The Lord sends Moses to Pharaoh to inform him that, if he did not let the Israelites depart, a destructive pestilence should be sent among his cattle, Exo 9:1-3; while the cattle of the Israelites should be preserved, Exo 9:4. The next day this pestilence, which was the fifth plague, is sent, and all the cattle of the Egyptians die, Exo 9:5, Exo 9:6. Though Pharaoh finds that not one of the cattle of the Israelites had died, yet, through hardness of heart, he refuses to let the people go, Exo 9:7. Moses and Aaron are commanded to sprinkle handfuls of ashes from the furnace, that the sixth plague, that of boils and blains, might come on man and beast, Exo 9:5, Exo 9:9; which having done, the plague takes place, Exo 9:10. The magicians cannot stand before this plague, which they can neither imitate nor remove, Exo 9:11. Pharaoh's heart is again hardened, Exo 9:12. God's awful message to Pharaoh, with the threat of more severe plagues than before, Exo 9:13-17. The seventh plague of rain, hail, and fire threatened, Exo 9:18. The Egyptians commanded to house their cattle that they might not be destroyed, Exo 9:19. These who feared the word of the Lord brought home their servants and cattle, and those who did not regard that word left their cattle and servants in the fields, Exo 9:20, Exo 9:21. The storm of hail, thunder, and lightning takes place, Exo 9:22-24. It nearly desolates the whole land of Egypt, Exo 9:25, while the land of Goshen escapes, Exo 9:26. Pharaoh confesses his sin, and begs an interest in the prayers of Moses and Aaron, Exo 9:27, Exo 9:28. Moses promises to intercede for him, and while he promises that the storm shall cease, he foretells the continuing obstinacy of both himself and his servants, Exo 9:29, Exo 9:30. The flax and barley, being in a state of maturity, are destroyed by the tempest, Exo 9:31; while the wheat and the rye, not being grown up, are preserved, Exo 9:32. Moses obtains a cessation of the storm, Exo 9:33. Pharaoh and his servants, seeing this, harden their hearts, and refuse to let the people go, Exo 9:34, Exo 9:35.