Reference: Plague
American
See PESTILENCE.
Easton
a "stroke" of affliction, or disease. Sent as a divine chastisement (Nu 11:33; 14:37; 16:46-49; 2Sa 24:21). Painful afflictions or diseases, (Le 13:3,5,30; 1Ki 8:37), or severe calamity (Mr 5:29; Lu 7:21), or the judgment of God, so called (Ex 9:14). Plagues of Egypt were ten in number.
(1.) The river Nile was turned into blood, and the fish died, and the river stank, so that the Egyptians loathed to drink of the river (Ex 7:14-25).
(2.) The plague of frogs (Ex 8:1-15).
(3.) The plague of lice (Heb kinnim, properly gnats or mosquitoes; comp. Ps 78:45; 105:31), "out of the dust of the land" (Ex 8:16-19).
(4.) The plague of flies (Heb arob, rendered by the LXX. dog-fly), Ex 8:21-24.
(5.) The murrain (Ex 9:1-7), or epidemic pestilence which carried off vast numbers of cattle in the field. Warning was given of its coming.
(6.) The sixth plague, of "boils and blains," like the third, was sent without warning (Ex 9:8-12). It is called (De 28:27) "the botch of Egypt," A.V.; but in R.V., "the boil of Egypt." "The magicians could not stand before Moses" because of it.
(7.) The plague of hail, with fire and thunder (Ex 9:13-33). Warning was given of its coming. (Comp. Ps 18:13; 105:32-33).
(8.) The plague of locusts, which covered the whole face of the earth, so that the land was darkened with them (Ex 10:12-15). The Hebrew name of this insect, arbeh, points to the "multitudinous" character of this visitation. Warning was given before this plague came.
(9.) After a short interval the plague of darkness succeeded that of the locusts; and it came without any special warning (Ex 10:21-29). The darkness covered "all the land of Egypt" to such an extent that "they saw not one another." It did not, however, extend to the land of Goshen.
(10.) The last and most fearful of these plagues was the death of the first-born of man and of beast (Ex 11:4-5; 12:29-30). The exact time of the visitation was announced, "about midnight", which would add to the horror of the infliction. Its extent also is specified, from the first-born of the king to the first-born of the humblest slave, and all the first-born of beasts. But from this plague the Hebrews were completely exempted. The Lord "put a difference" between them and the Egyptians. (See Passover.)
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Then said the LORD unto Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened, and he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning, for he will come unto the water, and stand thou upon the river's brink against he come, and the rod which turned to a serpent take in thine hand. read more. And say unto him, 'The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee saying: let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: but hitherto thou wouldest not hear. Wherefore, thus sayeth the LORD: hereby thou shalt know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will smite with the staff that is in mine hand upon the waters that are in the river, and they shall turn to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink: so that it shall grieve the Egyptians to drink of the water of the river.'" And the LORD spake unto Moses, "Say unto Aaron, 'Take thy staff and stretch out thine hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, rivers, ponds and all pools of water, that they may be blood, and that there may be blood in all the land of Egypt: both in vessels of wood and also of stone.'" And Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD commanded. And he lift up the staff and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the river, turned into blood. And the fish that was in the river died, and the river stank: so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river. And there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. And the enchanters of Egypt did likewise with their enchantments, so that Pharaoh's heart was hardened and did not regard them, as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned himself and went into his house, and set not his heart thereunto. And the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the river. And it continued a week after that the LORD had smote the river.
The LORD spake unto Moses, "Go unto Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: let my people go, that they may serve me. If thou wilt not let them go, behold: I will smite all thy land with frogs. read more. And the river shall scrale with frogs, and they shall come up and go into thine house and into thy chamber where thou sleepest and upon thy bed, and into the houses of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and upon thy victuals which thou hast in store. And the frogs shall come upon thee and on thy people and upon all thy servants.'" And the LORD spake unto Moses, "Say unto Aaron, 'Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, rivers, and ponds. And bring up frogs upon the land of Egypt.'" And Aaron stretched his hand over the water of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. And the sorcerers did likewise with their sorcery, and the frogs came up upon the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray ye unto the LORD that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto the LORD." And Moses said unto Pharaoh, "Appoint thou the time unto me, when I shall pray for thee and thy servants and thy people, to drive away the frogs from thee and thy house, so that they shall remain but in the river only." And he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "Even as thou hast said, that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee and from thine houses, and from thy servants and from thy people, and shall remain in the river only." And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried unto the LORD upon the appointment of frogs which he had made unto Pharaoh. And the LORD did according to the saying of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, courts and fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: so that the land stank of them. But when Pharaoh saw that he had rest given him, he hardened his heart and hearkened not unto them, as the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Say unto Aaron, 'Stretch out thy rod and smite the dust of the land that it may turn to lice in all the land of Egypt.'" And they did so. And Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and smote the dust of the earth, and it turned to lice both in man and beast, so that all the dust of the land turned to lice, throughout all the land of Egypt. And the enchanters assayed likewise with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. And the lice were both upon man and beast. Then said the enchanters unto Pharaoh, "It is the finger of God." Neverthelater, Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he regarded them not, as the LORD had said.
If thou wilt not let my people go, behold: I will send all manner flies both upon thee and thy servants, and thy people, and into thy houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of flies, and the ground whereon they are. But I will separate the same day the land of Goshen where my people are, so that there shall no flies be there: that thou mayest know that I am the LORD upon the earth. read more. And I will put a division between my people and thine. And even tomorrow shall this miracle be done.'" And the LORD did even so; and there came noisome flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses and into all the land of Egypt: so that the land was marred with flies.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Go unto Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: send out my people that they may serve me. If thou wilt not let them go but wilt hold them still: read more. behold, the hand of the LORD shall be upon thy cattle which thou hast in the field, upon horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, with a mighty great pestilence. But the LORD shall make a division between the beasts of the Israelites, and the beasts of the Egyptians: so that there shall nothing die of all that pertaineth to the children of Israel.'" And the LORD appointed a time saying, "Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land." And the LORD did the thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. And Pharaoh sent to wete: but there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. Notwithstanding, the heart of Pharaoh hardened, and he would not let the people go. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, "Take your hands full of ashes out of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it up into the air in the sight of Pharaoh, and it shall turn to dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall make swelling sores with blains both on man and beast in all the land of Egypt." And they took ashes out of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprinkled it up into the air: And there brake out sores with blains both in man and beast: so that the sorcerers could not stand before Moses, by the reason of botches on the enchanters and upon all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, that he hearkened not unto them, as the LORD had said unto Moses. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, that they may serve me, or else I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart and upon thy servants and on thy people, that you mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
or else I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart and upon thy servants and on thy people, that you mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand and will smite thee and thy people with pestilence: so that thou shalt perish from the earth. read more. Yet in very deed for this cause have I stirred thee up, for to show my power in thee, and to declare my name throughout all the world. If it be so that thou stoppest my people, that thou wilt not let them go: behold, tomorrow this time, I will send down a mighty great hail; even such one as was not in Egypt since it was grounded unto this time. Send therefore and fetch home thy beasts and all that thou hast in the field. For upon all the men and beasts which are found in the field and not brought home, shall the hail fall, and they shall die.'" And as many as feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their beasts flee to house: and they that regarded not the word of the LORD, left their servants and their beasts in the field. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch forth thine hand unto heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt: upon man and beast, and upon all the herbs of the field in the field of Egypt." And Moses stretched out his rod unto heaven, and the LORD thundered and hailed, so that the fire ran along upon the ground. And the LORD so hailed in the land of Egypt that there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so grievous that there was none such in all the land of Egypt, since people inhabited it. And the hail smote in the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast. And the hail smote all the herbs of the field and broke all the trees of the field: only in the land of Goshen where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, "I have now sinned, the LORD is righteous and I and my people are wicked. Pray ye unto the LORD, that the thunder of God and hail may cease, and I will let you go, and ye shall tarry no longer." And Moses said unto him, "As soon as I am out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD, and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail: that thou mayest know, how that the earth is the LORD's. But I know that thou and thy servants yet fear not the LORD God." The flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was shot up and the flax was bolled: but the wheat and the rye were not smitten, for they were late sown. And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD, and the thunder and hail ceased, neither rained it any more upon the earth.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for grasshoppers; that they come upon the land of Egypt and eat all the herbs of the land, and all that the hail left untouched." And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land, all that day and all night. And in the morning the east wind brought the grasshoppers, read more. and the grasshoppers went up over all the land of Egypt and lighted in all quarters of Egypt very grievously: so that before them were there no such grasshoppers, neither after them shall be. And they covered all the face of the earth, so that the land was dark therewith. And they ate all the herbs of the land and all the fruits of the trees which the hail had left: so that there was no green thing left in the trees and herbs of the field through all the land of Egypt.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness." And Moses stretched forth his hand unto heaven, and there was a dark mist upon all the land of Egypt three days long, read more. so that no man saw another, neither rose up from the place where he was by the space of three days, but all the children of Israel had light where they dwelled. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and said, "Go and serve the LORD; only let your sheep, and your oxen abide, but let your children go with you." And Moses answered, "Thou must give us also offerings and burnt offerings for to sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Our cattle therefore shall go with us, and there shall not one hoof be left behind, for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God. Moreover, we cannot know wherewith we shall serve the LORD, until we come thither." But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him, "Get thee from me and take heed to thyself that thou see my face no more. For whensoever thou comest in my sight, thou shalt die." And Moses said, "Let it be as thou hast said: I will see thy face no more."
And Moses said, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'About midnight will I go out among the Egyptians, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die: even from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth on his seat, unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is in the mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
And at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his seat, unto the firstborn of the captive that was in prison, and all firstborn of the cattle. Then Pharaoh arose the same night and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great crying throughout Egypt, for there was no house where there was not one dead.
And let the priest look on the sore that is in the skin of his flesh. If the hair in the sore be turned unto white, and the sore also seem to be lower than the skin of his flesh, then it is surely a leprosy, and let the priest look on him and make him unclean.
And let the priest look upon him the seventh day: if the sore seem to him to abide still and to go no further in the skin, then let the priest shut him up yet seven days more.
And if it appear lower than the other skin, and there be therein golden hairs and thin, let the priest judge him unclean, for it is a breaking out of leprosy upon the head or beard.
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, yer it was chewed up, the wrath of the LORD waxed hot upon the people, and the LORD slew of the people an exceeding mighty slaughter.
died for their bringing up that evil slander upon it, and were plagued before the LORD.
And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire therein out of the altar, and pour on cense, and go quickly unto the congregation and make an atonement for them. For there is wrath gone out from the LORD, and there is a plague begun." And Aaron took as Moses commanded him, and ran unto the congregation: and behold, the plague was begun among the people, and he put on cense, and made an atonement for the people. read more. And he stood between the dead, and them that were alive, and the plague ceased. And the number of them that died in the plague, were fourteen thousand and seven hundred: beside them that died about the business of Korah.
"And the LORD will smite thee with the botches of Egypt and the hemorrhoids, scall and manginess, that thou shalt not be healed thereof.
The LORD also thundered out of the heaven, and the highest gave his thunder, with hailstones and coals of fire. {TYNDALE: The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most high put out his voice.}
How he sent lice among them, to eat them up, and frogs to destroy them;
He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies and lice in all their quarters. He gave them hail stones for rain, and flames of fire in their land. read more. He smote their vineyards and fig trees, and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts.
And straight way her fountain of blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the plague.
And at the same time, he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits: and unto many that were blind, he gave sight.
Fausets
deber, "destruction." Any sudden, severe, and dangerous disease. Maweth," death," i.e. deadly disease; so "the black death" of the middle ages. Nega', "a stroke" from God, as leprosy (Leviticus 13). Mageephah, qeteb, "pestilence" (Ps 91:6), "that walketh in darkness," i.e. mysterious, sudden, severe, especially in the night, in the absence of the light and heat of the sun. Rosheph, "flame," i.e. burning fever; compare Hab 3:5 margin (See EGYPT and EXODUS on the ten plagues.)
A close connection exists between the ordinary physical visitations of Egypt and those whereby Pharaoh was constrained to let Israel go. It attests the sacred author's accurate acquaintance with the phenomena of the land which was the scene of his history. "The supernatural presents in Scripture generally no violent opposition to the natural, but rather unites in a friendly alliance with it" (Hengstenberg). A special reason why in this case the natural background of the miracles should appear was in order to show that Jehovah was God of Egypt as much as of Israel, and rules "in the midst of the earth" (Ex 8:22)
By exhibiting Jehovah through Moses at will bringing on with unusual intensity, and withdrawing in answer to intercession at once and completely, the well known Egyptian periodical scourges which their superstition attributed to false gods, Jehovah was proved more effectively to be supreme than He could have been by inflicting some new and strange visitation. The plagues were upon Egypt's idols, the Nile water, the air, the frog, the cow, the beetle, etc., as Jehovah saith (Ex 12:12), "against all the gods of Egypt will I execute judgment" (Ex 18:11; 15:11; Nu 33:4). Ten is significant of completeness, the full flood of God's wrath upon the God-opposed world power. The magicians initiate no plague; in producing the same plague by their enchantments (which seem real, as demoniacal powers have exerted themselves in each crisis of the kingdom of God) as Moses by God's word, they only increase the visitation upon themselves. The plagues as they progress prove:
(1) Jehovah's infinite power over Egypt's deified powers of nature. The first stroke affects the very source of the nation's life, the Nile; then the soil (the dust producing the plague); then the irrigating canals breeding flies.
(2) The difference marked between Israel and Egypt; the cattle, the crops, the furnaces (wherein Israel was worn with bondage) represent all the industrial resources of the nation. The stroke on the firstborn was the crowning one, altogether supernatural, whereas the others were intensifications of existing scourges. The firstborn, usually selected for worship, is now the object of the stroke. The difference marked all along from the third plague was most marked in that on the firstborn (Ex 11:7). The plague was national, the firstborn representing Egypt: Isa 43:3, "I gave Egypt for thy ransom."
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But I will separate the same day the land of Goshen where my people are, so that there shall no flies be there: that thou mayest know that I am the LORD upon the earth.
And among all the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, nor yet man or beast: that ye may know, how the LORD putteth a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.'
"For I will go about in the land of Egypt this same night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast, and upon all the gods of Egypt will I the LORD do execution.
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among gods? Who is like thee, so glorious in holiness, fearful, laudable and that showest wonders?
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, for because that they dealt proudly with them."
while the Egyptians buried all their firstborn which the LORD had smoten among them. And upon their gods also the LORD did execution.
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday.
For I am the LORD thy God, the holy one of Israel, thy Saviour. I gave Egypt for thy deliverance, the Ethiopians and the Sabees for thee:
Destruction goeth before him, and burning cressettes go from his feet.