stretch

Exodus 8:5,17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, Say to Aaron, Stretch forth your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds...

lice. Mr. Harmer supposes he has found out the true meaning in the word tarrentes, a species of worm. Bochart, however, seems to have proved that lice, and not gnats, are meant; because,

1. they sprang from the dust, and not from the waters;

2. they were on both man and beast, which cannot be said of gnats;

3. their name is derived from koon, to make firm, fix, establish, which cannot agree with gnats, flies, which are ever changing place, and almost constantly on the wing;

4. the term kinnah is used by the Talmudists to express the louse. This insect must have been a very dreadful and afflicting plague to the Egyptians, and especially to the priests, who were obliged to shave all their hair off, and to wear a single linen tunic, to prevent vermin harbouring about them.