The fifth plague, Exodus 9:1-7, was a very heavy pestilence which at Moses’ word fell the next day on the cattle of Egypt, not on those of Israel. This was the sharper a blow as immediately before Pharaoh went back even from his promise of three days’ absence, Moses had pleaded the inexpediency of their sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes. How many victims fell now? It is well known what the ox and the sheep were in their eyes.
Then came the sixth judgment (Ex. 9:8-12), a boil breaking forth with blains on man and beast in all Egypt, and notably on the magicians who could not statnd before Moses. Such a purulent eruption baffled their scrupulous avoidance of impurity. The vanity of their divinities was as manifest as of their own arts of healing.
Next, the seventh plague (Ex. 9:13-35), hail with the thunder and consuming fire, drew from Pharaoh the confession of his sin and a promise to let the people go, broken by him as soon as Jehovah heard the intercession of Moses. Perversity alone could in this see phenomena ordinary in Egypt, let the time or other circumstances be what they might.