Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
19. Sealed therefore now. He does not give this counsel as if he would spare His professed enemy, but he insults his mad confidence, because hitherto in his supine security he had despised whatever punishments had been denounced against him. He indirectly hints, therefore, that now is the time for fear.
Moses must repeat the demand a seventh time, though Pharaoh's heart is hardened and his case now desperate. God sends plagues on the heart itself, making it senseless or hopeless, which are the worst plagues of all. None who hardens his heart against God will prosper.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 9:13-21
Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field,.... The servants that were at work there: this is said to denote both the certainty of the plague, and the terribleness of it, that all, both men and beast, would perish by it, if care was not taken to get them home; and also to show the wonderful clemency and...