the Magicians did so] That is, stretched out their hands with rods, as Aaron did vers. 17. and shewed their indeavour to doe the like, though in vaine. but they could not] God confounding their wisdome and power in a thing most vile, whereby yet he honoured himselfe; since hence it appeareth, that there is nothing so small, that his power and providence descendeth not unto, nor wherein he cannot foile both the power and imposture of men and devils, who could neither make lice indeed, not make a shew of them. so there were lice] In the Hebrew there is an Enallage of number, the Verbe being of the singular Number, and the Noune of the plurall, as Genesis 1:14.