Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord
sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
What desolations it made upon the earth. The thunder, and fire from heaven (or lightning), made it both the more dreadful and the more destroying, Ex 9:23, 24.
Note, God makes the clouds, not only his store-houses whence he drops fatness on his people, but his magazines whence, when he pleases, he can draw out a most formidable train of artillery, with which to destroy his enemies. He himself speaks of the treasures of hail which he hath reserved against the day of battle and war, Job 38:22, 23. Woeful havoc this hail made in the land of Egypt. It killed both men and cattle, and battered down, not only the herbs, but the trees, Ex 9:25. The corn that was above ground was destroyed, and that only preserved which as yet had not come up, Ex 9:31, 32.
Note, God has many ways of taking away the corn in the season thereof (Ho 2:9), either by a secret blasting, or a noisy hail. In this plague the hot thunderbolts, as well as the hail, are said to destroy their flocks, Ps 78:47, 48; and see Ps 105:32, 33. Perhaps David alludes to this when, describing God's glorious appearances for the discomfiture of his enemies, he speaks of the hailstones and coals of fire he threw among them, Ps 18:12, 13. And there is a plan reference to it on the pouring out of the seventh vial, Re 16:21.
Notice is here taken (Ex 9:26) of the land of Goshen's being preserved from receiving any damage by this plague. God has the directing of the pregnant clouds, and causes it to rain or hail on one city and not on another, either in mercy or in judgment.