8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron , "Take for yourselves handfuls e of soot from a kiln , and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh . 9 "It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt , and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt ." 10 So they took soot from a kiln , and stood before Pharaoh ; and Moses threw it toward the sky , and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast . 11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because e of the boils , for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians . 12 And the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart , and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 9:8-12
Commentary on Exodus 9:8-12
(Read Exodus 9:8-12)
When the Egyptians were not wrought upon by the death of their cattle, God sent a plague that seized their own bodies. If lesser judgments do not work, God will send greater. Sometimes God shows men their sin in their punishment. They had oppressed Israel in the furnaces, and now the ashes of the furnace are made a terror to them. The plague itself was very grievous. The magicians themselves were struck with these boils. Their power was restrained before; but they continued to withstand Moses, and to confirm Pharaoh in his unbelief, till they were forced to give way. Pharaoh continued obstinate. He had hardened his own heart, and now God justly gave him up to his own heart's lusts, permitting Satan to blind and harden him. If men shut their eyes against the light, it is just with God to close their eyes. This is the sorest judgment a man can be under out of hell.