13 Then the Lord said to Moses , " Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord , the God of the Hebrews , " Let My people go , that they may serve Me. 14 "For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people , so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth . 15 "For if by now I had put forth My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence , you would then have been cut off from the earth . 16 "But, indeed , for this reason I have allowed you to remain , in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth . 17 "Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go . 18 "Behold , about this time tomorrow , I will send a very heavy hail , such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now . 19 "Now therefore send , bring your livestock and whatever e you have in the field to safety . Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home , when the hail comes down on them, will die .""' 20 The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses ; 21 but he who paid no regard e to the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 9:13-21
Commentary on Exodus 9:13-21
(Read Exodus 9:13-21)
Moses is here ordered to deliver a dreadful message to Pharaoh. Providence ordered it, that Moses should have a man of such a fierce and stubborn spirit as this Pharaoh to deal with; and every thing made it a most signal instance of the power of God has to humble and bring down the proudest of his enemies. When God's justice threatens ruin, his mercy at the same time shows a way of escape from it. God not only distinguished between Egyptians and Israelites, but between some Egyptians and others. If Pharaoh will not yield, and so prevent the judgment itself, yet those that will take warning, may take shelter. Some believed the things which were spoken, and they feared, and housed their servants and cattle, and it was their wisdom. Even among the servants of Pharaoh, some trembled at God's word; and shall not the sons of Israel dread it? But others believed not, and left their cattle in the field. Obstinate unbelief is deaf to the fairest warnings, and the wisest counsels, which leaves the blood of those that perish upon their own heads.