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Ten Plagues -
Another consequence of the plague was the proven superiority of God over
the Egyptian deities ("nature gods"). Although some have advanced
theories as to which god was affected by which plague, this is only
scantily supported by Midrashic sources, and these attempts have
generally produced widely divergent results.
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. |
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Dam |
Blood Blood
(7:19 - 7:25) |
Shchin |
Boils
(9:8 - 9:12) |
| 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. |
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| 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. |
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Tzefardea |
Frogs (7:26 -
8:11) |
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Barad |
Hail mixed with
Fire (9:13 - 9:25) |
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| 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. |
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| ברדThe
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. |
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Kinim |
Fleas
or Lice
(8:12 - 8:15) |
Arbeh |
Locusts
(10:1 - 10:20) |
| כינים
The third plague of Egypt was
fleas. According to the Bible, the dust of the earth became many
fleas which the Egyptians could not get rid of. |
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| 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 refused, 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 went away, Pharaoh "hardened his
heart" and refused to keep his promise. |
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Arov |
Beasts
or Flies (8:16 - 8:28) |
Choshech |
Darkness
(10:21 - 10:29) |
| 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... |
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| 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. |
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Dever |
Pestilence
(9:1 - 9:7) |
Bechoros |
Death
of Firstborn (11:1 - 12:42) |
| 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. |
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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.
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 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 (in the form of the angel of
death) 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. |
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What is a Passover Seder? |
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| Jewish |
Secular Calendar Starting
after sunset Ending before sunset |
| 5765 |
23 April 2005 1 May 2005
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| 5766
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12 April 2006 20 April
2006 |
| 5767
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2 April 2007 10 April 2007
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| 5768 |
19 April 2008 27 April
2008 |
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