John Calvin Commentary Exodus 8:9

"And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Have thou this glory over me: against what time shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs be destroyed from thee and thy houses, and remain in the river only?" — Exodus 8:9 (ASV)

And Moses said to Pharaoh. Commentators differ as to the meaning of this passage. Some are too speculative, explaining it to mean that this honor was granted to Pharaoh, allowing him to fix the time when Moses was to pray. Again, there is a flatness in the explanation that Pharaoh might glory because the frogs were to die. Those who explain it as meaning that Pharaoh should be freed from the frogs, so that he might glory in safety, express part of the meaning, but not the whole.

It rather appears to me that there is an implied antithesis between the perverse boasting with which Pharaoh had exulted, and that pious glorying which he should seek in the mercy of God; as if Moses had said, “Thus far you have exalted yourself improperly, trusting in your power, and afterwards when bewitched by the enchantments; now rather glory, because you have an intercessor and patron to plead for you to God.”

For it was necessary that the arrogance, which had so falsely elevated him that he dared to contend with God, should be crushed, and that no hope should be left him, except in the mercy of God. But to “glory over” Moses means that he should seek his glory in the advocacy of Moses, and should consider it a very great happiness that Moses would condescend to intercede for his reconciliation with God. For the particle על,⁹³ is often understood this way.

Yet Moses by no means wished to detract at all from the glory of God; but (as I have recently said), desiring to humble the pride of the haughty king, he told him that nothing would be better and more glorious for him than to have a good hope of pardon, once he had obtained as his advocate the servant of the living God, whom he so cordially hated.

He only affirms that the frogs should “remain in the river;” meaning that they should be content with their ordinary dwelling place and boundaries. For we know that frogs, although they sometimes jump out on the bank, still do not go far from the water, because they are nourished by humidity. Thus he hints that they were let loose by God’s command to cover the ground, and that it was still in His power, should He choose, for them to invade the fields and houses again in new multitudes. He also implies that it must be ascribed to His blessing if they remained in the waters and did not make incursions beyond their own boundaries.

⁹³ על. Instances in which this particle has the meaning attributed to it by C., may be seen in Psalm 37:4, first clause; and in Job 27:10. Noldius has also observed that עלי, the form in which it here occurs, has the meaning of mihi curae, mihi incumbit, in Judges 19:20, Psalms 116:12, Proverbs 7:14, and 2 Samuel 18:11. Concord. particularum, על, 34. — W