Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 7:20
And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that [were] in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that [were] in the river were turned to blood.
The FIRST plague. The WATERS turned into BLOOD
Verse 20. All the waters – were turned to blood.] Not merely in appearance, but in reality; for these changed waters became corrupt and insalubrious, so that even the fish that were in the river died; and the smell became highly offensive, so that the waters could not be drank; Ex 7:21.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded,…. Moses delivered the rod to Aaron, who took it and went to the water side:
and he lift up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river; or “in that river” i, the river Nile, on the brink of which Pharaoh then stood:
in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; his nobles and courtiers who tended him in his walk to the water; for this was done before he returned to his palace:
and all the waters that were in the river were turned into blood; not only the face of the waters looked like blood, but they were really turned into it; and not only the surface of the water, but all the water that was in the river, wherever it flowed, and as far as it flowed in the land of Egypt.
i Sept. “in eo rivo”, Junius and Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
20. And Moses and Aaron did so. He repeats that what God threatened as to the death of the fish, and the stinking of the Nile, actually took place; that he may aggravate the sin of the king, who was unaffected by the manifold power of God. Still he immediately adds that his counsellors witnessed it also. Hence we may conjecture, that the same infatuation had pervaded the whole court. It was also proper that so memorable a circumstance should not only be known generally, but that its author should be seen by many eyes. But it was a sign of the reprobation of the whole nation, that there was none of all that multitude who labored to correct the folly of the king. Whence also it appears that God confounds the wisdom of the world; for there was no nation which gloried more in its universal knowledge; even as Isaiah reproaches them of their boast. (Isa 19:11.) But we see in how shameful a manner, on the one hand proud, and on the other amazed, they betrayed not a single spark of sound intelligence.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) He lifted up the rod.He is, undoubtedly, Aaron. (See Exo. 7:19.)
In the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants.If the occasion was one of a Nile festival, Pharaoh would have gone out to the water (Exo. 7:15) accompanied by all the great officers of the Court, by a large body of the priests, and vast numbers of the people. If it was a mere occasion of bodily ablution, he would have had with him a pretty numerous train of attendants. In either case considerable publicity was given to the miracle, which was certainly not done in a corner.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20, 21. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood Also, by implication, (Exo 7:19,) all the waters that had been drawn from the river into the ponds, tanks, etc., underwent the change. The sweet, beneficent Nile water became red and putrid like stagnant blood, so that it poisoned the fishes and became unfit for use. The red moon of the eclipse is said to be turned into blood, Joe 2:3. Only the Nile water was smitten, for water could yet be obtained from the wells and by digging, as we see from Exo 7:24.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 7:20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that [were] in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that [were] in the river were turned to blood.
Ver. 20. Were turned into blood. ] To show them, as in a mirror, their blood guiltiness. These bloody and deceitful men had “blood to drink, for they were worthy.” Rev 16:6 See Trapp on “ Rev 16:6 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
river. This first plague was directed against the Nile, an object of worship, which was thus polluted, and became a means of pollution to the people. Compare Exo 12:12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he lifted: Exo 17:5, Exo 17:6, Exo 17:9-12, Num 20:8-12
all the waters: As the Nile was held sacred by the Egyptians, as well as the animals it contained, to which they annually sacrificed a girl, or as others say, both a boy and girl, God might have designed this plague as a punishment for such idolatry and cruelty; and to shew them the baseness of those elements which they reverenced, and the insufficiency of the gods in which they trusted. All the punishments brought upon them bore a strict analogy to their crimes. Exo 7:17, Exo 7:18, Psa 78:44, Psa 105:29, Joh 2:9-11, Rev 8:8
Reciprocal: 2Ki 4:29 – lay my staff Rev 8:10 – the fountains Rev 16:4 – and they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 7:20. The waters in the river were turned into blood This was a plague justly inflicted on the Egyptians; for the river of Egypt was their idol; they and their land had so much benefit by that creature, that they served and worshipped it more than their Creator. In ancient times they annually even sacrificed a girl to it, at the opening of the canals, Univ. Hist., vol. 1. p. 413. Also they had stained the river with the blood of the Hebrew children, and now God made that river all bloody; thus he gave them blood to drink, for they were worthy, Rev 16:6. See the power of God! Every creature is that to us which he makes it to be, water or blood. See the mutability of all things under the sun, and what changes we may meet with in them. That which is water to-day may be blood to- morrow; what is always vain may soon become vexatious. And see what mischievous work sin makes! It is sin that turns our waters into blood. All the waters It seems the word all here, and in the foregoing verse, is either to be understood in a limited sense, as it frequently is in Scripture, meaning not all in the strictest sense, but only a very great part; or else that although Mosess commission extended to all the waters in Egypt, yet it was only executed upon the river Nile: because we read that the magicians did the same thing; but if Moses had turned all the waters into blood, as some scoffers have, with great raillery and triumph, observed, how could the magicians do the same, there being, on this supposition, no water for them upon which to make the trial.