Exodus 8

Exodus 8:3

FRogs in thy bed chamber] Notwithstanding Moses and Aaron were harshly entertained upon their first message, Chap. 5. 4. and the tyrant were enraged, and the miserable condition of the people aggravated, and Pharaoh by the enchantments of his Magicians more hardened then before: yet Moses and Aaron resolutely pursue their commission, and command from God, and presse into his presence, and persist in their comminations: an evidence of their fidelitie and courage in God cause, and a worthy example for all Gods messengers to follow in the like case, See Jerem. 1. 17 18, 19.

kneading troughs] Or, Dough. This plague appeareth to be more grievous then the former: for that was only upon waters, this every where; the former was but upon liquor, nor upon all neither, this upon all their victuals; that afflicted them, but when they were thirsty, this at all times; that being often out of sight might be sometimes out of minde, this was a continuall offence to many of their senses, to their eyes the number and figure of the frogs were a most horrid spectacle, to their eares their croaking was odious, and their crawling upon them, and among their meats most abominable: lastly, the bloody waters came not up to their chambers, beds, or mouthes, but these frogs with uncessant importunitie haunted them in every place, and invaded them on every side, on every part. Hence it was, that this plague humbled the tyrant so farre, as to desire to be prayed for, vers. 8. which the former did not.

Exodus 8:4

and the frogs shall come up both upon the] (Notwithstanding all locks and bolts) the frogs cannot be kept out of the Kings bed-chamber, and for all his guard, they will come up upon his Royall person, and crawle upon his bosome, and croak in his eares when he is in bed: How despicable shall the dignitie even of Kings become, if the King of Kings be pleased to cast contempt upon them! See Psalms 83:10. and how favourable is God unto man, by his ordinarie, providence, in making such creatures loth to come, where man hath to doe, who are so loathsome to him, that he cannot indure to be touched by them

Exodus 8:5

the Lord spake unto Moses] By secret inspiration, because it was in the presence of the King, and so not convenient to speake of him, and not to him, in his hearing.

Exodus 8:6

over the waters] That is, over against them, or towards them, from Pharaohs Court, where it is like that Aaron was at that time.

covered the land] Goshen, where Gods people dwelt was excepted as from the plague of flies, vers. 22. unlesse the Egyptians that were among them, were infested with them, which might be without annoyance to the Israelites.

Exodus 8:7

The Magicians did so] That is, they stretched out their hands over or towards the waters, and either by false appearances, deceiving the sight, made seeming frogs, or the devill brought true frogs to the place, where the contestation was betwixt Moses and Aaron on the one side, and Pharaohs Magicians on the other: though it is like the devill brought but a few, in comparison of the number that were brought against them.

Exodus 8:8

intreat the Lord] Vers. 28. Chap. 9. 28. Chap. 12. 32. Psalms 78:34. He that peremptorily refused to be intreated in the Lords name, to let the people goe, asking by way of proud contempt, who is the Lord? Exodus 5:2. now feeling his hand lye heavy upon him, doth not disdaine to desire his mercy: Such power hath God Almightie over Kings, though they be mighty in power, and haughtie in spirit, that what they will not doe for love, or reverence, he can make them doe for feare. See Annot. on vers. 3.

Exodus 8:9

Glory over me] Or have this honour over me. For the meaning of the words see the next Annotation.

when shall I intreat for thee] That may be, I will give thee this honour to appoint, or prescribe a time when I shall pray and prevaile for thee: and if my prayer take not effect, doe thou glory over me, and say I am no better then one of thy Magicians, who can rather bring a plague upon thee, then remove it.

Exodus 8:10

Tomorrow] Why not presently? the plague being so grievous, he might thinke, either that by that time they might be withdrawn some other way, and so they should not need to be beholding to God or Moses for that favour: or he might thinke, that though the frogs might come on a sudden, it was not so easie a matter to remove them again, and that therefore Moses must have some time to mediate with God for that mercy, and to make it take a full effect.

Exodus 8:12

Moses cryed] Though he were sure of the miracle, vers. 10. he did not forbeare the meanes to obtaine it, viz. prayer unto God: which is so prevalent with God, that it is next to Almightie, in efficacie and power, See Chap. 32. 10.

Exodus 8:14

the land stank] The plague was not wholly removed at once, that it might be knowne to be (not a counterfeit, but) a true miracle, for their clearer conviction: and the frogges being gathered on heapes, that their stink might be offensive to the Egyptians, as their sinnes were to God; afterward it is like, they were partly cast into the River, and partly buried in graves, or pits, digged for them: though it be not so expressed in the Scripture.

Exodus 8:15

that there was a respite] This respite was but Gods Pause, for Pharaoh to make a good use of the precedent plague, and when Gods hand was taken off him (by withdrawment of his Judgement) he should by repentance have made himselfe capable of mercy. But this is the manner of such as are doomed to destruction, to take more heart to goe on in sinne, when they should take most heed, that by sinning againe, they provoke not God to punish them againe.

Exodus 8:17

became lice] The word Cmni in the Hebrew is variously rendred: some take it for gnats; (but they are rather comprehended in the plague of flies afterwards) some for fleas: but they were not like to be plague enough, because they were more movable, and lesse loathsome then other vermine: the most and best Interpreters render the word lice; yet it may be as they came in an extraordinary manner, so they were of an extraordinary kind; such haply as the like was neither before, nor since, as is noted of the locusts, Chap. 10. vers. 14. By such little creatures, armed with a power from God, the greatest Tyrants may be plagued, yea devoured, as were Herod by wormes, Acts 12:23. and Galerius and Maximinus. Bucolz. Jud. Chron. on the yeare 311. pag. 188. and on 313. pag. 190. and by lice Pherecydes was devoured, A Elian. var. hist. 50: 5. 100: 18.

all the dust] That is, a great deale of it, as all Judea, Matthew 3:5. for a great part of the people of Judea: or all the dust, that is, the dust all over the land, no place being free.

Exodus 8:18

the Magicians did so] That is, stretched out their hands with rods, as Aaron did vers. 17. and shewed their indeavour to doe the like, though in vaine.

but they could not] God confounding their wisdome and power in a thing most vile, whereby yet he honoured himselfe; since hence it appeareth, that there is nothing so small, that his power and providence descendeth not unto, nor wherein he cannot foile both the power and imposture of men and devils, who could neither make lice indeed, not make a shew of them.

so there were lice] In the Hebrew there is an Enallage of number, the Verbe being of the singular Number, and the Noune of the plurall, as Genesis 1:14.

Exodus 8:19

This is the finger of God] (Luke 11:20.) They might have seen and acknowledged the whole hand of God before; now they confesse a finger of it, in this plague which they yeild to be done by Gods Power, and not by Sorcerie; which they should have acknowledged of the rest of the miracles: but their master the devill taught them, both to counterfeit Truth, and to conceale it; yea (and which is more) to persevere in resistance of it.

Exodus 8:20

for he cometh forth to the water] What ever were the occasion of Pharaohs going to the water in the morning, whether for a pleasant prospect, or out of a superstitious respect to the River Nilus, it is uncertaine: but sure it was the fittest place for Moses (now no Courtier, as before he had been) to meete with him, and early in the morning, he was most like to make use of what he said unto him.

Exodus 8:21

swarmes of flies] Or, a mixture of noysome beasts. The word (in the Hebrew) which some read Harob, some Harc: (by reason of the similitude of the Hebrew letters Beth, and Caph) is by learned Hebricians translated by the word mixtian, or a mixed swarme, which (according to the sense, rather then the literall construction of the words) is in some Translations exprest by [all kinds of flies] and it is certaine, they were not of one sort, Psalms 78:45. but a compounded plague, consisting of many kinds of the lesser sort of flying creatures, as of ordinary flies, guats, bees, and hornets, which by the importunitie of their pressing upon them) might give them no rest, and some of them (with their stings) might wound and kill them, as Psalms 78:45. and as Josephus noteth, Antiq. lib 2. 100: 5.

Exodus 8:23

A division] Heb. a redemption. That is, a division, for redemption, or deliverance of his owne people, from participation of the plagues, heaped on the Egyptians: wherein God giveth cleare evidence of his Justice on the one sort, and his Mercy on the other, so that here we have a type of the finall separation of the Elect, and Reprobate; and of the salvation of the one, and the damnation of the other.

to morrow] It makes for more assurance of the miracle, because they that heare the Prophecie of it, (for so short a time) are like to see the failing, or performance of it thereafter, as in event it falleth out.

Exodus 8:24

And there came] We read not of this plague, that any use was made of the Rod to bring it; and it is like it was not used, that it might appeare, the power of these plagues was not in the Rod, but in the hand of God.

corrupted] Or, destroyed.

Exodus 8:25

in the land] (To wit) the land of Egypt, where hitherto, it seemes, they were restrained, at least from publique worship.

Exodus 8:26

the abomination of the Egyptians] Moses refusing the motion of Pharaoh for performance of the sacrifice in Egypt, maketh his deniall (by a Dilemma) thus: If we sacrifice here, we must sacrifice either after the manner of the Egyptians, or of the Israelites: If after their manner, that would be an abomination to the Lord our God: If after our owne manner, that will be an abomination unto them, and they will stone us, for they will not indure to see us kill those creatures, (as by sacrifice we must) which themselves adore as Deities: among whom, the principall was an Oxe (with a white marke on his side) called Apis, whereof see Plin. Nat. hist. 50: 8. 100: 46. See also the Annotat. on Chap. 43. vers. 32. & on Chap. 46. vers. 34.

Exodus 8:27

As he hath commanded us] Chap. 3. 18.

Exodus 8:29

deceitfully any more] Hitherto he had played the hypocrite, whose manner is, (in distresse) to speake faire, and pretend humilitie, but no sooner is the plague taken off, but hypocrites returne to their wickednesse againe. See Psalms 78:34. 36, 37.

Exodus 8:32

hardened his heart] Zach. 7. 11, 12. See the Annotat. on Chap. 4. vers. 21.