Then the Lord spoke to Moses: Early tomorrow morning present yourself to Pharaoh and say to him: Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go to serve me, 14 for this time I will unleash all my blows upon you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me anywhere on earth. 15 For by now I should have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such pestilence that you would have vanished from the earth. 16 But this is why I have let you survive: to show you my power and to make my name resound throughout the earth! 17 Will you continue to exalt yourself over my people and not let them go? 18 At this time tomorrow, therefore, I am going to rain down such fierce hail as there has never been in Egypt from the day it was founded up to the present. 19 Therefore, order your livestock and whatever else you have in the open fields to be brought to a place of safety. Whatever human being or animal is found in the fields and is not brought to shelter will die when the hail comes down upon them. 20 Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the word of the Lord hurried their servants and their livestock off to shelter. 21 But those who did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left their servants and their livestock in the fields.
22 The Lord then said to Moses: Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall upon the entire land of Egypt, on human being and beast alike and all the vegetation of the fields in the land of Egypt. 23 So Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent forth peals of thunder and hail. Lightning flashed toward the earth, and the Lord rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 There was hail and lightning flashing here and there through the hail, and the hail was so fierce that nothing like it had been seen in Egypt since it became a nation. 25 Throughout the land of Egypt the hail struck down everything in the fields, human being and beast alike; it struck down all the vegetation of the fields and splintered every tree in the fields. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, was there no hail.
27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time! The Lord is the just one, and I and my people are the ones at fault. 28 Pray to the Lord! Enough of the thunder and hail! I will let you go; you need stay no longer.” 29 Moses replied to him, “As soon as I leave the city I will extend my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail so that you may know that the earth belongs to the Lord. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.”
31 Now the flax and the barley were ruined, because the barley was in ear and the flax in bud. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they grow later.
33 When Moses had left Pharaoh and gone out of the city, he extended his hands to the Lord. The thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down upon the earth. 34 But Pharaoh, seeing that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, sinned again and became obstinate, both he and his servants. 35 In the hardness of his heart, Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.
God commands Moses to stretch out his hand toward heaven, summoning a devastating storm of hail mixed with fire (lightning). The storm destroys crops, livestock in the fields, and trees, sparing only the Israelites in the land of Goshen (Ex. 9:22-26). Some among Pharaoh’s servants feared the Lord’s word and protected their servants and animals, demonstrating a growing recognition of God’s power (Ex. 9:20). However, Pharaoh remained obstinate, hardening his heart even after confessing his guilt and asking Moses to intercede with God for relief from the plague (Ex. 9:27-35).
The seventh plague specifically challenges the Egyptian gods associated with weather and agriculture. The Egyptian sky goddess Nut, the storm god Seth, and the fertility god Osiris believed to ensure Egypt's agricultural productivity, are exposed as powerless against the God of Israel. God alone commands creation and controls natural forces: "By his command he raises storm clouds from the end of the earth, makes lightning for the rain, and brings forth wind from his storehouses" (Ps. 135:7). God’s statement in verse 16, "I have spared you for this reason: to show you my power and to make my name resound throughout the earth," reveals that His purpose for the plagues is to liberate Israel and demonstrate His sovereignty over all nations (Is. 45:5-6).
This theme of God making His name known throughout the earth aligns directly with the New Testament revelation of Christ's mission to bring salvation to all nations. Jesus commissions His disciples to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19), and His name is exalted as the ultimate authority: "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). The continuity between God’s revelation in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Christ highlights God’s universal sovereignty and plan of salvation.
The flax and barley, which were already maturing, were destroyed, illustrating the devastating impact of the hailstorm on Egypt’s economy and sustenance. However, the wheat and spelt, which mature later in the growing season, were spared. This demonstrates that while God’s judgment was severe, it was not total, leaving room for Pharaoh and Egypt to repent and recover.
The plagues, particularly the hailstorm, foreshadow Christ’s mission to confront the forces of evil and reveal God’s dominion over all creation. Just as God demonstrated His power over Pharaoh, Jesus reveals His authority over nature (Mark 4:35-41) and His triumph over spiritual powers in His ministry and resurrection (Col. 2:15). Preservation of Israel in Goshen (Ex. 9:26) prefigures the divine protection offered to those in Christ (Jn. 10:28).
The hailstorm echoes the judgment in Revelation 16:21, where "huge hailstones, each weighing about one hundred pounds, fell from the sky on people." Both events emphasize God’s ultimate authority and the futility of opposing His will.
This passage finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who reveals God’s power and mercy in a definitive way, offering salvation to all who place their trust in Him.
Almighty God, We praise You as the Lord of all creation, whose power and sovereignty were revealed in Egypt and are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, Your Son. You alone command the forces of nature and guide history according to Your will. Help us to trust in Your saving power, as You protected Israel and as You now protect those who abide in Christ. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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