seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Exodus 8:25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.”
26 But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he commands us.”
28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”
29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.”
30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord, 31 and the Lord did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
26 But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he commands us.”
28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”
29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.”
30 Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord, 31 and the Lord did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained. 32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
I can just imagine Pharaoh swatting and smacking himself while he tries to keep his labor force while ridding himself of these nasty flies.
The easy English site makes it a little clearer.
Moses reminded Pharaoh about the customs in his country. It would offend the Egyptians if the Israelites gave their gifts to God in Egypt. The Israelites had to kill cows as a gift for the LORD. But that was an insult to the Egyptian false god, Isis. The Israelites had to kill sheep as gifts for the LORD. And that was an insult to the Egyptian false god, Amon. Those animals were special and holy to the many Egyptian false gods. Nearly every animal that the Israelites were likely to give would offend the Egyptians. So the Egyptians would be very angry. And they would try to kill the Israelites with stones.
Pharaoh had to agree that was true. And he said that the Israelites could go into the desert. But to go for a ‘three day journey’ did not please him. Perhaps he thought that they would not come back! So he said that they must not go very far.
Moses promised to pray to the LORD on behalf of Pharaoh. Only God could remove the plague of flies. Pharaoh had told lies to them in the past. So Moses warned Pharaoh that he must carry out his promise. He must let the Israelites go. But as soon as the flies left completely, Pharaoh became proud again. He would not give in. Again, he refused to let the people go.
Pharaoh had to agree that was true. And he said that the Israelites could go into the desert. But to go for a ‘three day journey’ did not please him. Perhaps he thought that they would not come back! So he said that they must not go very far.
Moses promised to pray to the LORD on behalf of Pharaoh. Only God could remove the plague of flies. Pharaoh had told lies to them in the past. So Moses warned Pharaoh that he must carry out his promise. He must let the Israelites go. But as soon as the flies left completely, Pharaoh became proud again. He would not give in. Again, he refused to let the people go.
Another thought.... the flies did not affect Goshen. Goshen is where the animals that were to be used in sacrifice were grazed.
