Ver. 9. Herds. Out of which the Lord may choose what victims he requires. M. --- The people of Egypt kept solemnities of this description. Herod. ii. 58, 59.

Ver. 10. So be. A form of imprecation mixed with scorn: as, I shall not let you go, so may God abandon you. C.

Ver. 11. Desired. Moses had requested that all might go. He had not specified the men only, as the king boldly asserts. M. --- A partial obedience will not rescue him from the threatened plague. H.

Ver. 13. Wind from "the south," (Sept.) or "east," (Kadim) or perhaps blowing from the south-east. Bonfrere. The locusts would come from Ethiopia, or from Arabia, in both which countries they abound. Ludolf, &c. They lay their eggs in autumn, and hatch in spring. Frequently they devastate one country after another. They are very large in the East, and sometimes will fasten upon the heads of serpents, and destroy them, as they did on this occasion the Egyptians. Wisd. xvi. 9. --- In Cyrene, bordering upon Egypt, it is requisite to encounter these creatures thrice in the year. C. See Lev. xi. 22.

Ver. 14. Hereafter. Joel i. 2, speaking of locusts which infested Judea, uses the same expressions to denote a very heavy judgment. Two events never perfectly agree. C.

Ver. 17. Also. Heb. "only," and I will amend. --- Death, or plague. M.

Ver. 18. Moses. The printed Heb. and Chal. do not read his name; but some MSS. have it agreeably to the Sept. and Syr. versions. Ken.

Ver. 19. West. Heb. sea, (Mediterranean) to the north and west of Egypt. --- Red sea. Heb. "of suph," or green herbs, which abound there. It has also a reddish appearance in some places, from the coral branches of a saffron colour. It probably was called red from Edom, or Erythros, the son of Isaac. C. --- God drowned the locusts in this sea, by means of the wind, which often proves the destruction of those animals. Plin. xi. 29.

Ver. 21. Darkness upon the land of Egypt so thick that it may be felt. By means of the gross exhalations, which were to cause and accompany the darkness. Ch. --- Thus were the Egyptians punished for keeping the Hebrews in dark prisons. M. --- Philo says, even a lighted lamp or fire was extinguished. The Egyptians were affrighted with hideous spectres and evil angels. Ps. lxxvii. 49. Wisd. xvii. 4.

Ver. 29. More. Of my own accord. M. --- Thou wilt send for me. C.