Exodus 8:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Moses said to Pharaoh, "Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile."

NIV: Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile."

NASB: And Moses said to Pharaoh, 'The honor is yours to tell me: when shall I plead for you and your servants and your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, that they be left only in the Nile?'

CSB: Moses said to Pharaoh, "You may have the honor of choosing. When should I appeal on behalf of you, your officials, and your people, that the frogs be taken away from you and your houses, and remain only in the Nile?"

NLT: You set the time!' Moses replied. 'Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.'

KJV: And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

NKJV: And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”

After several demands (Exodus 5:1–3), a miraculous sign (Exodus 7:10–12), and now two plagues (Exodus 7:20–23; 8:6–7), Egypt's Pharaoh has called for Moses and Aaron. He claims he will release the Hebrews for worship (Exodus 3:18), so long as the frogs infesting the land are taken away (Exodus 8:8). This is insincere. The Lord already knows that Pharaoh will only let Israel go under the most extreme pressure (Exodus 3:19–20). When this plague is gone, Pharaoh's stubbornness will return (Exodus 8:15). For now, this is another opportunity to demonstrate the power of God.

Moses gives Pharaoh the choice of when, precisely, the plague of frogs will end. This would help dispel any claims that the disaster faded away naturally, or that its end was only a coincidence. The chosen time is the next day (Exodus 8:10). The obvious question is why Pharaoh didn't respond with, "make the frogs go away right now." It's possible he assumed that would not be possible. Egyptian religion emphasized ritual and incantation. Pharaoh might have thought that "tomorrow" was the soonest he could expect. Or Moses may have given him options. Or perhaps Pharaoh was holding on to some level of pride and saw "tomorrow" as less desperate. Whatever the case, the plague will end exactly as agreed (Exodus 8:12), proving that it was the work of the Lord of Israel (Exodus 3:15).

Exodus 8:1–15 describes the second plague: frogs. The rotting Nile (Exodus 7:20–23) spits out a wave of frogs into Egyptian streets and homes. Pharaoh's conjurers can also summon frogs—but they can't remove them. So, Pharoh turns to Moses. They schedule a specific moment to lift the plague. This explicit timing made it clear that Israel's God, not the Egyptian frog goddess Heqet, was in control. As soon as the pressure of the plague is off, Pharoah changes his mind about releasing the Israelites.

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).

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).

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.