Exodus 9:3  “…the hand of the LORD…a very severe pestilence”
The fifth plague.  Attack on the livestock, animals.  But only on the Egyptian livestock.  They all died.  Same result, Pharaoh didn’t let the people go.

9  “…it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast…”
Sixth plague.  Sores appeared on both man and animal.  Interesting way God had of doing it.  They didn’t just crop up.  It was obvious they were the result of actions by Moses and Aaron.  Same result.

14  “…at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart…”
Sounds like the intensity of the next plagues is going to be increased or the direction more specific.  God wants Pharaoh to pay special attention to what is coming.  Will be no doubt Pharaoh is being targeted by God, not nature or some random occurrences.

15  “…if I had stretched out My hand…”
He’s not saying He hasn’t done anything to Pharaoh yet, but that what He has done has not been full intensity.  If it had been, none of the Egyptians would have survived.

16  “…for this purpose I have raised you up…”
God is clear on His reasons for doing things the way He is.  He is showing His power to everyone through the Egyptians.  And what He does here will spread far and wide.  Rahab will tell of it 40 plus years later.

18  “…I will cause very heavy hail to rain down…”
Seventh plague.  Hail falling.  Will destroy everything outside.  Question arises, where did the livestock come from since they supposedly all died during the fifth plague?  Commentaries suggest not all livestock died from plague earlier.  Perhaps it was just those among the people and not those out in the open fields.  Maybe it was just certain amounts within each heard or group so as to say all were affected.  Since we don’t know the time all of this took, and we know the Israelites still had cattle, perhaps they transferred some.  Have to remember this is being written down as a narrative, not a strict documentary.

21  “…he who did not regard the word of the LORD…”
How sad.  After all that has been happening, there were some Egyptians who still didn’t believe in the power of God.  Their livestock and servants were left in the field and died from the hailstorm.

23  “…the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground…”
Sounds like a storm with the hail.  Lightning bolts hitting the ground.  Trampled and burned animals, people, and the plants, the crops.

27  “…I have sinned this time…”
Sounds like acknowledgment and repentance, but just that of knowing he was in over his head.  Will only last until the danger has passed.

29  “…that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s”
The Egyptians worshipped a lot of things, including nature.  God was systematically showing them He was in control of all they considered gods.  Pharaoh had no control, neither was nature itself in control of anything.  It all belongs to God.

32  “…wheat and the spelt were not struck…”
Just a note to let us know the reason all the crops weren’t destroyed.  Some hadn’t grown to the point they were in danger.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.