Exodus 8:17-27

17 feceruntque ita et extendit Aaron manu virgam tenens percussitque pulverem terrae et facti sunt scinifes in hominibus et in iumentis omnis pulvis terrae versus est in scinifes per totam terram Aegypti

18 feceruntque similiter malefici incantationibus suis ut educerent scinifes et non potuerunt erantque scinifes tam in hominibus quam in iumentis

19 et dixerunt malefici ad Pharao digitus Dei est induratumque est cor Pharaonis et non audivit eos sicut praeceperat Dominus

20 dixit quoque Dominus ad Mosen consurge diluculo et sta coram Pharaone egreditur enim ad aquas et dices ad eum haec dicit Dominus dimitte populum meum ut sacrificet mihi

21 quod si non dimiseris eum ecce ego inmittam in te et in servos tuos et in populum tuum et in domos tuas omne genus muscarum et implebuntur domus Aegyptiorum muscis diversi generis et in universa terra in qua fuerint

22 faciamque mirabilem in die illa terram Gessen in qua populus meus est ut non sint ibi muscae et scias quoniam ego Dominus in medio terrae

23 ponamque divisionem inter populum meum et populum tuum cras erit signum istud

24 fecitque Dominus ita et venit musca gravissima in domos Pharaonis et servorum eius et in omnem terram Aegypti corruptaque est terra ab huiuscemodi muscis

25 vocavit Pharao Mosen et Aaron et ait eis ite sacrificate Deo vestro in terra

26 et ait Moses non potest ita fieri abominationes enim Aegyptiorum immolabimus Domino Deo nostro quod si mactaverimus ea quae colunt Aegyptii coram eis lapidibus nos obruent

27 via trium dierum pergemus in solitudine et sacrificabimus Domino Deo nostro sicut praeceperit nobis

Exodus 8:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 8

In this chapter Pharaoh is threatened with the plague of frogs, in case he refused to let Israel go, which accordingly was brought upon him, Ex 8:1-6 and though the magicians did something similar to it, yet these were so troublesome to Pharaoh, that he promised to let the people go, and sacrifice to God, if they removed; and a time being fixed for the removal of them, it was accordingly done at the entreaty of Moses and Aaron, Ex 8:7-14 but there being a respite, Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and the plague of lice is ordered, and which was executed; and though this the magicians essayed to do, and could not, but owned it to be the finger of God, yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, Ex 8:15-19 wherefore he is threatened with a swarm of flies, which should not infest Goshen, only the places where the Egyptians dwelt, and it was so, Ex 8:20-24 upon which Pharaoh called for Moses, and declared himself willing the people would sacrifice in the land; but this not being satisfactory, he agreed they should go into the wilderness, but not so far; and on the account of the entreaty of Moses, the plague was removed; but still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go, Ex 8:25-32.