Read Exodus 9 at Bible Gateway.
As Pharaoh had still not let Israel go, more plagues are in store for Egypt. The Hebrew paragraphs in this chapter:
9:1-7 {p} The plague of pestilence on the cattle
9:8-12 {s} The plague of boils
9:13-21 {p} Warning re: the plague of hail
9:22-35 {p} The plague of hail
Exo 9:1-7 {p} The plague on livestock, is the first plague where death occurs (other than the deaths of non-soul bearing animals such as fish, frogs, lice, or flies). But because of YHVH’s compassion and regard for life, no humans die.
Next, a Strong Theme:
Exo 9:8-12 {s} The plague of boils
Exo 9:13-21 {p} Warning re: the plague of hail
Exo 9:8-12 {s} The plague of boils ends in a weak marker indicating this theme will continue with the next paragraph.
Exo 9:13-21 {p} The warning concerning the plague of hail ends in a strong marker indicating the completion of the theme begun with the plague of boils. But the two plagues are distinct, so it just makes no sense to human logic whatsoever. But God does not think like us, and He is trying to help us understand Him.
The strong marker occurs halfway through the narrative of the plague of hail, when it had only been warned of, and not yet accomplished. But that is precisely the point. Notice what YHVH says:
“For at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Exo 9:14-16
The plague of boils was a pestilence plague, just like the plague on the livestock, but it wasn’t fatal. By the plague of boils, God was showing that He was able to bring a pestilence on the people also. The plague of boils was a warning, just as Exo 9:13-21 was a warning. That is the commonality, that is why they are both together teaching the same Strong Theme. With the next plague, the plague of hail, the potential for loss of life begins, so God is being very careful with those who do not know Him, to teach them incrementally that He accomplishes His word, and He is able to bring death if He chooses. However, He chooses to warn everyone of what is coming so that no one dies needlessly or unfairly. Then:
Exo 9:22-35 {p} describes the plague of hail, and ends in a strong marker as we would expect to find at the completion of a plague.
Why This Matters: We find in the description of the plague of hail something that we do not find in any descriptions of the other plagues:
“He who feared the word of YHVH among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of YHVH left his servants and his livestock in the field.” Exo 9:20-21
God is teaching all who have ears to hear, to fear His word, because He is gracious and compassionate, and exercises mercy even when He is judging the pride of Pharaoh and the idols of the Egyptians.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Exo 6:2-9:35, Finding Messiah in Va’era – Christine Miller
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