Verse 2

Vers. 2. And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: so every one shall fight against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; City against City, and Kingdom against Kingdom.

Vers. 2. And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: so euerie one shall fight against his brother, and euery one against his neighbour; Citie against Citie, and Kingdome against Kingdome.

HE here describes in a more special manner, with what calamity God was determined to smite the Egyptians. In saying,¹ that he will set the Egyptians together by the ears; he means such civil dissensions which cause those to be rent in sunder, which ought to defend one another: which is the most hurtful mischief that can befall any City or people. Now it was needful the Jews should be persuaded that God (in whose hands the hearts of all men are) could make the Egyptians to be inflamed with hatred one against another, by a secret instinct; whereby they might be brought to destroy themselves, although they were more mighty then their enemies abroad.² Hence we learn, that the people never fall to be mutinous, but the Lord sets them on to fight and make war one with another: as if a man should gather a company of Fencers together into the market place. For he sets them agog to fight, and drives them forward to hurt; yea even to kill one another. So then even as we are to attribute it unto God, when there is friendship and love among Citizens: so also ought we to attribute it to his vengeance, when one of them riseth up against another, killing and murdering one another.

HE here describes in a more speciall manner, with what calamitie God was determined to smite the Egyptians. In saying,¹ that he wil set the Egyptians together by the eares; he meanes such ciuil dissensions which cause those to bee rent in sunder, which ought to defend one another: which is the most hurtfull mischiefe that can befall any Citie or people. Now it was needfull the Iewes should be perswaded that God (in whose hands the hearts of all men are) could make the Egyptians to bee inflamed with hatred one against another, by a secret instinct; whereby they might bee brought to destroy themselues, although they were more mightie then their enemies abroad.