Exodus 9:1-12

9:3-7 | Agriculture was, and remains, Egypt’s premier economic resource, with wealth measured in cattle and other livestock that the Egyptians possessed for work and for war. When God struck their animals with pestilence, He was beginning to single out the Egyptians and destroy their economy. Earlier plagues caused irritation and pain but not the widespread loss of personal property. As in the case of the flies (8:22), all of Israel’s livestock was spared.

9:3 | Cattle were often worshiped in Egypt as representatives of various deities.

9:8-11 | The boils came with no warning on man and beast. This is similar to the affliction suffered by Job (Job 2:7).

9:12 | After this sixth plague, the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh. Previously, either Pharaoh had hardened his own heart (8:15, 32) or his heart grew hard. This wording means only that Pharaoh was given over to his own will, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses. God is never one to coerce someone to do evil.