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The ten plagues (Eser Ha-Makot עשר מכות מצריים) were 10 disasters, executed against Egypt by God, in order to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. The ten plagues are described in the book of Exodus (שמות), chapters 7:14 - 12:42.

Some authorities say that the teaching purpose of the plagues is to demonstrate the powerlessness of Egypt's idols, affirming God's uniqueness and power. If God triumphed over the gods of Egypt, a world-leading nation, then the people of God would be strengthened in their faith although they are a small people, and would not be tempted to follow the deities that God put to shame.

The plagues

Blood (7:19 - 7:25) דם

The first plague was Blood. Its main purpose was to give Pharaoh a taste of God's might and strength, and to demonstrate Moses's confidence in God. According to the Hebrew Bible, Moses touched the river Nile with his staff, and all the water turned into blood. As a result, the fish of the Nile died, and Egypt was filled with stench. Other water resources used by the Egyptians were turned to blood as well (7:19). This plague lasted for seven days.

Frogs (7:26 - 8:11) צפרדע

The second plague of Egypt was frogs. Herds of frogs overran Egypt and forced Pharaoh to call upon Moses, to ask him to remove the frogs. Moses agreed and told him that the next day the frogs would be gone, as proof of God's might. The next day all the frogs in the Egyptian courts and houses died. Nevertheless, Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews worship their God in the desert, according to the biblical account.

Fleas or Lice (8:12 - 8:15) כינים

The third plague of Egypt was fleas. According to the Bible, the dust of the earth became many fleas which the Egyptian could not get rid off.

Beasts or Flies (8:16 - 8:28) ערוב

The fourth plague of Egypt was Arov. Commentaries usually render this word as flies, but others as beasts, capable of harming people and livestock. The Bible emphasizes that the arov only came against Egypt, and that the land of Goshen (where the Hebrews dwelt) was clean from it. Pharaoh asked Moses to remove this plague and promised to allow the Hebrews to worship God in the desert. However, after the plague was gone, Pharaoh "hardened his heart" and refused to keep his promise.

Livestock (9:1 - 9:7) דבר

The fifth plague of Egypt was a disease which exterminated the Egyptian livestock; that is, horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats. The Hebrew cattle were unharmed.

Boils (9:8 - 9:12) שחין

The sixth plague of Egypt was Shkhin. The Shkhin was a kind of skin disease, known as Boils. The Hartum priests of Egypt could not heal this disease.

Storm (9:13 - 9:25) ברד

The seventh plague of Egypt was a destructive storm. The storm was a powerful shower of hail, combined with fire burning onto the ground. The storm heavily damaged Egyptian shrubbery and crops, as well as men and livestock. The storm struck all Egypt, except for the land of Goshen. Pharaoh asked Moses to remove this plague and promised to allow the Hebrews to worship God in the desert, saying "I have sinned: God is rightous, I and my people are evil". However, after the storm ceased, Pharaoh "hardened his heart" and refused to keep his promise.

Locusts (10:1 - 10:20) ארבה

The eighth plague of Egypt was locusts. The locusts swarmed Egypt and consumed all Egyptian crops, leaving no tree or plant standing on the face of Egypt. The swarm of locusts covered the sky and created darkness in Egypt. After Moses' threats and Egyptian pleas Pharaoh agreed to let only Hebrew men to go out to the desert, while women, children and livestock are to remain in Egypt. Moses demanded that all shall go, and when Pharaoh, this plague struck Egypt. Pharaoh again asked Moses to remove this plague and promised to allow all the Hebrews to worship God in the desert. However, after the locusts gone away, Pharaoh "hardened his heart" and refused to keep his promise.

Darkness (10:21 - 10:29) חושך

The ninth plague of Egypt was complete darkness, lasting for three days. Pharaoh called upon Moses, agreeing to let the Hebrews go out to the desert, but leaving their livestock in Egypt. Moses refused this condition, and in addition required that Pharaoh would donate a sacrifice. This outraged Pharaoh, and he threatened Moses in death.

Death of First Born (11:1 - 12:42) מכת בכורות

The tenth and final plague of Egypt was the death of all Egyptian first born - from the king's first born to the widow's first born, including first born of livestock. This was the hardest and cruelest blow upon Egypt and the plague that finally convinced Pharaoh to submit, and let the Hebrews go.

God told Moses that this plague would cause Pharaoh to send the Hebrews away, and ordered him to prepare the people for leaving. He also ordered Moses to teach the ritual of Pesah sacrificng a lamb for God, and eating Matzot ("Poor's Bread" לחם עוני). God told Moses to order the Hebrews to mark their doorstep with the lamb's blood, in order that the plague of death would pass over them.

In the middle of the night, God himself came upon Egypt and took the life of all the Egyptian first born sons, including Pharaoh's own. There was a great cry in Egypt, such as had never been heard before. No Hebrew first born was killed, as God passed over Hebrew houses.

After this, Pharaoh, furious and sad, ordered the Hebrews to go away, taking whatever they want. The Hebrews don't hesitate; and at the end of that night Moses led them out of Egypt.

Discussions on the plagues

Were the plagues a miracle or just fortunate natural disasters?

Some science writers and bible researchers have tried to explain that the plagues were natural disasters, and not supernatural miracles by God. Some have offered natural explanations for most of the phenomena: the blood in the Nile (1) was actually pollution caused by volcanic activity, which caused the frogs (2) to leave the river, which brought herds of insects (3,4) which spread diseases (5,6). They also suggest explanations for the locusts (8), and speculate that the darkness (9) was caused by a solar eclipse.

These explanations do not account for the selectiveness of the plagues: according to the Hebrew Bible the plagues damaged only Egyptians, while the Hebrews remain intact. The double-selectiveness of the last plague (10) - only first born dies - also does not have a naturalistic explanation. Typically, details of the account which do not acccord with these natural explanations, skeptics and other modern writers account for as being pious exaggerations intended to encourage faith.

Following the assumption that at least some of the details are accurately reported, many modern Jews agree that some of the plagues were indeed natural disasters, but argue from the fact that they followed one another with such uncommon rapidity, that God's hand was behind them.

Indeed, several Biblical commentators (Nachmanides and, more recently, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky) have pointed out that for the plagues to be a real test, they had to contain an element leading to doubt. For example, the splitting of the Red Sea in Exodus appeared to be caused by "a strong eastern wind", providing the Egyptian pursuers, and also those who later recount the story, grounds to doubt the Divine origin of the plague.

Was the tenth plague moral?

The last plague has seemed to many to be a very cruel and unjustifiable punishment for the Egyptians, and is criticised for promoting an unethical delight in the suffering of others. A commom and widely accepted Jewish Midrash explains the dreadful plague by expanding upon 10:28, where Pharaoh threatens to kill Moses:

When Moses went to Pharaoh to demand of him that he let the people go, the whole event is happening in front of Pharaoh's first born son who teases and mocks his father for allowing the Hebrew shepherd to humiliate him. Enraged by the insult and mad with pride, Pharaoh resolved to have revenge for the plagues, and told Moses that he shall deal with the Hebrews in such a manner that a great cry will be heard in Egypt, such that has never been heard before. This was an allusion to the crimes of his father, who ordered the drowning of the male children of the Hebrews. Therefore, Pharaoh brought this harsh punishment upon his own people. His cruel plan was turned back upon him, so that what Pharaoh wanted to do to the Hebrews, God made to happen to him.

This Midrash justifies the last plague with two main arguments:

• Mida ke-neged mida מידה כנגד מידה ("Eye for an eye") principle: in Bible the punishment fits to the crime (sin), not only in severity, but also in symbolism. This is for a pedagogic reason: so that everyone, including the sinner himself, shall know why he has been punished by God.
• Ha-kam le-hargecha hashken le-orgo הקם להרגך, השכם להורגו Self defense: Pharaoh planned to slaughter all Hebrew children. By inflicting upon Pharaoh the same thing he planned for the Hebrews, his evil plan was thwarted.

See also

• Exodus
• Moses
• Passover
• Seder

External Links

Exodus - relevant chapters

• Hebrew: ch 7 - ch 8 - ch 9 - ch 10 - ch 11 - ch 12 .
• English: ch7 - ch8 - ch9 - ch10 - ch11 - ch12.