Exodus 9:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast.

NIV: So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals.

NASB: So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses tossed it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on every person and animal.

CSB: So they took furnace soot and stood before Pharaoh. Moses threw it toward heaven, and it became festering boils on people and animals.

NLT: So they took soot from a brick kiln and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses threw the soot into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike.

KJV: And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.

NKJV: Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast.

Moses and Aaron obey the Lord's command regarding the sixth plague (Exodus 9:8–9). They threw furnace soot into the air, where it dispersed and created debilitating open skin sores and boils. It appears the impact was immediate, as even the magicians in Pharaoh's presence quickly experienced pain (Exodus 9:11). It is uncertain if Pharaoh himself had boils from this plague. This plague does more than demonstrate God's power. It also proves the impotence of Egyptian idols associated with health, such as Isis and Sekhmet, and livestock idols like Apis and Hathor.

The emphasis on "man and beast" is also notable. This phrase first occurs with the plague of gnats (Exodus 8:17, 18), repeating twice in this section (Exodus 9:9). The phrase "man and beast" then occurs three times in the plague of hail (Exodus 9:19, 22, 25). It appears again in the tenth plague during which the firstborn male of "man and beast" die (Exodus 12:12). The same phrase is used more than a dozen times in the Old Testament in reference to God's power over both human beings and lesser animals.

Exodus 9:8–12 records the sixth plague (Exodus 3:20), involving skin lesions and sores. Up until now, Pharaoh has been deliberately obstinate and hard-headed (Exodus 5:2; 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7). He has ignored every command from God and each sign of divine power. In this passage, Pharaoh nears a point of no return (Proverbs 29:1). As promised (Exodus 4:21), the Lord makes an example of Egypt's ruler by making the Egyptian king even more headstrong. This will lead to an exceptional display of divine power: an epic hailstorm.

After four devastating plagues, Pharaoh continues to resist God's command to free the Hebrew slaves. Through Moses, the Lord sends two more: death of Egyptian livestock and an epidemic of skin lesions. Pharoah refuses to respond to the first, and God makes him stubborn after the second. This leads to the most terrifying sign yet: the seventh plague of hail and fire. Pharoah claims to repent. Yet as soon as the hail stops, he again chooses obstinance. After this, the Lord will use Pharaoh as a tool to demonstrate divine judgment.

Moses and Aaron brought the Lord's command that Pharaoh should release Hebrew slaves (Exodus 5:1–4). Over and over, Egypt's king was obstinate. This resulted in divine plagues meant to demonstrate God's power and authority (Exodus 7:20; 8:6, 17, 24). In this chapter, God sends three more disasters: a plague on livestock, an epidemic of skin sores, and an obliterating storm of hail and lightning. Pharaoh will once again choose stubbornness, passing a point of no return (Proverbs 29:1). For the remaining plagues (Exodus 10—12) and after (Exodus 14:4), Pharaoh will be a living example of the Lord's divine judgment (Exodus 4:21).

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.