Notes for Exodus 9:1LEB
This plague demonstrates that Yahweh has power over the livestock of Egypt. He is able to strike the animals with disease and death, thus delivering a blow to the economic as well as the religious life of the land. By the former plagues many of the Egyptian religious ceremonies would have been interrupted and objects of veneration defiled or destroyed. Now some of the important deities will be attacked. In Goshen, where the cattle are merely cattle, no disease hits, but in the rest of Egypt it is a different matter. Osiris, the savior, cannot even save the brute in which his own soul is supposed to reside. Apis and Mnevis, the ram of Ammon, the sheep of Sais, and the goat of Mendes, perish together. Hence, Moses reminds Israel afterward, "On their gods also Yahweh executed judgments" (Num 33:4LEB). When Jethro heard of all these events, he said, "Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods" (Exod 18:11LEB).
Notes for Exodus 9:2LEB
The object "them" is implied in the context.
עוֹד(’od), an adverb meaning "yet, still," can be inflected with suffixes and used as a predicator of existence, with the nuance "to still be, yet be" (T. O. Lambdin, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, 171–72, §137). Then, it is joined here with the Hiphil participle מַחֲזִיק (makhaziq) to form the sentence "you are still holding them."
Notes for Exodus 9:3LEB
The form used here is הוֹיָה (hoyah), the Qal active participle, feminine singular, from the verb "to be." This is the only place in the OT that this form occurs. Ogden shows that this form is appropriate with the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) to stress impending divine action, and that it conforms to the pattern in these narratives where five times the participle is used in the threat to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:17LEB; Exodus 8:2LEB; Exodus 9:3-14LEB; Exodus 10:4LEB). See G. S. Ogden, "Notes on the Use of הויה in Exodus IX. 3, " VT 17 (1967): 483-84.
The word דֶּבֶר (dever) is usually translated "pestilence" when it applies to diseases for humans. It is used only here and in Ps 78:50 for animals.
The older view that camels were not domesticated at this time (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 70; W. F. Albright, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, 96; et. al.) has been corrected by more recently uncovered information (see K. A. Kitchen, NBD 160–61).
Notes for Exodus 9:4LEB
The verb פָּלָה (palah) in Hiphil means "to set apart, make separate, make distinct." See also Exod 8:22 (18 HT); 11:7; 33:16.
There is a wordplay in this section. A pestilence – דֶּבֶר (dever) – will fall on Egypt’s cattle, but no thing – דָּבָר (davar) – belonging to Israel would die. It was perhaps for this reason that the verb was changed in v. 1 from "say" to "speak" (דִּבֶּר, dibber). See U. Cassuto, Exodus, 111.
The lamed preposition indicates possession: "all that was to the Israelites" means "all that the Israelites had."
Notes for Exodus 9:5LEB
"and Yahweh set."
"this thing."
Notes for Exodus 9:6LEB
"this thing."
"on the morrow."
The word "all" clearly does not mean "all" in the exclusive sense, because subsequent plagues involve cattle. The word must denote such a large number that whatever was left was insignificant for the economy. It could also be taken to mean "all [kinds of] livestock died."
"of Egypt." The place is put by metonymy for the inhabitants.
Notes for Exodus 9:7LEB
"Pharaoh sent." The phrase "representatives to investigate" is implied in the context.
"and the heart of Pharaoh was hardened." This phrase translates the Hebrew word כָּבֵד (kaved; see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53). In context this represents the continuation of a prior condition.
Notes for Exodus 9:8LEB
This sixth plague, like the third, is unannounced. Yahweh instructs his servants to take handfuls of ashes from the Egyptians’ furnaces and sprinkle them heavenward in the sight of Pharaoh. These ashes would become little particles of dust that would cause boils on the Egyptians and their animals. Greta Hort, "The Plagues of Egypt," ZAW 69 [1957]: 101-3, suggests it is skin anthrax (see W. C. Kaiser, Jr., "Exodus," EBC 2:359). The lesson of this plague is that Yahweh has absolute control over the physical health of the people. Physical suffering consequent to sin comes to all regardless of their position and status. The Egyptians are helpless in the face of this, as now Yahweh begins to touch human life; greater judgments on human wickedness lie ahead.
This word פִּיחַ (piakh) is a hapax legomenon, meaning "soot"; it seems to be derived from the verb פּוּחַ (puakh, "to breathe, blow"). The "furnace" (כִּבְשָׁן, kivshan) was a special kiln for making pottery or bricks.
The verb זָרַק (zaraq) means "to throw vigorously, to toss." If Moses tosses the soot into the air, it will symbolize that the disease is falling from heaven.
"before the eyes of Pharaoh."
Notes for Exodus 9:9LEB
The word שְׁחִין (shékhin) means "boils." It may be connected to an Arabic cognate that means "to be hot." The illness is associated with Job (Job 2:7–8LEB) and Hezekiah (Isa 38:21LEB); it has also been connected with other skin diseases described especially in the Law. The word connected with it is אֲבַעְבֻּעֹת (’ava’bu’ot); this means "blisters, pustules" and is sometimes translated as "festering." The etymology is debated, whether from a word meaning "to swell up" or "to overflow" (W. C. Kaiser, Jr., "Exodus," EBC 2:359).
Notes for Exodus 9:12LEB
This phrase translates the Hebrew word חָזַק (khazaq); see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53.
Notes for Exodus 9:13LEB
With the seventh plague there is more explanation of what Yahweh is doing to Pharaoh. This plague begins with an extended lesson (vv. 13–21). Rain was almost unknown in Egypt, and hail and lightning were harmless. The Egyptians were fascinated by all these, though, and looked on them as portentous. Herodotus describes how they studied such things and wrote them down (1.2.c.38). If ordinary rainstorms were ominous, what must fire and hail have been? The Egyptians had denominated fire Hephaistos, considering it to be a mighty deity (cf. Diodorus, 1.1.c.1). Porphry says that at the opening of the temple of Serapis the Egyptians worshiped with water and fire. If these connections were clearly understood, then these elements in the plague were thought to be deities that came down on their own people with death and destruction.
"and Yahweh said."
Or "take your stand."
Notes for Exodus 9:14LEB
The expression "all my plagues" points to the rest of the plagues and anticipates the proper outcome. Another view is to take the expression to mean the full brunt of the attack on the Egyptian people.
"to your heart." The expression is unusual, but it may be an allusion to the hard heartedness of Pharaoh – his stubbornness and blindness (B. Jacob, Exodus, 274).
Notes for Exodus 9:15LEB
The verb is the Qal perfect שָׁלַחְתִּי (shalakhti), but a past tense, or completed action translation does not fit the context at all. Gesenius lists this reference as an example of the use of the perfect to express actions and facts, whose accomplishment is to be represented not as actual but only as possible. He offers this for Exod 9:15LEB: "I had almost put forth" (GKC 313 §106.p). Also possible is "I should have stretched out my hand." Others read the potential nuance instead, and render it as "I could have…" as in the present translation.
The verb כָּחַד (kakhad) means "to hide, efface," and in the Niphal it has the idea of "be effaced, ruined, destroyed." Here it will carry the nuance of the result of the preceding verbs: "I could have stretched out my hand…and struck you…and (as a result) you would have been destroyed."
Notes for Exodus 9:16LEB
The first word is a very strong adversative, which, in general, can be translated "but, howbeit"; BDB 19 s.v. אוּלָם suggests for this passage "but in very deed."
The form הֶעֱמַדְתִּיךָ (he’emadtikha) is the Hiphil perfect of עָמַד (’amad). It would normally mean "I caused you to stand." But that seems to have one or two different connotations. S. R. Driver (Exodus, 73) says that it means "maintain you alive." The causative of this verb means "continue," according to him. The LXX has the same basic sense – "you were preserved." But Paul bypasses the Greek and writes "he raised you up" to show Yahweh’s absolute sovereignty over Pharaoh. Both renderings show Yahweh’s sovereign control over Pharaoh.
The Hiphil infinitive construct הַרְאֹתְךָ (har’otékha) is the purpose of Yahweh’s making Pharaoh come to power in the first place. To make Pharaoh see is to cause him to understand, to experience Yahweh’s power.
"in order to declare my name." Since there is no expressed subject, this may be given a passive translation.
Notes for Exodus 9:17LEB
מִסְתּוֹלֵל(mistolel) is a Hitpael participle, from a root that means "raise up, obstruct." So in the Hitpael it means to "raise oneself up," "elevate oneself," or "be an obstructionist." See W. C. Kaiser, Jr., "Exodus," EBC 2:363; U. Cassuto, Exodus, 116.
The infinitive construct with lamed here is epexegetical; it explains how Pharaoh has exalted himself – "by not releasing the people."
Notes for Exodus 9:18LEB
הִנְנִי מַמְטִיר(hinéni mamtir) is the futur instans construction, giving an imminent future translation: "Here – I am about to cause it to rain."
"which not was like it in Egypt." The pronoun suffix serves as the resumptive pronoun for the relative particle: "which…like it" becomes "the like of which has not been." The word "hail" is added in the translation to make clear the referent of the relative particle.
The form הִוָּסְדָה (hivvasdah) is perhaps a rare Niphal perfect and not an infinitive (U. Cassuto, Exodus, 117).
Notes for Exodus 9:19LEB
The object "instructions" is implied in the context.
הָעֵז(ha’ez) is the Hiphil imperative from עוּז (’uz, "to bring into safety" or "to secure"). Although there is no vav (ו) linking the two imperatives, the second could be subordinated by virtue of the meanings. "Send to bring to safety."
"man, human."
"[who] may be found." The verb can be the imperfect of possibility.
Notes for Exodus 9:20LEB
The text has "the one fearing." The singular expression here and throughout vv. 20–21 refers to all who fit the description.
"his" (singular).
Notes for Exodus 9:21LEB
The Hebrew text again has the singular.
"put to his heart."
"his servants and his cattle."
Notes for Exodus 9:22LEB
Or "the heavens" (also in the following verse). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated "heavens" or "sky" depending on the context.
The jussive with the conjunction (וִיהִי, vihi) coming after the imperative provides the purpose or result.
"on man and on beast."
The noun refers primarily to cultivated grains. But here it seems to be the general heading for anything that grows from the ground, all vegetation and plant life, as opposed to what grows on trees.
Notes for Exodus 9:23LEB
The preterite with the vav (ו) consecutive is here subordinated to the next clause in view of the emphasis put on the subject, Yahweh, by the disjunctive word order of that clause.
By starting the clause with the subject (an example of disjunctive word order) the text is certainly stressing that Yahweh alone did this.
The expression נָתַן קֹלֹת (natan qolot) literally means "gave voices" (also "voice"). This is a poetic expression for sending the thunder. Ps 29:3LEB talks about the "voice of Yahweh" – the Yahweh of glory thunders!
This clause has been variously interpreted. Lightning would ordinarily accompany thunder; in this case the mention of fire could indicate that the lightning was beyond normal and that it was striking in such a way as to start fires on the ground. It could also mean that fire went along the ground from the pounding hail.
Notes for Exodus 9:24LEB
The verb is the common preterite וַיְהִי (vayéhi), which is normally translated "and there was" if it is translated at all. The verb הָיָה (hayah), however, can mean "be, become, befall, fall, fall out, happen." Here it could be simply translated "there was hail," but the active "hail fell" fits the point of the sequence better.
The form מִתְלַקַּחַת (mitlaqqakhat) is a Hitpael participle; the clause reads, "and fire taking hold of itself in the midst of the hail." This probably refers to lightning flashing back and forth. See also Ezek 1:4LEB. Yahweh created a great storm with flashing fire connected to it.
"very heavy" or "very severe." The subject "the hail" is implied.
A literal reading of the clause would be "which there was not like it in all the land of Egypt." The relative pronoun must be joined to the resumptive pronoun: "which like it (like which) there had not been."
Notes for Exodus 9:25LEB
The exact expression is "from man even to beast." R. J. Williams lists this as an example of the inclusive use of the preposition מִן (min) to be rendered "both…and" (Hebrew Syntax, 57, §327).
"all the cultivated grain of."
Notes for Exodus 9:27LEB
Pharaoh now is struck by the judgment and acknowledges that he is at fault. But the context shows that this penitence was short-lived. What exactly he meant by this confession is uncertain. On the surface his words seem to represent a recognition that he was in the wrong and Yahweh right.
The word רָשָׁע (rasha’) can mean "ungodly, wicked, guilty, criminal." Pharaoh here is saying that Yahweh is right, and the Egyptians are not – so they are at fault, guilty. S. R. Driver says the words are used in their forensic sense (in the right or wrong standing legally) and not in the ethical sense of morally right and wrong (Exodus, 75).
Notes for Exodus 9:28LEB
The text has "the voices of Yahweh." The divine epithet can be used to express the superlative (cf. Jonah 3:3).
The expression וְרַב מִהְיֹת (vérav mihyot, "[the mighty thunder and hail] is much from being") means essentially "more than enough." This indicates that the storm was too much, or, as one might say, "It is enough."
The last clause uses a verbal hendiadys: "you will not add to stand," meaning "you will no longer stay."
Notes for Exodus 9:29LEB
כְּצֵאתִי(kétse’ti) is the Qal infinitive construct of יָצָא (yatsa’); it functions here as the temporal clause before the statement about prayer.
There has been a good deal of speculation about why Moses would leave the city before praying. Rashi said he did not want to pray where there were so many idols. It may also be as the midrash in Exodus Rabbah 12:5 says that most of the devastation of this plague had been outside in the fields, and that was where Moses wished to go.
This clause provides the purpose/result of Moses’ intention: he will pray to Yahweh and the storms will cease "that you might know…." It was not enough to pray and have the plague stop. Pharaoh must "know" that Yahweh is the sovereign Yahweh over the earth. Here was that purpose of knowing through experience. This clause provides the key for the exposition of this plague: Yahweh demonstrated his power over the forces of nature to show his sovereignty – the earth is Yahweh’s. He can destroy it. He can preserve it. If people sin by ignoring his word and not fearing him, he can bring judgment on them. If any fear Yahweh and obey his instructions, they will be spared. A positive way to express the expositional point of the chapter is to say that those who fear Yahweh and obey his word will escape the powerful destruction he has prepared for those who sinfully disregard his word.
Notes for Exodus 9:30LEB
The verse begins with the disjunctive vav to mark a strong contrastive clause to what was said before this.
The adverb טֶרֶם (terem, "before, not yet") occurs with the imperfect tense to give the sense of the English present tense to the verb negated by it (GKC 314-15 §107.c). Moses is saying that he knew that Pharaoh did not really stand in awe of Yahweh, so as to grant Israel’s release, i.e., fear not in the religious sense but "be afraid of" Yahweh – fear "before" him (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 76).
Notes for Exodus 9:31LEB
A disjunctive vav introduces the two verses that provide parenthetical information to the reader. Gesenius notes that the boldness of such clauses is often indicated by the repetition of nouns at the beginning (see GKC 452 §141.d). Some have concluded that because they have been put here rather than back after v. 25 or 26, they form part of Moses’ speech to Pharaoh, explaining that the crops that were necessary for humans were spared, but those for other things were destroyed. This would also mean that Moses was saying there is more that Yahweh can destroy (see B. Jacob, Exodus, 279).
The unusual forms נֻכָּתָה (nukkatah) in v. 31 and נֻכּוּ (nukku) in v. 32 are probably to be taken as old Qal passives. There are no attested Piel uses of the root.
The words "by the hail" are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied from context.
"was in the ear" (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); NIV "had headed."
Flax was used for making linen, and the area around Tanis was ideal for producing flax. Barley was used for bread for the poor people, as well as beer and animal feed.
Notes for Exodus 9:32LEB
The word כֻּסֶּמֶת (kussemet) is translated "spelt"; the word occurs only here and in Isa 28:25LEB and Ezek 4:9LEB. Spelt is a grain closely allied to wheat. Other suggestions have been brought forward from the study of Egyptian crops (see a brief summary in W. C. Kaiser, Jr., "Exodus," EBC 2:363–64).
"for they are late."
Notes for Exodus 9:34LEB
The clause beginning with the preterite and vav (ו) consecutive is here subordinated to the next, and main clause – that he hardened his heart again.
The construction is another verbal hendiadys: וַיֹּסֶף לַחֲטֹּא (vayyosef lakhatto’), literally rendered "and he added to sin." The infinitive construct becomes the main verb, and the Hiphil preterite becomes adverbial. The text is clearly interpreting as sin the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart and his refusal to release Israel. At the least this means that the plagues are his fault, but the expression probably means more than this – he was disobeying Yahweh Yahweh.
This phrase translates the Hebrew word כָּבֵד (kaved); see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 53.
Notes for Exodus 9:35LEB
The verb about Pharaoh’s heart in v. 35 is וַיֶּחֱזַק (vayyekhezaq), a Qal preterite: "and it was hardened" or "strengthened to resist." This forms the summary statement of this stage in the drama. The verb used in v. 34 to report Pharaoh’s response was וַיַּכְבֵּד (vayyakhbed), a Hiphil preterite: "and he hardened [his heart]" or made it stubborn. The use of two descriptions of Pharaoh’s heart in close succession, along with mention of his servants’ heart condition, underscores the growing extent of the problem.