He gave them (q) hail for rain, [and] flaming fire in their land.
(q) It was strange to see rain in Egypt, much more it was fearful to see hail.

He gave them hail for rain,.... Egypt, at least part of it, was not used to rain, but was watered by the overflowings of the Nile; but now it had hail for rain, and a grievous hail storm it was, such as was never seen in the land of Egypt before; hail being rare, if ever there, and so frost and snow (a); this was the seventh plague, Exodus 9:18, compare with this the terrible storm of hail which will fall on men at the pouring out of the seventh vial on spiritual Egypt, Revelation 16:21.
And flaming fire in their land; for a storm of thunder and lightning went along with the hail; fire was mingled with it, and ran upon the ground, Exodus 9:23.
(a) Horat. Carmin. l. 3. Ode 26.

gave them--referring to Leviticus 26:4, "I give you rain in due season." His "gift" to Israel's foes is one of a very different kind from that bestowed on His people.
hail for rain--instead of fertilizing showers, hail destructive to trees. This forms the transition to the vegetable kingdom. The locusts in Psalm 105:34 similarly are destructive to plants.