And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
Moses and Aaron were sent again before Pharaoh to demand that he let God's people go that they might serve Him, with warning that if he refused and still held them the plague on cattle would come at the appointed time. God appointed the exact, definite time of that cattle plague a day in advance, declaring it would happen on the morrow, the next day. The time of each plague was given beforehand so that it could not be said to have happened by chance.
God fixed beforehand a separation and distinct exemption between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. The predicted murrain struck all the Egyptian cattle in the field, so that all under its reach died and were destroyed. Not one of the cattle of the Israelites and Hebrews died, and none was even afflicted, but they entirely escaped the evil.
Pharaoh tested and verified the distinction by sending messengers to the homes of the Israelites, who reported back that none of Israel's cattle had died, proving the exemption. Even after that verification, Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he remained obstinate, refusing to release the people and let Israel go. He was encouraged in his persistency by the priests and magicians. The advance announcement demonstrated to the Egyptians that the whole earth is under the command of the God of the Hebrews and that thunder, hail, and storm obey His voice. The destruction struck at Egypt's worship of sacred animals and showed that Jehovah is supreme over the idols in which the Egyptians trusted.
Moses and Aaron were sent again before Pharaoh to demand that he let God's people go that they might serve Him, with warning that if he refused and still held them the plague on cattle would come at the appointed time. God appointed the exact, definite time of that cattle plague a day in advance, declaring it would happen on the morrow, the next day. The time of each plague was given beforehand so that it could not be said to have happened by chance.
God fixed beforehand a separation and distinct exemption between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. The predicted murrain struck all the Egyptian cattle in the field, so that all under its reach died and were destroyed. Not one of the cattle of the Israelites and Hebrews died, and none was even afflicted, but they entirely escaped the evil.
Pharaoh tested and verified the distinction by sending messengers to the homes of the Israelites, who reported back that none of Israel's cattle had died, proving the exemption. Even after that verification, Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he remained obstinate, refusing to release the people and let Israel go. He was encouraged in his persistency by the priests and magicians. The advance announcement demonstrated to the Egyptians that the whole earth is under the command of the God of the Hebrews and that thunder, hail, and storm obey His voice. The destruction struck at Egypt's worship of sacred animals and showed that Jehovah is supreme over the idols in which the Egyptians trusted.