Exodus 7:3-18

3 I will harden Par`oh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Mitzrayim.

4 But Par`oh will not listen to you, and I will lay my hand on Mitzrayim, and bring forth my hosts, my people the children of Yisra'el, out of the land of Mitzrayim by great judgments.

5 The Mitzrim shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth my hand on Mitzrayim, and bring out the children of Yisra'el from among them."

6 Moshe and Aharon did so. As the LORD commanded them, so they did.

7 Moshe was eighty years old, and Aharon eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Par`oh.

8 The LORD spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying,

9 "When Par`oh speaks to you, saying, 'Perform a miracle!' then you shall tell Aharon, 'Take your rod, and cast it down before Par`oh, that it become a serpent.'"

10 Moshe and Aharon went in to Par`oh, and they did so, as the LORD had commanded: and Aharon cast down his rod before Par`oh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

11 Then Par`oh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Mitzrayim, did in like manner with their enchantments.

12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aharon's rod swallowed up their rods.

13 Par`oh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as the LORD had spoken.

14 The LORD said to Moshe, "Par`oh's heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.

15 Go to Par`oh in the morning. Behold, he goes out to the water; and you shall stand by the river's bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.

16 You shall tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:" and, behold, until now you haven't listened.

17 Thus says the LORD, "In this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18 The fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Mitzrim shall loathe to drink water from the river."'"

Exodus 7:3-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 7

Moses and Aaron are ordered to go to Pharaoh, and require the dismission of the people of Israel, but they are told before hand that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened, and would refuse to let them go, until the hand of the Lord was stretched out, and great judgments were brought down upon, Egypt, and then they should come forth, Ex 7:1-5, which orders Moses and Aaron obeyed, and their age is observed, when this was done, Ex 7:6,7 and they are bid to work a miracle, when Pharaoh should demand one, by turning a rod into a serpent, which they did; but Pharaoh's magicians doing the same in appearance, his heart was hardened, Ex 7:8-14 and then they are directed to meet him at the river, and require the same as before; and if he refused, to smite the waters of the river with the rod, and turn them into blood, which they did, Ex 7:15-21, but Pharaoh's magicians doing the same by enchantments, he did not regard it, though the plague lasted seven days, Ex 7:22-25.