Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 8:14
And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
14. gathered ] better, piled: cf. Hab 1:10 (‘heapeth up’).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 14. They gathered them together upon heaps] The killing of the frogs was a mitigation of the punishment; but the leaving them to rot in the land was a continual proof that such a plague had taken place, and that the displeasure of the Lord still continued.
The conjecture of Calmet is at least rational: he supposes that the plague of flies originated from the plague of frogs; that the former deposited their ova in the putrid masses, and that from these the innumerable swarms afterwards mentioned were hatched. In vindication of this supposition it may be observed, that God never works a miracle when the end can be accomplished by merely natural means; and in the operations of Divine providence we always find that the greatest number of effects possible are accomplished by the fewest causes. As therefore the natural means for this fourth plague had been miraculously provided by the second, the Divine Being had a right to use the instruments which he had already prepared.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Doubtless they cast them into their rivers, or pits, &c., though that be not here mentioned. God would not instantly and wholly take them away, both to convince them of the truth of the miracle, and to make them more sensible of this judgment, and more fearful of bringing another upon themselves.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they gathered them together upon heaps,…. Swept them up, and laid them in heaps out of the way:
and the land stank; with the stench of the dead frogs, which was another proof and evidence of the reality of the miracle; and that dead frogs will cause such an ill smell appears from the above account of what befell the inhabitants of Paeonia and Dardania, unless that should be the same with this, only the names of places and some circumstances altered; [See comments on Ex 8:16].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. And they gathered them together upon heaps Literally, Heaps, heaps; vast heaps, or a multitude of heaps .
And the land stank The stench of their great god Pthah went up to heaven, even from his own magnificent temple courts . The putrid corpses were piled upon his altars .
The author of the Book of Wisdom, who was probably an Egyptian Jew, says that God in these plagues “tormented them with their own abominations;” and as “they worshipped serpents void of reason and vile beasts,” he “sent a multitude of unreasonable beasts upon them in vengeance.” Wis 11:15.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 8:14. And they gathered them together upon heaps This was a sadly convincing proof to the Egyptians that this was no deception, but a true miracle; and that the reptiles thus miraculously brought upon them were real. The ingenious Calmet is of opinion, that the corruption of these frogs occasioned the following plague of flies, which he supposes to have laid their eggs there in such abundance, as to produce the swarms after-mentioned. For though, says he, these plagues may justly be reckoned supernatural as to the manner in which they were effected, yet God made the previous disposition of nature and second causes subservient to his design.
REFLECTIONS. The seven days of the first plague being expired, God brings a second. He has many arrows in his quiver. But, 1. He sends to beg his people’s deliverance, for Pharaoh’s sake as well as theirs; for God delighteth not in the death of a sinner. He adds threats to his entreaty, but in vain. Hereupon, 2. The plague is inflicted. The frogs come up, as an invading army; no place is free, not even their beds and kneading-troughs. Note; When God pursues the guilty conscience of the sinner, even his bed cannot give him rest, nor his meals be in quiet. 3. The magicians imitate or aggravate the judgment. It is a bad power, which we had better be without, only to be able to do hurt. 4. Pharaoh now at last begins, for a moment, to relent. Moses and Aaron are called: he begs their prayers, and promises to let the people go. In times of suffering, many will call for the help and prayers of those whom before they despised. 5. We have Moses’s prayer, and the success of it. Note; (1.) If we must pray for our persecutors, how much more for those who give us hopes of penitence. (2.) The prayer of faith is wonderfully effectual. 6. Pharaoh’s impenitence: no sooner respited than again hardened. Like his, are most sick-bed promises, that with returning health are all forgotten. Neither God’s patience, nor his judgments, will savingly convert the sinner’s heart, if he submit not to Divine Grace. The more smitten, the more spared; the more impenitent.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 8:14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
Ver. 14. And the land stank. ] As once this land also did by those unclean frogs that came out of the Pope’s mouth. Rev 16:3 But England is now no more a babe, said King Henry VIII, in his protestation against the Pope: a there is no man here but now he knows that they do foolishly that give gold for lead, &c. Surely, except God take away our right wits, not only the Pope’s authority shall be driven out for ever, but his name also shall shortly be forgotten in England, &c. Thus he, and much more to like purpose. God hath promised to take away the unclean spirit out of the land. Zec 13:2 Fiat, fiat. Surely the society of ungodly men, whether Papists or atheists, is unsavoury and tedious, like the slime and filth that is congealed, when frogs and toads and other vermin join together.
a Act. and Mon., fol. 990.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
upon heaps. Hebrew “heaps, heaps. “Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6) = in many great heaps.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and the: Exo 8:24, Exo 7:21, Isa 34:2, Eze 39:11, Joe 2:20