Exodus 7:5

7:1-7 God glorifies himself. He makes people know that he is Jehovah. Israel is made to know it by the performance of his promises to them, and the Egyptians by the pouring out of his wrath upon them. Moses, as the ambassador of Jehovah, speaking in his name, laid commands upon Pharaoh, denounced threatenings against him, and called for judgments upon him. Pharaoh, proud and great as he was, could not resist. Moses stood not in awe of Pharaoh, but made him tremble. This seems to be meant in the words, Thou shalt be a god unto Pharaoh. At length Moses is delivered from his fears. He makes no more objections, but, being strengthened in faith, goes about his work with courage, and proceeds in it with perseverance.

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord,.... Jehovah, the one only true and living God; this they should know by the judgments executed upon them, and be obliged to acknowledge it: when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt: especially the last time, to destroy the firstborn: and bring out the children of Israel from among them; by which it would appear that he was mightier than they, and obtained the end for which the plagues were inflicted on them.

(5) The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. —Heb., that I am Jehovah: i.e., that I answer to my name—that I am the only really existing God, their so-called gods being “vapour, smoke, nothingness.” No doubt this was one of the main lessons intended to be taught by the whole series of miraculous events connected with the Exodus. Egypt was the greatest monarchy in the whole world. She was now at the height of her glory. Among existent polytheisms, hers was the most famous; and her gods must have seemed, not only to herself, but to all the surrounding nations, the most powerful. To discredit them was to throw discredit upon polytheism generally, and to exalt the name of Jehovah above that of all the deities of the nations. (Comp. Exodus 14:11-16 .)

Verse 5. - The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord . Rather, "that I am Jehovah" - i.e . that I answer to my Name - that I am the only God who is truly existent, other so-called gods being nonentities. They will know this and feel this when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, as I am about to stretch it forth. Exodus 7:5

5 . And the Egyptians shall know , &c.] These great judgement, and Israel’s triumphant exodus, will teach the Egyptians Jehovah’s might, and (cf. Exodus 12:12 ) His superiority to their own gods. Cf. Exodus 14:4 ; Exodus 14:18 ; and similarly Ezekiel 25:7 ; Ezekiel 25:11 ; Eze Exo 25:17; Ezekiel 28:24 , &c. On the expression, see on Exo Exodus 6:7 .

את־ידי ונתתּי: "I will lay My hand on Egypt," i.e., smite Egypt, "and bring out My armies, My people, the children of Israel." צבאות (armies) is used of Israel, with reference to its leaving Egypt equipped ( Exodus 13:18 ) and organized as an army according to the tribes (cf. Exodus 6:26 and Exodus 12:51 with Numbers 1 and 2), to contend for the cause of the Lord, and fight the battles of Jehovah. In this respect the Israelites were called the hosts of Jehovah. The calling of Moses and Aaron was now concluded. Exodus 7:6 and Exodus 7:7 pave the way for the account of their performance of the duties consequent upon their call.

[Reformed Biblical] 14:8. Exodu s 6:27 1491 No text from Poole on this verse. Exodu s 6:28 Exodus 6:29 Exodus 6:30 ## Exodus 7:1 EXODUS CHAPTER 7 ## God encourages Moses to speak to Pharaoh, Exo_7:1. God foretells the hardness of, Pharaoh’s heart, that he might multiply his wonders in Egypt, Exo_7:3 , 4 to declare to the Egyptians that he only is the Lord, Exo_7:5. Moses and Aaron obey God’s command, Exo_7:6. Their age, Exo_7:7. God commands them to show a miracle for the confirmation of their authority, Exo_7:8,9. Their rod turned into a serpent, Exo_7:10. The magicians do the same, Exo_7:11. Aaron’s rod devoureth theirs, Exo_7:12. Pharaoh is hardened, as the Lord had said, Exo_7:13; and refuseth to let the people go, Exo_7:14. God denounces judgments on the Egyptians, Exo_7:17,18. Commands Moses and Aaron to stretch out their hands oven the waters, Exo_7:19. The waters are turned into blood, Exo_7:20. The fish die, and the river stinks, Exo_7:21. The magicians do the same, whereby Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, Exo_7:22. The means they used against this plague, Exo_7:24. The continuance of it, Exo_ 7:25. To rep resent my pe rson, to act like God, by requiring his obedience to thy commands, and by punishing his disobedience with such punishments as none but God can inflict, to which end thou shalt have my omnipotent assistance. i.e. Thy interpreter, or spokesman, as Exo_4:16, to deliver thy commands to

[Reformed Biblical] Pharaoh. Exodus 7:2 Heb. And he will send or dismiss, to wit, at last, being forced to it. Success shall attend your endeavours. Exodus 7:3 Exodus 7:4 Exodus 7:5 Exodus 7:6 An emphatical repetition, to show their courage in attempting to say and do such things to so great a monarch in his own dominions, and their fidelity in the execution of all God’s commands. Exodus 7:7 ## 1491 The ages of Moses and Aaron here, as of Levi and Kohath Exo_6:16 , 18, and before them of Jacob and Joseph, are so exactly set down, that thence we may, understand the accomplishment of God’s prediction, Gen_15:13, and the time of Israel’s being in Egypt. Exodus 7:8 Exodus 7:9 ## Say unto Aaron, by whose hands this and other miracles were to be done, and not by Moses immediately; partly to take off the some suspicion that these miracles were wrought by magical artifice of Moses; and partly for the greater honour of Moses, that he might be what God had said, Exo_7:1, a god to Pharaoh , who not only could work wonders himself, but also give power to others to do so. ## Take thy rod: the same rod is called the rod of God , and of Moses , and of Aaron , here and Exo_7:12, because it was appointed, and as it were consecrated by God, and used both by Moses and Aaron in their great works. And this rod Moses ordinarily held in his hand, and delive red it to Aaron upon occasion for the execution of his commands. ## A serpent; Heb. a dragon , which is a great serpent . Others, a crocodile , to whose