Exodus 9:23, commentary and pictures

Before the hail fell, mercy gave a day's warning that on the morrow a most severe hail, such as had never been seen since Egypt became a nation, would fall and kill every person and animal left out in the field, with command to bring cattle and all that was in the field into houses and barns and shelter. At the appointed word Moses stretched his rod toward heaven as commanded, and the Lord sent thunder and hail with fire mingled with it and running along the ground, with lightning, and rained hail upon the land of Egypt. Those among Pharaoh's servants who feared and regarded the word of the Lord made their servants and cattle flee indoors into houses and barns and were saved, while those who did not regard it left them in the field and lost them.

That beforehand warning tested exalted Egyptian pride and revealed whose hearts were truly moved by God's wonderful workings on behalf of His despised people. The storm was unprecedented and most grievous beyond anything Egypt had known, smiting throughout all Egypt everything in the field, both man and beast, and every plant, and breaking every tree, the first plague in which Egyptian lives were taken, with death and desolation following in the track of the destroying angel. Flax and barley were smitten because barley was in the ear and flax was bolled, while wheat and rye were spared because they were not yet grown up. Only in Goshen, where Israel dwelt, was there no hail.

Its foretold time and character prove the plagues were not chance happenings but demonstrate that the whole earth is under the command of the living God of the Hebrews and that thunder, hail, storms, and the elements obey His voice. The sparing of Goshen fulfills that God's people dwell in peaceful, sure, quiet habitations when it hails on the forest and the city is laid low, and teaches that the only true safety of nations and individuals is obedience to the voice of God and standing on the side of truth and righteousness. The terror humbled the proud Pharaoh who had asked who the Lord was that he should obey His voice, forcing him for the time to confess that he had sinned, that the Lord is righteous while he and his people are wicked, to promise release, and to beg Moses to intercede that the terrific thunder, lightning, hail, and rain might cease.

Moses fearlessly went outside the city under divine protection and spread his hands unto the Lord to stop the thunder and hail so Pharaoh might know the earth is the Lord's. He did so though he knew Pharaoh and his servants would still not fear God and had no change of mind or heart. After the plague was stayed Pharaoh hardened in rebellion and refused to let Israel go.