Reference: Plagues, The ten
Smith
Plagues, The ten,
The occasion on which the plagues were sent is described in Exod 3-12.
1. The plague of blood.When Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh, a miracle was required of them. Then Aaron's rod became "a serpent (Authorized Version), or rather "a crocodile." Its being changed into an animal reverenced by all the Egyptians, or by some of them, would have been an especial warning to Pharaoh, The Egyptian magicians called by the king produced what seemed to be the same wonder, yet Aaron's rod swallowed up the others.
This passage, taken alone would appear to indicate that the magicians succeeded in working wonders, but, if it is compared with the others which relate their opposition on the occasions of the first three plagues, a contrary inference seems more reasonable for the very first time that Moses wrought his miracle without giving previous notice, the magicians "did so with their enchantments," but failed. A comparison with other passages strengthens us in the inference that the magicians succeeded merely by juggling. After this warning to Pharaoh, Aaron, at the word of Moses, waved his rod over the Nile, and the river was turned into blood, with all its canals and reservoirs, and every vessel of water drawn from them; the fish died, and the river stank. The Egyptians could not drink of it, and digged around it for water. This plague was doubly humiliating to the religion of the country, as the Nile was held sacred, as well as some kinds of its fish, not to speak of the crocodiles, which probably were destroyed.
Those who have endeavored to explain this plague by natural causes have referred to the changes of color to which the Nile is subject, the appearance of the Red Sea, and the so called rain and dew of blood of the middle ages; the last two occasioned by small fungi of very rapid growth. But such theories do not explain why the wonder happened at a time of year when the Nile is most clear nor why it killed the fish and made the water unfit to he drunk.
2. The plague of frogs. --When seven days had passed after the first plague, the river and all the open waters of Egypt brought forth countless frogs, which not only covered the land but filled the houses, even in their driest parts and vessels, for the ovens and kneading-troughs are specified. This must have been an especially trying judgment to the Egyptians, as frogs were included among the sacred animals.
3. The plague of lice. --The dry land was now smitten by the rod, and very dust seemed turned into minute noxious insects, so thickly did they swarm on man and beast, or rather "in" them. The scrupulous cleanliness of the Egyptians would add intolerably to the bodily distress of this plague, by which also they again incurred religious defilement. As to the species of the vermin, there seems no reason to disturb the authorized translation of the word. The magicians, who had imitated by their enchantments the two previous miracles, were now foiled. They struck the ground, as Aaron did, and repeated their own incantations. but it was without effect.
4. The plague of flies. --After the river and the land, the air was smitten, being filled with winged insects, which swarmed in the houses and devoured the land, but Goshen was exempted from the plague. The word translated "swarms of flies" most probably denotes the great Egyptian beetle, Scarabaeus sacer, which is constantly represented in their sculptures. Besides the annoying and destructive habits of its tribe, it was an object of worship, and thus the Egyptians were again scourged by their own superstitions.
5. The plague of the murrain of beasts. --Still coming closer and closer to the Egyptians, God sent a disease upon the cattle, which were not only their property but their deities. At the precise time of which Moses forewarned Pharaoh, all the cattle of the Egyptians were smitten with a murrain and died, but not one of the cattle of the Israelites suffered.
6. The plague of boils --From the cattle the hand of God was extended to the persons of the Egyptians. Moses and Aaron were commanded to take ashes of the furnace, and to "sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh." It was to become "small dust" throughout Egypt, and "be a boil breaking forth [with] blains upon man and upon beast."
This accordingly came to pass. The plague seems to have been the leprosy, a fearful kind of elephantiasis which was long remembered as "the botch of Egypt."
De 28:27,35
7. The plague of hail. --The account of the seventh plague is preceded by a warning which Moses was commanded to deliver to Pharaoh, respecting the terrible nature of the plagues that were to ensue if he remained obstinate. Man and beast were smitten, and the herbs and every tree broken, save in the land of Goshen. The ruin caused by the hail was evidently far greater than that effected by any of the earlier plagues. Hail is now extremely rare, but not unknown, in Egypt, and it is interesting that the narrative seems to imply that if sometimes falls there.
8. The plague of locusts. --The severity of this plague can be well understood by those who have been in Egypt in a part of the country where a flight of locusts has alighted. In this case the plague was greater than an ordinary visitation, since it extended over a far wider space, rather than because it was more intense; for it is impossible to imagine any more complete destruction than that always caused by a swarm of locusts.
9. The plague of darkness. --"There was a darkness in all the land of Egypt three days;" while "all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." It has been illustrated by reference to the samoom and the hot wind of the Khamaseen. The former is a sand-storm which occurs in the desert, seldom lasting more than a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, but for the time often causing the darkness of twilight, and affecting man and beast. The hot wind of the Khamaseen usually blows for three days and nights, and carries so much sand with it that it produces the appearance of a yellow fog. It thus resembles the samoom, though far less powerful and less distressing in its effects. It is not known to cause actual darkness. The plague may have been an extremely severe sandstorm, miraculous in its violence and duration, for the length of three days does not make it natural since the severe storms are always very brief.
10. The death of the first-born. --Before the tenth plague Moses went to warn Pharaoh: "Thus saith the Lord, about midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne even to the first-born of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of beasts."
The clearly miraculous nature of this plague, its falling upon man and in its beast; and the singling out of the firstborn, puts it wholly beyond comparison with any natural pestilence, even the severest recorded in history, whether of the peculiar Egyptian plague or of other like epidemics. The history of the ten plagues strictly ends with the death of the first-born. The gradual increase in severity of the plagues is perhaps the best key to their meaning. They seem to have been sent as warnings to the oppressor, to afford him a means of seeing God's will and an opportunity of repenting before Egypt was ruined. The lesson that Pharaoh's career teaches us seems to be that there are men whom the meet signal judgments do not affect so as to cause any lasting repentance. The following characteristics of the plagues may be specially noticed: (1) Their relation to natural phenomena. Each of the inflictions has a demonstrable connection with Egyptian customs and phenomena; each is directly aimed at some Egyptian superstition all are marvellous, not for the most part as reversing, but as developing, forces inherent in nature, and directing them to a special end. --Canon Cook. (2) Their order. They are divided first into nine and one the last one standing clearly apart from all the others.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But, I, will suffer Pharaoh to harden his heart, - so will I multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, so will I lay my hand on Egypt, - and bring forth my hosts - my people the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, with great judgments. read more. And the Egyptians shall know that I, am Yahweh, when I have stretched forth my hand over Egypt, - and brought forth the sons of Israel out of their midst. And Moses and Aaron did so , - as Yahweh commanded them, so, did they. Now Moses, was eighty years old, and, Aaron, eighty-three years old, - when they spake unto Pharaoh. And Yahweh spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying: When Pharaoh shall speak unto you saying, Shew for yourselves a wonder, then shalt thou say unto Aaron, Take thy staff, and cast it down before Pharaoh let it become a sea-serpent. So Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and did so as Yahweh had commanded, - and Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a sea-serpent, Then called Pharaoh also for the wise men and for the magicians, - and they too, the sacred scribes of Egypt with their secret arts, did in like manner; yea they cast down each man his staff, and they became sea-serpents, - but Aaron's staff swallowed up their staves.
Then shalt thou say unto him - Yahweh God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee saying, - Let my people go, that they may serve me in the desert, - And lo! thou hast not hearkened hitherto. Thus, saith Yahweh, Hereby, shalt thou know that, I, am Yahweh, - Lo! I, am smiting with the staff that is in my hand upon the waters that are in the river and they shall be turned to blood; read more. and, the fish that is in the river shall die and the river shall be loathsome, - and the Egyptians, shall disdain, to drink water out of the river. And Yahweh said unto Moses, - Say unto Aaron - Take thy staff, and stretch forth thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams over their rivers, and over their pools and over all their collections of water - that they may become blood, - so shall there be blood in all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron, did so, as Yahweh commanded, and he lifted high the staff, and smote the waters which were in the river, before the eyes of Pharaoh, and before the eyes of his servants, - and all the waters which were in the river were turned to blood; and the fish that was in the river, died and the river became loathsome, so that the Egyptians could not drink water out of the river, - thus came it to pass that blood was in all the land of Egypt. And the sacred scribes of Egypt did in like manner with their secret arts, - so the heart of Pharaoh waxed bold and he hearkened not unto them, as spake Yahweh. Then Pharaoh, turned away, and entered into his house - neither applied he his heart, even to this. And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink, - for they could not drink of the water of the river. And seven days were fulfilled, - after Yahweh had smitten the river.
Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, - then shalt thou say unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, - Let my people go, that they may serve me. But if thou art, refusing, to let them go, lo! I, am plaguing all thy boundaries with frogs; read more. so shall the river swarm with frogs, and they shall come up, and enter into thy house, and into thy bedchamber and upon thy couch, - and into the house of thy servants and among thy people, and into thine ovens and into thy kneading-troughs: both against thee, and against thy people, and against all thy servants, shall come up the frogs. Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Say unto Aaron - Stretch forth thy hand with thy staff, over the streams over the rivers and over the pools, - and bring up the frogs, over the land of Egypt. So Aaron stretched forth his hand, over the waters of Egypt, - and the frog came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the sacred scribes did in like manner, with their secret arts, - and brought up frogs over the land of Egypt. Then called Pharaoh for Moses and for Aaron and said - Make entreaty unto Yahweh, that he take away the frogs from me and from my people, - and I must lot the people go that they may sacrifice to Yahweh. And Moses said to Pharaoh - Explain thyself unto me: For what time, shall I make entreaty for thee and for thy servants and for thy people, to cause the frogs to be cut off, from thee and from thy houses, - only in the river, shall they remain? And he said - For to-morrow. And he said - According to thy word! that thou mayest know that there is none like Yahweh, our God: so the frogs shall depart - from thee and from thy houses and from thy servants and from thy people, - only in the river, shall they remain. Then went forth Moses and Aaron from Pharaoh, - and Moses made outcry unto Yahweh, over the matter of the frogs which he had appointed for Pharaoh. And Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, - and the frogs died, out of the houses and out of the yards, and out of the fields; and they piled them up, heaps - heaps, - and the land became loathsome. But when Pharaoh saw that there had come a respite, then made he his heart dull and hearkened not unto them, - as spake Yahweh. Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Say unto Aaron - Stretch forth thy staff, and smite the dust of the land, - so shall it become gnats in all the land of Egypt. And they did so, and Aaron stretched forth his hand with his staff and smote the dust of the land, and there canto to be gnats, among men and among beasts, - all the dust of the land, became gnats, in all the land of Egypt. And the sacred scribes did in like manner with their secret arts, to bring forth the gnats, but they could not. So there came to be gnats, among men and among beasts. Then said the sacred scribes unto Pharaoh, The finger of God, it is! But the heart of Pharaoh waxed bold and he hearkened not unto them, as spake Yahweh. Then said Yahweh unto Moses - Rise thou early in the morning, and station thyself before Pharaoh, lo! he is coming forth to the waters, - then shalt thou say unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh: Let my people go, that they may serve me. But if thou art not letting my people go, behold me! sending forth - against thee, and against thy servants, and against thy people, and against thy houses the gad-fly, - and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of the gad-fly, moreover also the ground whereon, they are: then will I make to differ on that day, the land of Goshen wherein my people do dwell, so that there shall not be there a gad-fly! in order that thou mayest know, that I, Yahweh, am in the midst of the land; so will I put a separation betwixt my people and thy people. By to-morrow, shall come to pass this sign. And Yahweh did so, and brought a grievous gad-fly unto the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and in all the land of Egypt, and the land was laid waste by reason of the gad-fly. Then did Pharaoh cry out - unto Moses and to Aaron, - and said-Go your way, sacrifice to your God, in the land. And Moses said: Not meet, is it, to do thus, for, an abomination to the Egyptians, we should sacrifice to Yahweh our God. Lo! could we sacrifice that which is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes and they not stone us? A journey of three days, must we go, in the desert, - then will we sacrifice to Yahweh our God, as, Yahweh, hath said unto us. Then said Pharaoh: I, will let you go - so shall ye sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the desert, only ye shall not go a, very long, journey, - make ye entreaty for me. And Moses said: Lo! I, am going out from thee and will make entreaty unto Yahweh, so will he take away the gad-fly - from Pharaoh from his servants, and from his people tomorrow, - only let not Pharaoh again deceive, in not letting the people go, to sacrifice to Yahweh. So Moses went out from Pharaoh, - and made entreaty unto Yahweh. And Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, and took away the gad-fly, from Pharaoh from his servants and from his people, - there remained not, one. And Pharaoh made his heart dull, this time also, - and did not let the people go.
Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, - then shalt thou say unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. But, if, refusing, thou art to let them go, - and still art holding them fast, read more. lo! the hand of Yahweh, is coming on thy cattle which are in the field, on the horses, on the asses on the camels, on the herds and on the flocks, - a very grievous pestilence; and Yahweh will make a difference between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of the Egyptians, - so that there shall not die from among all that pertaineth to the sons of Israel, a thing! And Yahweh appointed a set time - saying, To-morrow, will Yahweh do this thing, in the land. So Yahweh did this thing, on the morrow, and all the cattle of the Egyptians died, - but of the cattle of the sons of Israel, died not one. And Pharaoh sent, and lo! there had not died of the cattle of Israel, so much as one. But Pharaoh's heart became dull, and he did not let the people go. Then said Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take you your hands full of the ashes of an oven, - and Moses shall scatter them towards the heavens, before the eyes of Pharaoh:
Then said Yahweh unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take you your hands full of the ashes of an oven, - and Moses shall scatter them towards the heavens, before the eyes of Pharaoh: then shall they become fine dust, over all the land of Egypt, - and shall become on man and on beast, a burning sore, breaking out in pustules in all the land of Egypt.
then shall they become fine dust, over all the land of Egypt, - and shall become on man and on beast, a burning sore, breaking out in pustules in all the land of Egypt. So they took the ashes of an oven and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them towards the heavens, - and it came to pass that there was a burning sore in pustules breaking out, among men, and among beasts;
So they took the ashes of an oven and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them towards the heavens, - and it came to pass that there was a burning sore in pustules breaking out, among men, and among beasts; and the sacred scribes could not stand before Moses, because of the burning sore, - for the burning sore had come on the sacred scribes, and on all the Egyptians.
and the sacred scribes could not stand before Moses, because of the burning sore, - for the burning sore had come on the sacred scribes, and on all the Egyptians. But Yahweh let the heart of Pharaoh wax bold, and he hearkened not unto them, - as spake Yahweh unto Moses.
But Yahweh let the heart of Pharaoh wax bold, and he hearkened not unto them, - as spake Yahweh unto Moses. Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Rise thou early in the morning, and station thyself before Pharaoh, - then shalt thou say unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, Let my people go that they may serve me;
Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Rise thou early in the morning, and station thyself before Pharaoh, - then shalt thou say unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, Let my people go that they may serve me; for this time, am I, sending all my plagues unto thy heart, and amongst thy servants and amongst thy people, - to the intent thou mayest get to know, that there is none like me in all the earth.
for this time, am I, sending all my plagues unto thy heart, and amongst thy servants and amongst thy people, - to the intent thou mayest get to know, that there is none like me in all the earth. For now, might I have put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, - and thou shoulder have secretly disappeared from the earth;
For now, might I have put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, - and thou shoulder have secretly disappeared from the earth; but, in very deed for this purpose, have I let thee remain, for the purpose of showing thee my might, - and that my name may be celebrated in all the earth.
but, in very deed for this purpose, have I let thee remain, for the purpose of showing thee my might, - and that my name may be celebrated in all the earth. Even yet, art thou exalting thyself over my people - in not letting them go?
Even yet, art thou exalting thyself over my people - in not letting them go? Behold me! raining down, about this time to-morrow, an exceeding heavy hail, - such as hath not been in Egypt, from the day it was founded, even unto the present time.
Behold me! raining down, about this time to-morrow, an exceeding heavy hail, - such as hath not been in Egypt, from the day it was founded, even unto the present time. Now, therefore, send - bring into safety thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field, - as touching all men and beasts which shall be found in the field and shall not be withdrawn into shelter, the hail shall come down upon them and they shall die.
Now, therefore, send - bring into safety thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field, - as touching all men and beasts which shall be found in the field and shall not be withdrawn into shelter, the hail shall come down upon them and they shall die. He that feared the word of Yahweh, among the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattle flee, under shelter:
He that feared the word of Yahweh, among the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattle flee, under shelter: but, whoso applied not his heart unto the word of Yahweh, left his servants and his cattle in the field.
but, whoso applied not his heart unto the word of Yahweh, left his servants and his cattle in the field. Then said Yahweh unto Moses - Stretch forth thy hand over the heavens, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, - on man and on beast, and on every herb of the field in the land of Egypt.
Then said Yahweh unto Moses - Stretch forth thy hand over the heavens, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, - on man and on beast, and on every herb of the field in the land of Egypt. So Moses stretched forth his staff over the heavens, and, Yahweh, gave forth thunderings and hail, and there came fire towards the earth, - and Yahweh rained down hail, on the land of Egypt.
So Moses stretched forth his staff over the heavens, and, Yahweh, gave forth thunderings and hail, and there came fire towards the earth, - and Yahweh rained down hail, on the land of Egypt. So there came to be hail, and fire catching hold of itself, in the midst of the hall, - exceeding heavy, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt, from the very time it became a nation.
So there came to be hail, and fire catching hold of itself, in the midst of the hall, - exceeding heavy, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt, from the very time it became a nation. And the hail smote in all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast, - and every herb of the field, did the hail smite, and every tree of the field, did it shiver.
And the hail smote in all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast, - and every herb of the field, did the hail smite, and every tree of the field, did it shiver. Only in the land of Goshen, where were the sons of Israel, was there no hail.
Only in the land of Goshen, where were the sons of Israel, was there no hail. Then sent Pharaoh, and called for Moses and for Aaron, and said unto them - I have sinned this time, - Yahweh, is the righteous one, and, I and my people, are the wrong-doers.
Then sent Pharaoh, and called for Moses and for Aaron, and said unto them - I have sinned this time, - Yahweh, is the righteous one, and, I and my people, are the wrong-doers. Make ye request unto Yahweh, and it shall be enough without there being any more thunderings of God, and hail, - and I must a let you go, and not again shall ye delay.
Make ye request unto Yahweh, and it shall be enough without there being any more thunderings of God, and hail, - and I must a let you go, and not again shall ye delay. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, will I spread out my hands unto Yahweh, - the thunderings, shall cease, and, the hail, shall come no more, - that thou mayest know, that to Yahweh, belongeth the earth.
And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, will I spread out my hands unto Yahweh, - the thunderings, shall cease, and, the hail, shall come no more, - that thou mayest know, that to Yahweh, belongeth the earth. But as touching thee and thy servants, I know that not yet will ye stand in awe of Yahweh Elohim.
But as touching thee and thy servants, I know that not yet will ye stand in awe of Yahweh Elohim. Now, the flax and the barley, were smitten, - for the barley, was in the ear, and, the flax, was in flower;
Now, the flax and the barley, were smitten, - for the barley, was in the ear, and, the flax, was in flower; but the wheat and the spelt, were not smitten, - for they were, not ripe.
but the wheat and the spelt, were not smitten, - for they were, not ripe. So Moses went away from Pharaoh out of the city, and spread out his hands unto Yahweh, - then did the thunderings and the hail cease, and, rain, was not poured out on the earth.
So Moses went away from Pharaoh out of the city, and spread out his hands unto Yahweh, - then did the thunderings and the hail cease, and, rain, was not poured out on the earth. And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunderings had ceased, he again sinned, - and made his heart dull, he, and his servants.
And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunderings had ceased, he again sinned, - and made his heart dull, he, and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh waxed bold, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, - as spake Yahweh by the hand of Moses.
Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, - for, I, have suffered his heart to be dull and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs, in their midst; and that thou mayest recount in the ears of thy son and thy sons' son, what I did in derision of the Egyptians, and my signs which I displayed among them, - so shall ye know that I, am Yahweh. read more. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, How long hast thou refused to humble thyself before me? Let my people go that they may serve me. But if, refusing, thou art to let my people go, behold me bringing in tomorrow a locust within thy bounds; and it shall cover the eye of the land, so that one shall not be able to see the land, - and it shall eat the residue that hath escaped, that is left you from the hail, and shall eat up all the trees that sprout for you out of the field; and they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants and the houses of all the Egyptians, such as thy fathers and thy fathers' fathers have never seen, from the day they came to be on the ground, until this day. And he turned away, and came out from the presence of Pharaoh. Then said the servants of Pharaoh unto him, How long shall this man become to us a snare? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh their God. Not yet, knowest thou, that Egypt is, ruined? So Moses and Aaron were brought back unto pharaoh, and he said unto them - Go, serve Yahweh your God, - who, are they that are going? And Moses said, With our young and with our old, will we go, - with our sons and with our daughters with our flocks and with our herds, will we go, - for, the festival of Yahweh, is ours. Then he said unto them: Let Yahweh, so, be with you, when I let go you and your little ones! Look out for, harm, is straight before your faces. Not so! Go, I pray you, ye grown men and serve Yahweh, for, that, is what, ye, were seeking. And they were driven out from the presence of Pharaoh. Then said Yahweh unto Moses - Stretch forth thy hand over the land of Egypt for the locust, that it may come up over the land of Egypt, - and may eat up every herb of the land, all that the hail hath left. And Moses stretched forth his staff over the land of Egypt, and, Yahweh, caused an east wind to drive through the land, all that day, and all the night, - when the morning, had come, the east wind, had brought the locust. And the locust came up over all the land of Egypt, and settled in all the bounds of Egypt, - very grievous, before it, had not been such a locust as that, neither after it, should be one like it. So it covered the eye of all the land and the land was darkened, and it did eat every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees, which the hail had left remaining, - so that there was not left remaining any green sprout in the trees or in the herb of the field in all the land of Egypt. Then hastened Pharaoh, to call for Moses and for Aaron, - and said - I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you. Now, therefore, forgive I pray you my sin - only this time, and make entreaty to Yahweh your God, - that he may take away from me, at least, this death. So he came out from Pharaoh, - and made entreaty unto Yahweh; and Yahweh turned back a west wind strong exceedingly, and carried away the locust and cast it into the Red Sea, - there was not left a single locust in all the bounds of Egypt. But Yahweh suffered the heart of Pharaoh to wax bold, - and he did not let the sons of Israel go. Then said Yahweh unto Moses: Stretch forth thy hand over the heavens, that there may be darkness, over the land of Egypt, - and that one may feel the darkness. So Moses stretched forth his hand over the heavens, - and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days; they saw not one another neither rose any man from his couch for three days, - but all the sons of Israel, had light in their dwellings. Then Pharaoh called out unto Moses and said - Go serve Yahweh, only, your flocks and your herds, shall be left, - even your little ones shall go with you. And Moses said, Even thou thyself, shalt give into our hands sacrifices and ascending-offerings, - so shall we present offerings to Yahweh our God. Moreover also, our own cattle, shall go with us - there shall not be left behind, a hoof, for thereof, must we take, to serve Yahweh our God, - even we ourselves, cannot know wherewith we must serve Yahweh, until we have come in thither. And Yahweh let the heart of Pharaoh wax bold, - and he was not willing to let them go. So Pharaoh said to him - Get thee from me, - take heed to thyself - do not any more! see my face, for in the day thou dost see my face, thou shalt die. And Moses said - Well hast thou spoken, - no more again to see thy face.
And Moses said, Thus saith Yahweh, - About midnight, am, I, going forth in the midst of Egypt; then shall every firstborn in the land of Egypt die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who is sitting on his throne, unto the firstborn of the handmaid who is behind the two millstones, - and every firstborn of beasts;
Yahweh, will smite thee, with the burning sores of Egypt and with the hemorrhoids, and with scab, and with itch, - of which thou canst not be healed.
Yahweh, will smite thee, with a grievous boil, upon the knees and upon the legs, of which thou canst not he healed, - from the sole of thy foot even unto the crown of thy head.