What is the significance of six and seven afflictions?
Rashi (19, 21): The coming verses list them - hunger, war, a wanton tongue, plunderers, Shod v'Chafan 1 , bandits and Chayos. When they come to the world, the afflictions that you already suffered will save you from the six. Also the seventh will not touch you.
Ibn Ezra: Perhaps seven is not precise. Others count seven [in the coming verses].
Devar Eliyahu: Six corresponds to the six afflictions that befell Iyov. Seven is the seventh, which struck his body 2 .
Malbim: Sometimes afflictions come to save one from a bigger affliction. Six is not precise; it refers to a large number.
Rashi does not explain Shod v'Chafan. Shod (plunder) and Kafan (hunger) were already counted! Refer to 5:22:1:1, 5:22:2:1-3. (PF)
Magihah: Above (3:26), the Vilna Gaon said that there were five in all; the fifth struck his body! (Perhaps here he counts the three heads of Kasdim that took the camels as three afflictions. Or, he counts two of the following as additional afflictions - loss of the donkeys, in addition to the cattle; death of his daughters, in addition to his sons; loss of the house, in addition to the death of his children. - PF)
