Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 8:31
And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms [of flies] from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
Verse 31. The Lord did according to the word of Moses] How powerful is prayer! God permits his servant to prescribe even the manner and time in which he shall work.
He removed the swarms] Probably by means of a strong wind, which swept them into the sea.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the Lord did according to the word of Moses,…. Did as he entreated him to do, as follows:
and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; by what means is not said, whether by destroying them at once, as the frogs, or by driving them away with a wind, as the locusts afterwards:
there remained not one; the meaning is not, not one swarm of flies, but not one fly, there was not one left; which looks as if it was in the latter way that they were removed, since, if in the former, they would have remained, though dead, as the frogs did, for a little while.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
31. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. “The word” here may be expounded either of the answer, or the prayer, of Moses. The former pleases me best, viz., that by the result God proved that He ratified what Moses had said, whom He had made the proclaimer of His judgment; but if any one prefer to refer it to his prayer, let him retain his opinion. When he adds that the “heart of the king was hardened at this time also,” he aggravates the crime of his obstinacy, since there was no bound to his rebellion under such a series of punishments, by which even an iron heart should have been corrected.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(31) There remained not one.The sudden and entire removal of a plague like this at the word of Moses was almost as great a miracle as its sudden coming at his word, and is therefore, when it happened, carefully recorded. (See Exo. 10:19.) It seems not to have happened with the frogs (Exo. 8:11-13) or with the mosquitoes.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
one particular species of animals is meant, appears evidently from Exo 8:31 where it is said, there remained not one. The LXX renders it, by , the dog-fly; which Bochart and others approve: and the rather, as this insect was particularly offensive to dogs; animals held in religious veneration among the Egyptians. Oppida tota canem venerantur (all their towns venerate the dog), says Juvenal, Sat. xv. See Pliny’s Natural History, lib. ii. c. 34. and Stockius.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 8:31. There remained not one This immediate and entire removal of the flies was as extraordinary, and as plainly indicated the hand of God, as the bringing them upon the land. Probably a strong wind swept them into the sea, or into the desarts of Africa.
REFLECTIONS. 1. Pharaoh is warned of God’s resolution to send a grievous swarm of flies. He was probably praying at the river to his false gods, and here is a message to him from Jehovah. Distinction shall be made between God’s people and his, more evidently to demonstrate the hand of God in the judgment. Whilst Egypt in general is full of flies, Goshen shall be free. Note; God is able to secure his servants from common desolations here; but if they should now sink with others in affliction, the day is near when he will make an awful and eternal separation between the righteous and the wicked.
2. Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron; and, tormented with these noisome insects, he makes some reluctant concessions: they shall worship, but in Egypt.
The proposal is rejected, and the reason given. They insist upon liberty to depart, and he with unwillingness consents they shall go, but not far out of his reach. Note; (1.) Sins which we are driven from by a tormented conscience through fear only, like a favourite cast off in a passion, will soon be taken in again. (2.) In order to serve God acceptably, we must be separate from the ways and company of a wicked world. (3.) No service can please him, but what is according to his will and word.
3. Moses is content to intercede for him, but admonishes him not to deal deceitfully. God is not mocked. Forced repentance usually betrays itself; but though we impose upon men, we cannot upon God: we can only deceive ourselves to our ruin.
4. The plague is removed, and Pharaoh’s hypocrisy appears. It is bad trusting to wicked men’s words. The ambition and pride of despotic kings make them often break their solemn treaties; but they only thereby court their own destruction.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jas 5:16 . But in this scripture and every other of the like kind, keep in view Him, and his precious office as our intercessor, in whose blood and righteousness alone Moses, Daniel or Job, found favour with God.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 8:31 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms [of flies] from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
Ver. 31. There remained not one. ] Prayer makes clean work; it can do wonders in heaven and earth. Say thou with David, “Cleanse thou me from secret faults,” Psa 19:12 those that are of daily and hourly incursion. Prayer will scour the coast, clear the conscience of dead works. Act 8:22
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Reciprocal: Psa 14:3 – there Isa 26:10 – favour
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 8:31. There remained not one This immediate and entire removal of the flies was as extraordinary, and as plainly indicative of the hand of God, as the bringing them upon the land. Probably a strong wind swept them into the sea, or into the deserts of Africa.