God sends Moses and Aaron back to Pharoah with Aaron to act as Moses’ spokesman just as prophets speak for God to the people. Again, he explains his plans and purpose to Moses. They are to call on Pharoah to let the people go from Egypt but he will not, his heart will be hardened. This is because God’s plan is to bring judgement on Pharoah and Egypt before He delivers the people (Exodus 7:1-7).
On God’s command, Moses and Aaron repeat the sign of the staff that turns into a snake, though this time, it’s Aaron’s staff that is used. In a manner reminiscent of those scientists who create viruses in laboratories, Pharoah’s magicians prove able to replicate the miracle but Aaron’s serpent eats up the other snakes (v8-13).
Blood
Then God tells them to go back to meet Pharoah again, taking the same staff with them. This time, they are to raise it over the river Nile and over other water sources such as irrigation canals and pools or reservoirs. This may mean that they visited each in turn or use the vantage point to point the staff towards representative water sources. God says that this is so Pharoah may know that God is the true God. When they do this, the water in the Nile and other canals and waterways turns to blood and all the fish die. The result is that the river stinks, note the echo from Exodus 5:21 where the leaders of Israel complain that Moses and Aaron have caused them to stink to Pharoah. Now, he has a real stench in his nostrils. Consider too how, the Nile had been a place of death to the Israelites, now it is a place of death to the Egyptians. Enns observes that this acts as a precursor to the death of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea,[1] However, the king’s heart is hardening and instead of believing, he gets his own magicians to join in again, replicating the miracle.[2] Pharoah pays no attention to what is happening. His heart is hardened not only to God and to the Hebrews but to the suffering that is coming upon his own people (v14-24). There is then a seven-day interval before Moses and Aaron go to see Pharoah again (v25).
Frogs
God sends Aaron and Moses to perform another sign, the second plague. Again, Pharoah is given the opportunity to let the people go to serve the Lord. He refuses, so Mosen and Aaron stretch out the rod over the river Nile, canals and pools again. This time a plague of frogs come out from the waters infesting the homes of the Egyptians. Again the magicians replicate it (8:1-7).
Pharoah pleads with Moses to bring an end to the plague and says he will let the people go in return. Moses says that he will, again this is so that Pharoah may know who God is. He also allows Pharoah to name the time when this is to happen. This will confirm that it is in response to Moses’ prayer. However, as soon as the land is free from the frogs, Pharoah hardens his heart and changes his mind (v8-15).
Gnats
The next plague is an infestation of gnats after Aaron strikes the dust of the ground with the staff. This time when the magicians attempt to replicate the plague they are unable to. This demonstrates that previously it has only been with God’s permission that they have achieved it. They are forced to admit to Pharoah that “this is the finger of God.” Observe the imagery here, Scripture talks about God acting to save with a strong arm but his little finger (metaphorical) has enough power to destroy the power of Egypt. Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened (v16-19).
Flies
Next, God sends a swarm of flies. The pattern is repeated with Moses and Aaron challenging Pharoah to let the people go. God protects the land of Goshen where the Hebrews are from the plague. The magicians seem to make no effort to replicate this plague (v20-24).
Pharoah calls Moses and Aaron in. He pleads with them to end the plague and attempts to negotiate. He will let them go a little way into the wilderness but not too far and not for too long. Moses intercedes. He requests two things, first that the plague will end, secondly that Pharoah won’t go back on his word this time. God answers the first part of the prayer but Pharoah changes his mind again. His heart is being hardened, and this is the Lord’s will and purpose (25-32).
Livestock die
Next, the Egyptians’ livestock is killed but the Israelite animals live. The reference to “all” livestock seems to be a hyperbolic form of language as there is surviving cattle to face further plagues. I would suggest that the aim is to show the extent of the disaster both in that every flock or herd is affected and that a sizeable number of animals die.[3] Pharoah still refuses to let the people go (9:1-7). Then Moses and Aaron throw soot in the air which becomes a fine dust spreading through the land causing the Egyptians’ skin to break out into boils. The magicians suffer from the boils too so are not even able to come out and stand and face of against Moses (v8-13).
Hailstorm
The seventh plague is a fierce and deadly hailstorm. God points out through Moses that he is showing restraint, he could have used these plagues to wipe out the Egyptians but has chosen not to because his aim is to show his glory. Those who are ready to listen heed the warning and bring their remaining livestock inside (v13-21). Moses stretches out his hand and there is hail and lightning. Again, Goshen is protected (v22-26).
In his response this time, Pharoah again pleads for respite but goes further in acknowledging he has sinned. Moses however says that he knows this isn’t true repentance and that Pharoah will not change. As expected, when God ends the judgement, Pharoah still refuses to let the people go (v27-35).
Locusts
God explains to Moses that he has hardened Pharoah’s heart and the purpose of this is that the judgement will be memorable so that Moses and the people will be able to talk about it and it will be passed on down the generations (10:1-3). Moses again appears before Pharaoh and challenges him with the question “when will you humble yourself before God?” This time Moses warns of a coming plague of locusts. Pharaoh again negotiates. He will let the men go but not the women. Moses and Aaron are dismissed, pushed out the door (v3-6).
Darkness
When Moses stretches out his rod, an east wind brings in the locust swarm. When Pharoah pleads for forgiveness and admits to sin, Moses at the Lord’s command stretches out his rod again and a west wind drives the swarm into the red sea, just as Moses and Aaron had been driven out of the court. Indeed, the imagery is poetic here. The Egyptians regarded the Israelites like a plague of locusts and now God is willing to send them out, his wind will drive them into and through the red sea out of Egypt. Once again Pharoah hardens his heart (v12-20).
The penultimate plague is pitch darkness throughout the land. Pharoah offers to let the people go but insists they leave their livestock behind. Moses points out that without animals there can be no sacrifices. Pharoah’s heart is hardened again. This time he insists Moses leave and not return on pain of death (v21-29).
[1] Enns, Exodus, 200.
[2] Enns asks where there water came from for the magicians to replicate this and whether there was drinking water for the Israelites. He notes that the Egyptians were able to dig for water so there still were water sources and the implication in the text seems to be that it was primarily the Egyptian water affected. Enns, Exodus, 202-203.
[3] See also Enns, Exodus, 217.Alexander allows for this possibility too but notes that some commentators see a distinction between animals in the field and those not whilst others consider that the Egyptians may have replenished their flocks from the Israelites’ herds. See Alexander, Exodus, 185.
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