And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
The hail destroyed what had already grown into stalk, yet spared the slower-growing seeds. God left a remnant of hope to invite the king and people to repentance, if only their wickedness were curable.
AI summary
God makes the clouds His arsenals. When He pleases, He draws forth hail and lightning as formidable artillery against His enemies, woeful havoc that kills men and beasts and batters down the very trees. Yet mark: Goshen was preserved untouched. God directs the pregnant clouds themselves and causes it to rain on one city and not on another.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 9:22-35
Wheat and rice were not smitten because they had not yet grown up; their soft, tender leaves offered no resistance to the hail as the ripe flax and barley did. The wheat harvest comes a month later than barley, fixing the timing of this plague.
AI summary