Exodus 9:3

3 ecce manus mea erit super agros tuos et super equos et asinos et camelos et boves et oves pestis valde gravis

Exodus 9:3 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 9:3

Behold, the hand of the Lord
Which was stronger than his, with which he held the Israelites: is upon thy cattle which is in the field:
this takes in all in general, of which the particulars follow, though limited to such as were in the field, and so did not take in what were at home in their out houses and stables: upon the horses:
of which there was great plenty in Egypt, as appears from various places of Scripture: upon the asses;
used for carrying burdens from place to place: and upon the camels;
used the like purposes, and to ride upon, and particularly to travel with through desert places for commerce, being able to proceed on without water for a considerable time: upon the oxen, and upon the sheep;
oxen were for labour to plough with, and sheep for their wool, and all of them to trade with: there shall be a very grievous murrain:
or "pestilence" F25, a very noisome one, and which would carry off great numbers; the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan render it a "death", as the Jews commonly call a pestilence, whether on man or beast, because it generally sweeps away large numbers.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (rbd) "pestis", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator; "pestilentia", Drusius; so Tigurine version.

Exodus 9:3 In-Context

1 dixit autem Dominus ad Mosen ingredere ad Pharaonem et loquere ad eum haec dicit Dominus Deus Hebraeorum dimitte populum meum ut sacrificet mihi
2 quod si adhuc rennuis et retines eos
3 ecce manus mea erit super agros tuos et super equos et asinos et camelos et boves et oves pestis valde gravis
4 et faciet Dominus mirabile inter possessiones Israhel et possessiones Aegyptiorum ut nihil omnino intereat ex his quae pertinent ad filios Israhel
5 constituitque Dominus tempus dicens cras faciet Dominus verbum istud in terra
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.