Exodus 8:19-29

19 Then the magicians said to Par`oh, "This is the finger of God:" and Par`oh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as the LORD had spoken.

20 The LORD said to Moshe, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Par`oh; behold, he comes forth to the water; and tell him, 'This is what the LORD says, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.

21 Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses: and the houses of the Mitzrim shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.

22 I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the eretz.

23 I will put a division between my people and your people: by tomorrow shall this sign be."'"

24 The LORD did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Par`oh, and into his servants' houses: and in all the land of Mitzrayim the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies.

25 Par`oh called for Moshe and for Aharon, and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in the land!"

26 Moshe said, "It isn't appropriate to do so; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Mitzrim to the LORD our God. Behold, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Mitzrim before their eyes, and won't they stone us?

27 We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us."

28 Par`oh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away. Pray for me."

29 Moshe said, "Behold, I go out from you, and I will pray to the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Par`oh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only don't let Par`oh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."

Exodus 8:19-29 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.