The Skeptics Annotated Bible (65 page)

(9.15-16) God gave power to the Pharaoh so that he could show off his own power by tormenting and killing things.

15 For now
I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth
.

(9.15)
“I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.”

16 And in very deed
for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power
; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

(9.16)
“For this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power.”

17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

The Seventh Plague
(9.18-26)
Hail.

18 Behold,
to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail
, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

(9.18)
“Tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail.”

19 Send therefore now, and
gather thy cattle
, and all that thou hast in the field;
for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.

(9.19)
“Gather thy cattle … for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.”
God kills all cattle (the second time)
(See Exodus 9.6 and 12.29 for God’s other cattle killings.)
97 Did God kill all the Egyptian cattle in the sixth plague?

20 He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:

21 And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

22 And
the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt
, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.

(9.22)
“The LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt.”

23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and
the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

(9.23)
“The LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.”

24 So
there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous
, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

(9.24)
“There was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous.”
God killed Egyptians and their livestock by smashing them with huge hailstones mixed with fire.
God’s 8th Killing

25 And
the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast;
and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

(9.25)
“The hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast.”

26
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

(9.26)
“Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.”

27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

28 Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that
the earth is the LORD’S.

(9.29)
“The earth is the LORD’S.”
51 Who owns the earth?

30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.

31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.

32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.

33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.

34 And when
Pharaoh
saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and
hardened his heart,
he and his servants.

(9.34)
“Pharaoh … hardened his heart.”
95 Who hardened the Pharaoh’s heart?

35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

10
And the LORD said unto Moses
, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him
:

(10.1)
“Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him.”
God hardens Pharaoh’s heart for the fifth time.
95 Who hardened the Pharaoh’s heart?