Exodus 9:26
Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that God’s protection over His people extends even to those Egyptians who happened to be living among them in Goshen. It shows how the presence of God's chosen people could bring unintended, divine favor to others who were near them.
Following a devastating plague of hail and fire that destroyed everything left in the fields across Egypt, there’s a stark contrast: the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was completely untouched. This wasn’t the first time God had distinguished between the Israelites and the Egyptians, showing His special protection over His people amidst His judgment on Pharaoh.
Imagine a storm of epic proportions raging outside, yet within your home, it's completely calm. This verse describes a similar, miraculous separation during one of Egypt's most terrifying plagues.
The plague of hail was devastating, striking everything exposed in the fields across Egypt. However, the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was entirely spared.
The Scope of the Plague
God commanded Moses to stretch out his hand, and hail, mingled with fire, rained down. It destroyed all life and vegetation in the open fields, affecting both people and animals. This wasn't just a localized storm; it was a supernatural event designed to demonstrate God's power over all of Egypt.
Goshen's Immunity
Yet, the text explicitly states, 'Only in the land of Goshen... was there no hail.' This wasn't a coincidence or a natural phenomenon. It was a direct act of divine protection, a shield drawn around the people God claimed as His own.
Sometimes, the presence of God's people brings unexpected benefits to those around them, even to those who don't fully belong.
The sparing of Goshen wasn't just about the Israelites; it also impacted Egyptians who lived among them or perhaps benefited from their presence.
Protection for the Neighbor
Commentaries suggest that Egyptians dwelling in Goshen, or those who heeded the warnings and took shelter with Israelite neighbors, were spared from the hail. This shows that God’s actions, even in judgment, can extend grace to those who are in close proximity to His faithful.
A Seed of Future Freedom
This protection might have fostered a sense of obligation or goodwill among some Egyptians, making them more inclined to help the Israelites later, such as when the Israelites departed Egypt and asked for their jewels (Exodus 12:35). God’s preservation of Goshen had ripple effects, subtly working towards His larger purposes.
Understand the original words
Goshen · Hebrew Noun (proper)
A region in the eastern Nile Delta given to the Israelites to dwell in. It represents a place of divine protection and separation from the judgment falling upon the rest of Egypt.
The exclusion of Goshen from the devastating hail wasn't just a random act; it was a powerful sign of God's protective covenant with His people, even amidst divine judgment on their oppressors. This miraculous preservation underscored His faithfulness and set the stage for the eventual Exodus.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites enslaved in Egypt
For generations, the Israelites lived as enslaved laborers in Egypt, building cities and enduring harsh conditions under Pharaoh's rule. This period of oppression set the stage for God's dramatic intervention.
c. 1446 BC
First Eight Plagues
God unleashes a series of plagues upon Egypt (water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts) to pressure Pharaoh into releasing the Israelites.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Plague of Hail
A devastating hailstorm, mixed with fire, strikes the land of Egypt, destroying crops, livestock, and people left in the fields. This event highlights God's power over nature and His judgment on Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
Goshen Spared
During the plague of hail, the region of Goshen, where the Israelite slaves lived, is miraculously protected. Not a single stone of hail falls on the land of Goshen, demonstrating God's special care for His people.
This passage establishes the pattern of divine protection for Goshen during plagues, showing that God's people are often set apart even amidst widespread judgment.
Psalm 91:1-7This psalm speaks of God's covering and protection for those who dwell in His presence, mirroring the protection over Goshen as a divine dwelling place.
Proverbs 11:8This verse states that the righteous are delivered from trouble, which directly reflects how Israel's presence in Goshen spared them from the hail, highlighting God's justice and care for the faithful.
John 10:11-13Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, illustrating the concept of divine care and protection that ensures the safety of God's people, even when surrounded by danger.
1 Corinthians 10:13This verse assures believers that God will not allow them to be tempted beyond what they can bear, and will provide a way out. This echoes the protection over Goshen, showing God's faithfulness in providing a way of escape or shielding His own from overwhelming destruction.
gillExodus 9:26: "Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail."
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. So that such Egyptians as might dwell among them, they, their servants, their cattle, and their fruits, escaped this plague; and oftentimes do wicked men fare the better for the people of God that are among them.
clarkeExodus 9:26: "Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail."
Only in the land of Goshen - was there no hail - What a signal proof of a most particular providence! Surely both the Hebrews and Egyptians profited by this display of the goodness and severity of God.
This verse highlights that God’s protection over His people extends even to those Egyptians who happened to be living among them in Goshen. It shows how the presence of God's chosen people could bring unintended, divine favor to others who were near them.
Following a devastating plague of hail and fire that destroyed everything left in the fields across Egypt, there’s a stark contrast: the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was completely untouched. This wasn’t the first time God had distinguished between the Israelites and the Egyptians, showing His special protection over His people amidst His judgment on Pharaoh.
Following a devastating plague of hail and fire that destroyed everything left in the fields across Egypt, there’s a stark contrast: the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was completely untouched. This wasn’t the first time God had distinguished between the Israelites and the Egyptians, showing His special protection over His people amidst His judgment on Pharaoh.
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c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Partial Repentance
Terrified by the hail, Pharaoh confesses his sin and acknowledges that the Lord is righteous. However, his heart quickly hardens again once the immediate threat passes.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus
Following the final plagues, Pharaoh finally relents, and the Israelites are released from Egypt after 430 years of sojourning and bondage.
"Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail." — This verse highlights that God’s protection over His people extends even to those Egyptians who happened to be living among them in Goshen. It shows how the presence of God's chosen people could brin…
