Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. The Lord shall sever] See on "chap. viii. 22".
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - God will have Israel released, Pharaoh opposes it, and the trial is whose word shall stand. The hand of the Lord at once is upon the cattle, many of which, some of all kinds, die by a sort of murrain This was greatly to the loss of the owners; they had made Israel poor and now God would make them poor. The hand of God is to be seen, eve in the sickness and death of cattle; for a sparrow falls not to the ground without our Father. None of the Israelites' cattle should die the Lord shall sever. The cattle died. The Egyptians worshipped their cattle. What we make an idol of, it is just with God to remove from us This proud tyrant and cruel oppressor deserved to be made an example by the just Judge of the universe. None who are punished according to what they deserve, can have any just cause to complain. Hardness of hear denotes that state of mind upon which neither threatenings nor promise neither judgements nor mercies, make any abiding impression. The conscience being stupified, and the heart filled with pride an presumption, they persist in unbelief and disobedience. This state of mind is also called the stony heart. Very different is the heart of flesh, the broken and contrite heart. Sinners have none to blame but themselves, for that pride and ungodliness which abuse the bounty an patience of God. For, however the Lord hardens the hearts of men, it is always as a punishment of former sins.
Original Hebrew והפלה6395 יהוה3068 בין996 מקנה4735 ישׂראל3478 ובין996 מקנה4735 מצרים4714 ולא3808 ימות4191 מכל3605 לבני1121 ישׂראל3478 דבר׃1697
