[10] And Moses and Aaron
went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron
cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became
a serpent.
And Aaron cast his rod down, and it became a serpent
- This was proper not only to affect Pharaoh with wonder, but to strike
a terror upon him. This first miracle, though it was not a plague, yet
amounted to the threatening of a plague; if it made not Pharaoh feel, it
made him fear; this is God's method of dealing with sinners he comes upon
them gradually.
[11] Then Pharaoh also called
the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did
in like manner with their enchantments. [12]
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's
rod swallowed up their rods.
Moses had been originally instructed in the learning
of the Egyptians, and was suspected to have improved in magical arts in
his long retirement. The magicians are therefore sent for to vie with him.
The two chief of them were Jannes and Jambres. Their rods became serpents;
probably by the power of evil angels artfully substituting serpents in
the room of the rods, God permitting the delusion to be wrought for wise
and holy ends. But the serpent which Aaron's rod was turned into, swallowed
up the others, which was sufficient to have convinced Pharaoh on which
side the right lay.
[13] And he hardened Pharaoh's
heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. [14]
And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth
to let the people go. [15] Get thee
unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou
shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was
turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. [16]
And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto
thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:
and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. [17]
Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold,
I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are
in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. [18]
And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink;
and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.
[19] And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto
Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt,
upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all
their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be
blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in
vessels of stone.
And he harden'd Pharaoh's heart - That is, permitted
it to be hardened.
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