Êxodo 7
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Êxodo 7
"I Will Stretch Out My Hand" Aaron Is Moses' Spokesman The Call of Moses and the Appointment of Aaron The Lord's Command to Moses and Aaron The Narrative of Moses' Call Continued 6:2-7:7 6:28-7:7 6:28-7:7 6:28-7:5 7:6-7 Aaron's Rod Becomes a Snake Aaron's Miraculous Rod The Ten Plagues Aaron's Walking Stick The Staff Turned Into a Snake 7:8-13 7:8-13 7:8-13 7:8-13 7:8-13 Water Is Turned to Blood First Plague: Water Becomes Blood Disasters Strike Egypt The First Plague: Water Turns to Blood 7:14-19 7:14-18 7:14-19 7:14-18 7:14-18 7:19-25 7:19-25 7:19 7:20-25 7:20-24 7:20-24 The Second Plague 7:25-8:15 7:25 CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This is the section of Exodus (chapters 7-11) that deals with the ten plagues. pollution of the Nile, Exod. 7:14-25 swarm of frogs, Exod. 8:1-15 abundance of gnats, lice, mosquitos, Exod. 8:16-19 swarm of flies, Exod. 8:20-32 disease on animals, Exod. 9:1-7 disease on humans, Exod. 9:8-12 hail, Exod. 9:18-35 locusts, Exod. 10:1-20 darkness, Exod. 10:21-29 death of the firstborn, Exod. 11:1-8 These plagues do not form a major theological tenet in the faith of Israel. While the exodus is a major historical event referred to over and over again, the plagues are simply not developed theologically (i.e., Ps. 78:44; 105:29). However, the symbolism of the first plague is used by the Apostle John in the book of Revelation (cf. Rev. 8:8; 11:6; 16:4). The time element for the plagues is uncertain but most scholars postulate a period of six to eighteen months. This is because of the interpretive discrepancy between (1) natural phenomenon in their appropriate season and (2) supernatural phenomenon possibly opposite their appropriate season. The length of time, in my opinion, accentuates the theological truth that YHWH is trying to speak to the Egyptians (i.e., by depreciating Egyptian gods; cf. Exod. 12:12; Num. 33:4; see Bernard Ramm, Let My People Go), as well as the Hebrews. The plagues are natural occurrences (see Kenneth A. Kitchen, "Plagues of Egypt" in New Bible Dictionary, following Greta Hort; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1056-1059) in Egypt but with these there is supernatural intensity timing location The plagues targeted Egypt but not the delta settlements of the Hebrews. F. B. Huey, one of my seminary professors, has an interesting note on the purpose(s) of the plagues in his Study Guide Commentary (p. 51). to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage (Exod. 7:4) to make Egypt know that Yahweh was truly God (Exod. 7:5,17; 8:22) to punish Egypt for their sins (Exod. 9:27,34)
Êxodo 7:1-7
7:1 "See" This is a Qal IMPERATIVE from the same root (BDB 906) as one of the names/titles for prophets (ro'eh, BDB 906, "a seer." Here the IMPERATIVE is a way to draw attention to YHWH's command to speak to Pharaoh. SPECIAL TOPIC: DIFFERENT HEBREW TERMS FOR PROPHET ▣ "I make you as God to Pharaoh" This seems to involve one of two things: it is an idiom for Moses' authority (cf. Exod. 4:16) as Pharaoh thought himself to be a god, the plagues would show Moses as the true representative of Deity the name/title elohim can refer to angels, therefore, it could be Moses as a messenger from the one true God SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. ▣ "Aaron shall be your prophet" The basic meaning of the term Prophet is "to be a spokesman." SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) 7:2 "You shall speak all that I command you" In Exod. 4:28, Moses spoke "all" of YHWH's words to Aaron. In Exod. 4:30, Aaron spoke all that he heard from Moses to the people. Here, the text asserts that Moses is to speak "all" of YHWH's words to Pharaoh. The spokesperson, though unstated, will be Aaron, not Moses. Also note these words are not from Moses or Aaron. They are YHWH's words; not one word can be overlooked or minimized. This is divine, specific revelation. ▣ "Let the sons of Israel go out of his land" This is a recurrent phrase (the VERB is "go"). Exod. 7:2 ‒ Piel PERFECT with waw Exod. 7:14 ‒ negated, Piel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT Exod. 7:16 ‒ Piel IMPERATIVE Exod. 7:26 (English 8:1) ‒ Piel IMPERATIVE Exod 8:4 (English 8:8) ‒ Piel COHORTATIVE The theologically purposeful test of wills continues between a hard-hearted Pharaoh and the only true God. Pharaoh's hard heart allows YHWH to demonstrate His power over the nature idols of Egypt. 7:3 "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt" This has caused major theological discussion. The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is first mentioned in Exod. 4:21 (see full notes there and at Exod. 7:14). Several times throughout this passage, it is said that God hardens Pharaoh's heart. Other times it says that Pharaoh hardens his own heart. One time it says that Pharaoh's heart was hardened but without the subject being identified (see note at Exod. 4:21). It seems significant that it is always connected with the signs and wonders. The hardening is for a redemptive purpose (notice Isa. 6:10; Rom. 11:37,25; 2 Cor. 3:14). Pharaoh refuses to believe in YHWH. I do not think that this one example violates the biblical assertion of the sovereignty of God and the expected human response. It is very similar to the theological problem with Judas Iscariot (see SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDAS ISCARIOT. When we see God's overall plan for the redemption of all humans, the stubbornness (divine or self imposed) of one man really does not set the theology. The exodus, by means of these signs, will be for the purpose of not only delivering Israel, but for building up her faith. It will also have an evangelistic thrust, not only for Pharaoh, Exod. 8:10, the Magicians, Exod. 8:14, but to all of Egypt, Exod. 9:14-15, and to the whole world, Exod. 19:5. The effect of these signs for redemptive purposes can be clearly seen in Exod. 5:20; 11:3. SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD HARDENED ▣ "My signs" This term (BDB 16) is used of several people. a sign to Moses, Exod. 3:12 a sign to the Israelites, Exod. 4:8,9,17,28,30; 13:9,16; 31:13,17 (Sabbath); Deut. 4:34; 6:22; 7:19 a sign to Pharaoh, the plagues, Exod. 7:3; 8:23; 10:1,2; Deut. 11:3 a sign for the Death Angel, Exod. 12:13 SPECIAL TOPIC: SIGN (OT) ▣ "My wonders" This term (BDB 68) is also used of miraculous wonders before Pharaoh (cf. Exod. 4:2; 7:3,9; 11:9,10). It would include (1) the staff turning into a snake and (2) the ten plagues. The terms "signs" and "wonders" are often together and are synonymous for YHWH's great acts of deliverance from Egyptian bondage. For another Hebrew NOUN used in this same sense, see the Special Topic below. SPECIAL TOPIC: WONDERFUL THINGS 7:4 "I will lay My hand on Egypt" The "hand" is a Hebraic idiom for God's judgment. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel" Here it is obvious that the term "hosts" (BDB 838) means either a large multitude or an army (BDB 838, cf. Exod. 6:26; 12:41; also note in Exod. 13:18, BDB 332, "in martial array"; and Num. 10:14,18,22,25). This is the term "Sabboath," which is used in the phrase "the Lord of hosts." SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS ▣ "from the land of Egypt by great judgments" It is significant that Moses directly confronts the king of Egypt who was believed to be a god (i.e., son of Ra), and the gods of Egypt, particularly the Nile River (i.e., Hapi) and the animal gods, as well as the Egyptian priests. God's judgment is primarily on the religion of Egypt and by judging their gods, He opens the door for belief on the part of some Egyptians. We later learn that a "mixed multitude" left with Israel (cf. Exod. 12:38). Though they later cause some problems (cf. Num. 11:4), I believe that this is the fulfillment of the merciful purpose of God (cf. Exod. 7:5). 7:5 The theme of the revelation (i.e., knowledge) of YHWH Himself is recurrent (cf. Exod. 7:5,17; 8:19; 10:7). YHWH has a larger redemptive plan. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "I stretch out My hand on Egypt" This is anthropomorphic language. God does not have physical hands. He is an eternal Spirit. SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN 7:7 "Moses was eighty years old" It seems that not only in the Pentateuch but also in Acts 7:23-30 that Moses' life is divided into three segments of forty years each. he was raised in Pharaoh's court for forty years he was exiled for forty years to the very desert region where he would later lead the children of Israel he brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for forty years (cf. Deut. 34:7)
Êxodo 7:8-13
7:9 "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Work a miracle'" This first miracle of the staff turning into a serpent was mentioned earlier in Exod. 4:3, where it was meant to encourage Moses. In Exod. 4:30 it was to show the Hebrews that Moses was from God. Pharaoh had possibly heard of this miracle being performed before the Hebrew people and he had prepared his magicians so that they could duplicate it. The term "serpent," used in Exod. 7:9,10,12, is the term "tannin" (BDB 1072), which could mean reptile (cf. Deut. 32:33) a large sea creature (cf. Gen. 1:21; Ps. 148:7) sea monsters (cf. Job 7:12; Ps. 74:13; Isa. 27:1; possibly an allusion to Apopis, the Egyptian chaos creature who took the form of a snake) But, because the normal word for serpent (BDB 638) is used in Exod. 4:3 and 7:15, they are obviously synonymous here, so serpent is the intended meaning. 7:11 There are several terms used to describe these wise men. "wise men" ‒ BDB 314, KB 314, would have included men learned in science, math, medicine, astrology, and the occult Egypt ‒ Gen. 41:8; Isa. 19:11,12 Babylon ‒ Isa. 44:25; Jer. 30:35; 51:57 Persia ‒ Esther 1:13; 6:13 They would typify human wisdom. There is a rabbinical tradition about their names and number which is recorded in 1 Tim. 3:8. There has been much discussion among commentators as to whether these men truly had the power to mimic the works of God (i.e., the occult) or if they were simply adept at trickery and manipulation (i.e., magicians). "sorcerers" ‒ BDB 506, KB 503, Piel PARTICIPLE, means "practice sorcery" which attempts to control or predict future events. The MASCULINE NOUN is used in 2 Kgs. 9:22; Isa. 47:9,12; Mic.5:11; Nah. 3:4. The FEMININE NOUN is used only once, in Exod. 22:18. The VERB is used in 2 Chr. 33:6; Deut. 18:10; Dan. 2:2; Mal. 3:5. "magicians" ‒ BDB 355, KB 352, basically means "to write" (BDB) or "to read" (KB). It denotes a diviner, astrologer, magician, who kept and interpreted Egypt's sacred texts (i.e., one who read signs or kept sacred texts, cf. Gen. 41:8,24; Exod. 8:14,15; 9:11; Dan. 1:20; 2:2). It is often translated "sooth-sayer priests." NASB, NRSV ‒ "their secret acts" - BDB 532, which basically means "secretly" (cf. Jdgs. 4:2; Ruth 3:7; 1 Sam. 18:22), but here it denotes one who uses "secret" knowledge (cf. Exod. 7:11,22; 8:6,18; 9:11; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 794). Other possible translations are NKJV ‒ "their enchantments" TEV ‒ "the magic they did" NJB, JPSOA, REB ‒ "their spells" LXX ‒ "their magical potions" For a list of these kinds of false wise men see the full notes at Deuteronomy 18. Also note discussion in Robert B. Girdlestone, Synonyms of the OT, pp. 297-302. SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC ▣ "did the same" The duplication of the first three plagues by Egyptian wise men was surely the way YHWH hardened Pharaoh's heart. YHWH knew what an arrogant eastern king would do when challenged. These implications lowered the impact of the first three "signs" and "wonders." I think this duplication was the power of the demonic. But, note that it is controlled by God, limited and surpassed! SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS 7:12 "each one of them threw down his staff and they turned into a serpent" Some would see this as a particular way of handling snakes which made them rigid, while others would see it as mimicking or aping the power of God (i.e., the occult). Snake charming is mentioned often in the Bible (i.e., magicians, tricksters, cf. Ps. 58:5; Eccl. 10:11; Jer. 8:17). ▣ "Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs" Even when the wise men duplicated the sign, YHWH's power was demonstrably greater! The same thing is clearly seen in Exod. 7:22, when the wise men turned a small amount of water red, but YHWH turned all the water in Egypt red. It should be noted that in Egyptian magic texts, the VERB "to swallow" (BDB 118, KB 134, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) was used symbolically of incorporating another person/god's power.
Êxodo 7:14-19
7:14-19 "the Nile. . .it will be turned to blood" We learn from Exod. 7:18 that the fish are going to die, that the water is going to smell, and that the Egyptians would have difficulty drinking from it (Exod. 7:21,24 say it could not be drunk). Again, there has been a disagreement among commentators as to whether the smell came from the fish or from some natural change in the water (algae). We know that the Nile does turn red from time to time due to the red clay of its tributary that runs through Ethiopia (see The New Oxford Annotated Bible, p. 77, footnote and NET Bible, p. 129, #16). We also know from historical records of this phenomenon in salt water called "the red tide." But this is a supernatural miracle. Not only is the timing supernatural but also the intensity as well (i.e., all of the water in all of the containers in Egypt being changed at once, cf. Exod. 7:19). However, I do not believe that the water actually changed to human blood. It seems that the color is the significant aspect, but it is more than just color because it killed the fish. Here again, is the seeming mixture of the natural with the supernatural. It is significant that the Nile was one of the chief deities of Egypt (i.e., Hapi). Here, at the beginning, Moses confronts Pharaoh, the ruler and the chief deity of Egypt (i.e., son of Ra), to show the superiority of YHWH. 7:14 There are several terms used to describe Pharaoh's heart (see full note at Exod. 4:21) in this context. "harden," Exod. 7:3 ‒ BDB 904, this also means "to harden," cf. Deut. 2:30 "hardened," Exod. 7:13,22 ‒ BDB 304, lit. "strong" or "hard," cf. Exod. 4:21; 8:15; 9:12,35; 10:20,27; 11:10; 14:4,8,17; Josh. 11:20 "stubborn," Exod. 7:14 ‒ BDB 457, lit. "heavy," cf. Exod. 8:15,32; 9:7,34; 10:1 These terms are used interchangeably here. There seems to be no distinction intended. This may be the result of different oral traditions (see John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture). 7:16 "The Lord, the God of the Hebrews" For "Lord" (YHWH) and "God" (Elohim) see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. and D. For "Hebrews" see notes at Exod. 1:15 and SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW PEOPLE 7:17 "By this you shall know that I am the Lord" Pharaoh claimed a lack of "knowledge" about YHWH in Exod. 5:2. The plagues will clearly reveal YHWH's power and supremacy over the Egyptian deities/idols (cf. Exod. 8:10,22; 9:14,29). There is obviously a word play on "know" ‒ BDB 393, KB 390 information personal relationship (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW) "I am. . .YHWH" ‒ see notes at Exod. 3:14-16 7:18 "became foul" This VERB (BDB 92, KB 107, Qal PERFECT with waw) is used three times in Exodus. the Nile smelled bad because of the dead fish, Exod. 7:18 the land smelled bad because of the dead frogs, Exod. 8:14 manna, if left overnight, smells bad, Exod. 16:20 7:19 This plague affected a chief deity of Egypt (i.e., Pharaoh on his way to bathe/anoint himself in the Nile) the food (i.e., fish) of the Egyptians the drinking water of the Egyptians in the river in ponds/wells in streams in containers Notice in Exod. 7:24 the Egyptians tried to find drinking water. The IVP Bible Background Commentary (p. 83) suggests that the literal Hebrew, "sticks and stones," was used in Ugaritic literature for "the outlying, barren regions." If so, it is imagery for all water sources being polluted. SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS ▣ "both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone" It was not just the water in the Nile, but all the sources of water in Egypt were affected, even the water being held in containers for immediate use.
Êxodo 7:20-25
7:22 As the magicians did with the staff/rod becoming a snake (Exod. 7:11), so too, with the water turning red (7:22). They will do the same with the frogs in Exod. 8:7, but they could not duplicate the "gnats" (7:18). I think the magicians are using the power of the occult but that their power was limited and weak in comparison to YHWH's power. 7:24 The plight of the Egyptian populace (i.e., those who did not have access to wine) was severe. Their only hope was to dig new wells close to the Nile and let the sand/dirt function as a filter. 7:25 "seven days" Why this initial plague lasted seven days is uncertain, but it is probably connected to the symbolic meaning of seven to the Hebrews. See SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #4. Notice the text never says Moses took away this plague, as it does the other plagues!