Exodus 9 Study Notes

9:20-21 Some officials feared the word of the Lord. Others didn’t take to heart the Lord’s word. A person who fears the Lord and his word takes them seriously—giving attention and credence—leading to appropriate action (cp. 1:17,21).

9:22-26 The worst hail in Egypt’s history is saying a great deal since Egypt is one of the oldest nations on earth.

9:27-28 When Pharaoh said, I have sinned, he may have been admitting to being merely “at fault,” or “in the wrong,” using the word translated “sinned” in a way similar to its use in 5:16.

9:29 Spreading out . . . hands was a gesture associated with prayer and a sign of need and dependence (1Kg 8:22,38,54; Jr 4:31). Again God’s action was meant to provide knowledge. The seventh plague added significance to the Lord’s name by showing his ownership of and sovereignty over the entire earth, not just a portion as with many pagan gods.

9:30 Moses pointed Pharaoh to the source of Egypt’s problems (cp. 7:16; 8:29).

9:31-32 The description of the crops when the seventh plague hit indicates that people might have held out hope for a good harvest, but the locusts of the eighth plague would soon devour resources.

9:33-34 Here the word for sinned gets its full force and perhaps a touch of irony (cp. v. 27; 5:16).

9:34-10:1 These verses contain three references to the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart following the plague of hail. The first reference names Pharaoh as the agent (he . . . hardened his heart), and it says that his officials did the same. The second names no agent and simply describes the condition (Pharaoh’s heart was hard). The third names the Lord as the agent (I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials). The first (9:34) and third (10:1) use the same verb. So it seems that both Pharaoh and the Lord are responsible for the condition that the second reference describes without naming an agent. Other similar descriptions may likewise leave room for both the Lord and Pharaoh to be involved. Later, some Philistines commented on the hardening of hearts that took place in Egypt and spoke of the Egyptians and Pharaoh as responsible (1Sm 6:6).