Exodus 7:4-14

4 but he will still refuse to listen. So then I will punish Egypt terribly, and I will lead my divisions, my people the Israelites, out of that land.

5 I will punish Egypt with my power, and I will bring the Israelites out of that land. Then they will know I am the Lord."

6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them.

7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three when they spoke to the king.

8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

9 "Moses, when the king asks you to do a miracle, tell Aaron to throw his walking stick down in front of the king, and it will become a snake."

10 So Moses and Aaron went to the king as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw his walking stick down in front of the king and his officers, and it became a snake.

11 So the king called in his wise men and his magicians, and with their tricks the Egyptian magicians were able to do the same thing.

12 They threw their walking sticks on the ground, and their sticks became snakes. But Aaron's stick swallowed theirs.

13 Still the king was stubborn and refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, "The king is being stubborn and refuses to let the people go.

Exodus 7:4-14 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.