Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 7:17

17 Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD : behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand, upon the waters which are in the river , and they shall be turned to blood .

Because th[illegible: 1+ letters] saidst, [illegible: 1 word] is the Lord? and, I know not the lord, chap. 5. 2. thou [illegible: 1 word] know him experimentally and to thy cost.

viz. by Aarons hand, who shall do it by my command and direction. Thus Pilate is said to give Christs body to Ioseph, Mark 15. 45. because he commanded it to be delivered by others to him. The same action is ascribed to the principal and instrumental cause.

Nilus, which was one of their principal Gods; and therefore it was inexcusable in them, that they would not renounce those [illegible: 1+ letters]eeble Gods which were unable to help not onely their worshippers, but even themselves, nor embrace the service and commands of that God whose almighty power they saw and felt.

Which was a very grievous Plague to them; both because it was an eternal dishonour to their Religion, and because from hence they had both their drink, Deut. 11. 10, 11. Ier. 2. 18. and their meat, Numb. 11. 5. for greater and lesser cattel they would not eat, Exod. 8. 26. And it was a very proper punishment for them, who had made that river an instrument for the execution of their bloody design against the Israelitish infants, Exod. 1. 22.

Marginal references: chap. 4. 9.; Rev. 16. 6.