And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
The flax and barley was smitten ... The peculiarities that are mentioned in these cereal products arise from the climate and physical constitution of Egypt. In that country flax and barley are almost ripe when wheat and rye (spelt) are green. And hence, the flax must have been "bolled" - i:e., risen in stalk or podded in February, thus fixing the particular month when the event took place. Barley ripens about a month earlier than wheat. Flax and barley are generally ripe in March, wheat and rye х kucemet (H3698); Septuagint, hee olura, spelt] are ripe in April.
That kussemeth cannot be rye is evident from the fact, that this cereal is produced only in northern latitudes, and is unknown in Egypt. This word occurs in two other passages (Isaiah 28:15; Ezekiel 4:9), and in both the margin has spelt. Moses acceded to the king's earnest wishes, and this most awful visitation ended. But his repentance proved a transient feeling, and his obduracy soon became as great as before.