Exodus 7:12

12 Each of them threw his staff down, and they all became large snakes. But Aaron's staff swallowed theirs.

Exodus 7:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 7:12

For they cast down every man his rod, and they became
serpents
That is, they seemed to be so, as Josephus ^F26 expresses it, but not really, in which he is followed by many; though some think that the devil assisted in this affair, and in an instant, as soon as the rods were cast down, removed them and put real serpents in their room:

but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods;
that is, the serpent that Aaron's rod was turned into, swallowed up the rods of the magicians, which never were otherwise than rods only in appearance; or if real serpents were put in the room of them, these were devoured by his serpent called his rod, because it was before turned into a serpent, as Aben Ezra observes; though the Targums of Jonathan, Jarchi, and R. Jeshua, suppose this was done after the serpent became a rod again; which makes the miracle the greater and more wonderful, that a rod should devour other rods; and supposing them real serpents, this was what the magicians could not make their rods do, and in which they were outdone by Aaron.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Antiqu. ut supra. (l. 2. c. 13 sect. 3.)

Exodus 7:12 In-Context

10 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a large snake.

11 Then Pharaoh sent for his wise men and sorcerers. These Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells.

12 Each of them threw his staff down, and they all became large snakes. But Aaron's staff swallowed theirs.

13 Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to them, as the LORD had predicted.

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh is being stubborn. He refuses to let my people go.