish his people from Pharaoh’s people in order to give knowledge of his sovereign presence. This new element and the use of two forms of the word for “send” in v. 21 help to highlight the conflict and contrast between the Lord and Pharaoh. It would be clear that Pharaoh was unable to protect his people. Goshen was in northeastern Egypt, possibly near Wadi Tumilat, and had excellent pasture for sheep and goats (Gn 45:10; 46:34; 47:4,6).

8:24-28 The rare word translated swarms of flies does not specify a particular insect and may indicate a mixture. Pharaoh’s stipulations in vv. 25 and 28 show that he still thought he was in charge and could assert his authority. His don’t go very far uses an emphatic construction and the kind of negative command that only someone of superior status could issue. The word Moses used for detest is the same one that Gn 43:32 and 46:34 use to talk about the Egyptians’ refusal to eat with Joseph’s Hebrew brothers, that is, the Egyptian scorn for shepherds. Apparently Pharaoh could admit that Moses was right about the clash of cultures. Pharaoh would let the Israelites go and sacrifice in the wilderness, but his quick command—make an appeal for me—just two words in Hebrew, shows what he was primarily interested in.

8:29 Jacob used the word translated here act deceptively to describe how Laban had cheated him when he kept changing Jacob’s pay (Gn 31:7). The Lord did not owe Pharaoh warnings or rebukes. Each rebuke and each warning of an impending plague gave Pharaoh an opportunity to change course.