15 But when Pharaoh H6547 saw H7200 that there was respite, H7309 he hardened H3513 his heart, H3820 and hearkened H8085 not unto them; as the LORD H3068 had said. H1696
But Pharaoh H6547 shall not hearken H8085 unto you, that I may lay H5414 my hand H3027 upon Egypt, H4714 and bring forth H3318 mine armies, H6635 and my people H5971 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 by great H1419 judgments. H8201
When the king H4428 of Babylon's H894 army H2428 fought H3898 against Jerusalem, H3389 and against all the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 that were left, H3498 against Lachish, H3923 and against Azekah: H5825 for these defenced H4013 cities H5892 remained H7604 of the cities H5892 of Judah. H3063 This is the word H1697 that came unto Jeremiah H3414 from the LORD, H3068 after H310 that the king H4428 Zedekiah H6667 had made H3772 a covenant H1285 with all the people H5971 which were at Jerusalem, H3389 to proclaim H7121 liberty H1865 unto them; That every man H376 should let his manservant, H5650 and every man H376 his maidservant, H8198 being an Hebrew H5680 or an Hebrewess, H5680 go H7971 free; H2670 that none should serve H5647 himself of them, to wit, of a Jew H3064 his brother. H251 Now when all the princes, H8269 and all the people, H5971 which had entered H935 into the covenant, H1285 heard H8085 that every one H376 should let his manservant, H5650 and every one H376 his maidservant, H8198 go H7971 free, H2670 that none should serve H5647 themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, H8085 and let them go. H7971 But afterward H310 they turned, H7725 and caused the servants H5650 and the handmaids, H8198 whom they had let go H7971 free, H2670 to return, H7725 and brought them into subjection H3533 H3533 for servants H5650 and for handmaids. H8198
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 When thou goest H3212 to return H7725 into Egypt, H4714 see H7200 that thou do H6213 all those wonders H4159 before H6440 Pharaoh, H6547 which I have put H7760 in thine hand: H3027 but I will harden H2388 his heart, H3820 that he shall not let the people H5971 go. H7971
And it was told H5046 the king H4428 of Egypt H4714 that the people H5971 fled: H1272 and the heart H3824 of Pharaoh H6547 and of his servants H5650 was turned H2015 against the people, H5971 and they said, H559 Why have we done H6213 this, that we have let Israel H3478 go H7971 from serving H5647 us?
But they refused H3985 to hearken, H7181 and pulled away H5414 H5637 the shoulder, H3802 and stopped H3513 their ears, H241 that they should not hear. H8085 Yea, they made H7760 their hearts H3820 as an adamant stone, H8068 lest they should hear H8085 the law, H8451 and the words H1697 which the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath sent H7971 in his spirit H7307 by H3027 the former H7223 prophets: H5030 therefore came a great H1419 wrath H7110 from the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Exodus 8
Commentary on Exodus 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
Three more of the plagues of Egypt are related in this chapter,
Exd 8:1-15
Pharaoh is here first threatened and then plagued with frogs, as afterwards, in this chapter, with lice and flies, little despicable inconsiderable animals, and yet by their vast numbers rendered sore plagues to the Egyptians. God could have plagued them with lions, or bears, or wolves, or with vultures or other birds of prey; but he chose to do it by these contemptible instruments.
Exd 8:16-19
Here is a short account of the plague of lice. It does not appear that any warning was given of it before. Pharaoh's abuse of the respite granted to him might have been a sufficient warning to him to expect another plague: for if the removal of an affliction harden us, and so we lose the benefit of it, we may conclude it goes away with a purpose to return or to make room for a worse. Observe,
Exd 8:20-32
Here is the story of the plague of flies, in which we are told,
Lastly, The issue of all was that God graciously removed the plague (v. 30, 31), but Pharaoh perfidiously returned to his hardness, and would not let the people go, v. 32. His pride would not let him part with such a flower of his crown as his dominion over Israel was, nor his covetousness with such a branch of his revenue as their labours were. Note, Reigning lusts break through the strongest bounds, and make men impudently presumptuous and scandalously perfidious. Let not sin therefore reign; for, if it do, it will betray and hurry us to the grossest absurdities.