The Plagues of Egypt

Yahweh sent Moses to Pharaoh with the same message again and again: let my people go, so they may serve me. Pharaoh refused. First, the river and other waters turned to blood, the fish died, and the water could not be drunk. Then frogs covered the land, even houses and ovens. When the frogs were removed, Pharaoh hardened his heart again.

Next, Aaron struck the dust, and it became lice on people and animals. Pharaoh’s magicians could not produce this plague and said it was God’s finger, but Pharaoh still would not listen. After that came swarms of flies. Yahweh made a distinction, and Goshen, where his people lived, was spared. Pharaoh promised to let them go, then changed his mind.

Then a severe pestilence struck the livestock in the fields of Egypt, but Israel’s livestock was not struck. Pharaoh checked and still stayed stubborn. After that, Moses sprinkled ashes toward the sky, and boils and blisters broke out on people and animals. Even the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, yet Pharaoh still did not listen.

Yahweh then sent a hailstorm with thunder and lightning unlike anything Egypt had seen. It struck people, animals, plants, and trees in the fields, though some servants who feared Yahweh’s word brought their servants and livestock under shelter. Goshen had no hail. Pharaoh said he had sinned, but after the storm stopped, he hardened his heart again.

After that came locusts. They covered the land so completely that it grew dark, and they ate what the hail had left, so that nothing green remained. Pharaoh quickly called for Moses, but once the locusts were gone, he still refused. Then thick darkness covered Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, but the Israelites had light where they lived.

At last, Yahweh told Moses that one more plague would come. About midnight, the firstborn in Egypt died, from Pharaoh’s house to the captive in the dungeon, and the firstborn of livestock also died. A great cry rose through Egypt. Through these plagues, Yahweh showed his power, and Pharaoh’s refusal brought great sorrow on the land.