'And Jehovah said to Moses and to Aaron - He said' means instruction. 'When Pharaoh says to you' means if they entertain doubt regarding the Divine. 'When he says, Perform a wonder' means and they therefore wish to receive proof. 'You shall say to Aaron' means influx and communication. 'Take your rod and throw it down in front of Pharaoh' means power which is demonstrated. 'It will then be a water-serpent' means by the prospect that sheer illusions and resulting falsities will reign among them. 'And Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did so, as Jehovah had commanded' means putting it into effect. 'And Aaron threw down his rod in front of Pharaoh and his servants, and it was made into a water-serpent' means that sheer illusions and resulting falsities reigned among them. 'And Pharaoh also called the wise men and sorcerers' means a misuse of Divine order. 'And they also, the magicians of Egypt, did so with their enchantments' means that thus to outward appearances they did something similar, by perverting the ends that order has in view. 'And they threw down each one his rod, and they were made into water-serpents' means power derived from order by which they became obtuse in their discernment of truth. 'And Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods' means that this power was taken away from them. 'And Pharaoh's heart was unyielding' means obstinacy. 'And he did not hear them' means that those governed by evils arising from falsities were unreceptive. As Jehovah had spoken' means as accorded with what had been foretold.

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