What does Exodus 8:30 mean?
ESV: So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.
NIV: Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord,
NASB: So Moses left Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord.
CSB: Then Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the Lord.
NLT: So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the Lord to remove all the flies.
KJV: And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.
NKJV: So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord.
Verse Commentary:
After another refusal to release Israelite slaves (Exodus 5:1–4), God sends another plague (Exodus 3:19–20). Pharaoh begs Moses to end the catastrophe by appealing to God on his behalf (Exodus 8:28). Moses agrees but warns the Egyptian king not to lie as he did before (Exodus 8:29). Moses fulfills his end of the agreement. He leaves Pharaoh—probably having met in the palace—and speaks to God so the swarms of flies will dissipate.
Of course, God and Moses both know that Pharaoh will not keep his word (Exodus 3:19–20). It will take ten plagues, each more devastating than the last, before he actually allows the people to leave (Exodus 12:30–31, 41). Even then, he will change his mind and pursue Israel (Exodus 14:6–7), resulting in the loss of his army and probably his own life (Exodus 14:26–28).
Verse Context:
Exodus 8:20–32 presents the fourth plague in response to Pharaoh's continued resistance to Israelite freedom. This involves droves of insects: possibly flies or the larger, biting horseflies. The Hebrew word simply means "swarms." There are so many flies that they even cover the ground. This time, Israelite territory is specifically exempt from the disaster. That restriction further removes doubts that this was an unplanned coincidence. Pharaoh seems willing to allow some measure of freedom for Israel, but quickly changes his mind.
Chapter Summary:
After Pharaoh ignores the first plague (Exodus 7:20–23), God sends a swarm of frogs. Pharaoh's magicians can summon frogs, but they can't get rid of them. So, he appeals to Moses. Though the plague is lifted, Pharaoh re-jects the command to release Israelite slaves. This leads to a plague of gnats and then one of flies, with similar results. The arrival of these creatures might have been caused by the corruption of the Nile River, but only God's supernatural work could make them disappear. Future plagues will be increasingly severe (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22; 10:4, 22; 12:29–32).
Chapter Context:
Moses and Aaron offered a sign to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:10–13), but he still refused to release the Hebrew slaves (Ex-odus 1:11–14). This triggered the first of the ten plagues of Egypt: turning water into blood (Exodus 7:20–21). This chapter includes the next three disasters: frogs, gnats, and flies. Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to concede each time. Upcoming plagues will escalate (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22, 10:4, 22), leading to the death of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 12:29–32) and Israel's release (Exodus 12:41).
Book Summary:
The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.
Accessed 4/15/2025 11:05:05 PM
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