INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

Tyndale Bible
Coverdale Bible
Matthew's Bible
Great Bible
Geneva Bible
Bishop's Bible
King James/Authorized Bible

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Start of study

Exodus Chapter 9: THE PLAGUES OF MURRAINS, MURRAINS, BOILS AND BLAINS! (OH, AND HAIL)

Exodus 9:12 [KJV])
And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.

(Exodus 9:34 [KJV])
And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Yes, it is true that God hardened Pharaoh's heart

Yes, it is true that Pharaoh's hardened his own heart

Yes, both can be true

No, it is not a contradiction in any way, and claiming so merely means a lack of understanding of exactly Who God is, and how He works, and this can be on purpose ("skeptics", "atheists", "agnostics"), a hardened heart towards God in the person who claims it is a contradiction

THE TEN PLAGUES UPON EGYPT BY GOD, EXODUS

Water turned to blood (Exodus 7:17)
Plague of frogs (Exodus 8:2)
Plague of lice (Exodus 8:16)

Plague of flies (Exodus 8:20)

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Plague of animal disease, a murrain (Exodus 9:2)
Plague of boils and blains (Exodus 9:9)
Plague of deadly, fiery hail (Exodus 9:22)
Plague of locusts (Exodus 10:4)
Plague of darkness (Exodus 10:21)
Plague of death of the firstborn (Exodus 11:5)

Water Turned to Blood (Hapi. god of the Nile River)
Frogs Coming From the Nile (Heket, Heqet, god of fertility)
Lice From the Earth's Dust (Geb, the sky god)
Swarms of Flies (Khepri, the god of the morning sun, in the form of a scarab beetle)
Death of Cattle and Livestock (Hathor, sky, the god of women, fertility and love.)
Ashes Turned to Boils and Sores (Isis, most popular goddess, of the seat, the throne, most enduring, loved, mother of the Pharaohs)
Hail in the Form of Fire (Nut, sky goddess, esp. the Milky Way, which was worshipped)
Locusts Upon all of the earth in Egypt (Seth, god of chaos and storms)
Three Days of Complete Darkness (Ra, the sun god, circle god). Today we have this sing god worshipped by scientists as "the cosmic egg" from which the universes came, and thus Ra is traced from Egyptian paganism to Greek paganism, pagan Hinduism and then through to today
Death of the Firstborn (Pharaoh, worshipped as a god like all of them). The Jesuit who invented the Big Bang theory, Georges Lemaître, used that as his basis.

Frogs Coming From the Nile (Heket)
Lice From the Earth's Dust (Geb)
Swarms of Flies (Khepri)

In this chapter, God sends Plague of animal disease, a murrain(v. 2), a plague of boils and blains (v. 9), a plague of deadly, fiery hail (.v 22), all of which are attacks on the false, pagan gods of Egypt:

Death of Cattle and Livestock (Hathor, sky, the god of women, fertility and love.)

Ashes Turned to Boils and Sores (Isis, most popular goddess, of the seat, the throne, most enduring, loved, mother of the Pharaohs)

Hail in the Form of Fire (Nut, sky goddess, esp. the Milky Way, which was worshipped)

(Exodus 9:1 [KJV])
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

God never had to say a single thing to Pharaoh; He chose to
God could have never warned Pharaoh that judgment was coming and simply wiped out Egypt and released the Hebrews
God is deliberately extending time and grace, knowing Pharaoh will never let them actualyl go, permanently, but this is a lesson for us today as well

(1 Corinthians 10:11-12 [KJV])
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

(Exodus 9:2-3 [KJV])
For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

God's Hand IS on Pharaoh's cattle, not "I will place my hand upon thy cattle"-no, His Hand IS on the cattle and HE will do what HE wills to those cattle HE gave to Pharaoh, fort hey are His cattle, not Pharaoh's
This is a direct attack on the false god of Hathor, sky, the god of women, fertility and love.
Cattle: Milk, meat
Horses: Travel, military might, wealth
Asses: travel, but with heavy loads
Camels: Desert travel, long distances
Oxen: Plowing the fields, pulling carts and wagons
Sheep: Wool for clothing, milk, meat
Today it is your clothing, your cars, your tractors, tanks, personnel carriers, Humvees, your plows that attach to them, your one-ton trucks, your supply of meat, milk, cheese, butter

CATTLE, n.

Beasts or quadrupeds in general, serving for tillage, or other labor, and for food to man. In its primary sense, the word includes camels, horses, asses, all the varieties of domesticated horned beasts or the bovine genus, sheep of all kinds and goats, and perhaps swine. In this general sense, it is constantly used in the scriptures. See Job 1:3. Hence it would appear that the word properly signifies possessions, goods. But whether from a word originally signifying a beast, for in early ages beasts constituted the chief part of a mans property, or from a root signifying to get or possess. This word is restricted to domestic beasts; but in England it includes horses, which it ordinarily does not, in the United States, at least not in New-England.
In the United States, cattle, in common usage, signifies only beasts of the bovine genus, oxen, bulls, cows and their young. In the laws respecting domestic beasts, horses, sheep, asses, mules and swine are distinguished from cattle, or neat cattle. Thus the law in Connecticut, requiring that all the owners of any cattle, sheep or swine, shall ear-mark or brand all their cattle, sheep and swine, does not extend to horses. Yet it is probable that a law, giving damages for a trespass committed by cattle breaking into an inclosure, would be adjudged to include horses. In Great Britain, beasts are distinguished into black cattle, including bulls, oxen, cows and their young; and small cattle, including sheep of all kinds and goats.
In reproach, human beings are called cattle.

MURRAIN, n. mur'rin. [L. morior, to die.]
An infectious and fatal disease among cattle. Exo 9.

(Exodus 9:4 [KJV])
And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.

This in and of itself, all by itself, ought to have taught Pharaoh a lesson about Who he was dealing with, on earth (Hebrews, Israelites, God's people) and GOD HIMSELF
It did not, as pride got in his way, him thinking he was a god

(Exodus 9:5 [KJV])
And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.

This gave Pharaoh enough time to think about it, removing any lame excuses he could never give anyways, as valid, but removing them, on that soon coming judgment day
Everything in history is according to God's time, God's schedule

(Exodus 9:6 [KJV])
And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

Back a this time, it is known that this was a deadly disease for all livestock
Either the livestock of Israel did not get it, or they got it and there were no deaths from this fatal disease
Most likely none of the livestock in Israel, among the Hebrews, got murrain, because God protected them

(Exodus 9:7 [KJV])
And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The exact opposite effect of previously, his attitude of pride and arrogance has now turned into anger against God, like somehow he is so righteous that he does not deserve this
Think about how hard a heart has to be that God has sent four sickening or deadly plagues (water to blood, frogs dying and rotting in heaps in their houses and yards, disease-carrying lice, nasty flies all over everything, being on one's skin, being in their eyes, ears, breathed in, ew!
Now all of Pharaoh's cattle are dead, and he still hates God and he still does not repent, feeling no remorse

GOD OWNS IT ALL, OF PHARAOH, OF ISRAEL, OF US

(Psalms 50:10 [KJV])
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

(Romans 1:18 [KJV])
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

(Matthew 10:28-31 [KJV])
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

(Exodus 9:8-9 [KJV])
And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.

So people and animals cannot breathe when this closes off the windpipe
Handfuls of dust do not become dust all over a land if God is not involved. Even winds blow dust, but not a handful over an entire nation. God multiplied that dust and turned that dust into disease upon man and beast

BLAIN, n. A pustule; a botch; a blister. In farriery, a bladder growing on the root of the tongue, against the wind pipe,which swells so as to stop the breath.

(Exodus 9:10 [KJV])
And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.

This time, God does not ask Pharaoh and Egypt to "Let my people go, or else I will send another plague, this time blains upon man and beast!", He simply does it to show His Might, Power, Sovereignty, and Who He is to Pharaoh and his court of fools

(Exodus 9:11 [KJV])
And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

This is an instantaneous disease, as they are literally standing in front of Moses and have to leave when the disease breaks on them!
That said, this is not natural, unmistakable as being from The LORD God of Israel
Now this is beginning to affect Pharaoh closer and closer, his magicians, his advisors, counselors, his court

(Exodus 9:12 [KJV])
And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.

So why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? Because Pharaoh wanted to harden it and God said, "OK Fine. Here's hardness of heart for you"

(Exodus 9:13 [KJV])
And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

I am sure even Moses and Aaron are getting sick of going to Pharaoh and his court over and over and seeing nothing change, except that it is even getting worse

(Exodus 9:14 [KJV])
For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

Notice that the plagues are upon Pharaoh's heart, not just his body, servants, family, etc.
Pharaoh is perfectly an example of this world, since he will clearly KNOW that there is none like God in all the earth, yet he still denies it
The purpose is a lesson for Pharaoh and us. The problem for Pharaoh and us is that, the more we resist learning, being unteachable, the worse the correction, discipline (in this case judgment) is needed, until finally, one way or another, God is doner with the lesson and that person, nation, etc. either gets it or is destroyed from the earth

(Exodus 9:15 [KJV])
For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

God merely has to move His Hand to the right or to the left and we are done, finished, dead, "cut off from the earth"
God spoke.....and the worlds came into existence
One can take this as a threat or a warning, but it is a warning, a certainty, a promise that it WILL happen
God is telling Pharaoh that He knows Pharaoh will not receive this lessons, so this will be the result

(Exodus 9:16 [KJV])
And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

The world, here Egypt representing it, should have known that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob existed, but they refused, making up their own false, pagan gods
The purpose of this is to have Israel preach this God of Abraham, Isaac, Israel to all of the World, through whom the Messiah would come and save the world from its sin
Through the destruction of the pride of Pharaoh, as yet not fully realized, God would reveal Himself to all mankind through the record of this event

(Romans 9:17 [KJV])
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

(Exodus 9:17 [KJV])
As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

God questions the false pride of Pharaoh, which all powerful men possess, thinking they can outsmart, out maneuver God, overpower Him and His people, Israel, to this very day
Amazing how these two verses in Romans and Exodus are both "9:17s"

(Exodus 9:18 [KJV])
Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

If one has ever had a grievous hail, large, loud upon the roof, ground, it is nasty, dangerous, deadly
Some have been recorded on video as large as softballs, solid ice, eight inches, nearly two pounds, falling to earth at the speed of gravity!
This is a direct attack and exposure with the hail in the form of fire upon Nut the sky goddess, esp. the Milky Way, which was worshipped

"Coffeyville, Kansas, United States--The Dalton Defenders Museum has a plaster replica of the "largest hailstone on record," 17.5 inches in circumference, 1.67 pounds, that it struck the ground at the speed of 105 MPH; it sets the world record for being the World’s Heaviest Hailstone On Display, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY."

(Exodus 9:19 [KJV])
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.

This is a test of their ears, how well they will listen, hear and heed the warning, how much they will fear God and His judgments, or ignore His warning, after all that has thus happened

(Exodus 9:20-21 [KJV])
He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

Fearing and regarding, versus ignoring
Death versus life, about to happen
Notice it was not all of the servants of Pharaoh, as some servants and cattle remained in the field
Now think about how hard a heart has to be, seeing everything thus far, from sticks/rods turning into snakes, to water turned to blood, to lice, to frogs and flies, diseases, death, to ignore this warning!

(Exodus 9:22 [KJV])
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.

At this moment, the hand of Moses is as the Hand of God
People, their food(cattle) and their foods' food (herbs)

(Exodus 9:23 [KJV])
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

So icy, fiery hail, two deadly types, like Sodom and Gomorrah combined with the middle of a Kansas summer thunderstorm of the worst kind, both rolled into one
Not much left to burn except people and beasts left outside to die

(Exodus 9:24-25 [KJV])
So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

God makes the clouds to rain, to water the herbs of the field for man and beast to eat, for trees, flowers
God also makes the clouds open up in judgment agaisnt hard hearts, as here, to destroy His enemies

(Job 38:22-24 [KJV])
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

(Psalms 148:8 [KJV])
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

(Exodus 9:26 [KJV])
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

Plagues five, six, seven done, lesson still not learned
God, protecting His children, who were not even told to get inside, no need, as the hail and storms were only in the land of Egypt outside of Goshen

(Exodus 9:27 [KJV])
And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

As this turns out, this is a fake admission, as he merely wants to have the plague(s) stopped and nothing more

(Exodus 9:28 [KJV])
Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.

(Exodus 9:29 [KJV])
And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.

Pharaoh will know, because the gods of Egypt were not gods, which did not create anything
Pharaoh will know, because Pharaoh was not a god, but a created man, like the rest of the Egyptians
Pharaoh will know, because the gods of Egypt were merely creations in the minds of men by, for, and to the Egyptians

THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S

(1 Chronicles 16:32 [KJV])
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

(Psalms 24:1 [KJV])
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

(Psalms 50:12 [KJV])
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

(Psalms 89:11 [KJV])
The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

(Psalms 96:11 [KJV])
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

(Psalms 98:7 [KJV])
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

(Ezekiel 19:7 [KJV])
And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.

(1 Corinthians 10:26 [KJV])
For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

(1 Corinthians 10:28 [KJV])
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

(Exodus 9:30 [KJV])
But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.

The LORD God of Israel knows, I know, and Aaron knows, that you are lying only in order to get this removed
"There is no fear of God in you, Pharaoh"

THE FEAR OF GOD

(Genesis 20:11 [KJV])
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

(2 Samuel 23:3 [KJV])
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

Which thing was not in Pharaoh, having no real fear of God-YET

(Psalms 36:1 [KJV])
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

(Romans 3:18 [KJV])
There is no fear of God before their eyes.

(Ephesians 5:21 [KJV])
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

(Exodus 9:31 [KJV])
And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.

These things happen at these vulnerable times, when struck even today by a sudden ice storm, but especially heavy, "grievous" hail

BOLL, n. The pod or capsule of a plant, as of flax; a pericarp. Bole, a measure of six bushels, is sometimes written in this manner.

(Exodus 9:32 [KJV])
But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.

It is all in the timing, according to the grace of God, to preserve the ryem even for those who hate Him, oppose Him
Rye comes up slightly later than flax and barley, more of a late summer fall plant

(Matthew 5:45 [KJV])
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

(Exodus 9:33-34 [KJV])
And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

God delivering on His promise to stop; Pharaoh dishonestly changing his mind
Pharaoh now believes, again, that he has dodged a bullet, having no idea what is to come, to ensue, to follow this, because God is not done until Israel, His creation, is released from the bondage of Egypt and free to go

(Exodus 9:35 [KJV])
And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

So then this hardening of Pharaoh's heart is no surprise to Moses at all, him fully expecting it because God told him and Aaron that this would happen

Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.

Exodus Chapter 10