Exodus 9:26
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 9:26
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
Chapter Context
Exodus 9 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of salvation, love, judgment. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-35: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides guidance for worship and spiritual devotion. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 9:26
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
Analysis
Verse 26 describes the plague of hail with fire, targeting Nut (sky goddess) and Seth (storm god). This unprecedented storm combines hail and fire, destroying crops and livestock left in fields. God reveals 'there is none like me in all the earth' (v.14).
Historical Context
Nut, sky goddess, arched over earth as protective dome. Seth controlled storms and chaos. The storm's supernatural nature—fire and ice together—proves divine origin. Only those who 'feared the word of the LORD' (v.20) saved their livestock.
Reflection
- How does God use creation to reveal His power?
- What does the response of God-fearing Egyptians (v.20) teach about individual faith?
Cross-References
- References Israel: Exodus 9:4, 9:6, 10:23, 11:7
- Parallel theme: Exodus 12:13