The Plagues of Egypt (Hebrew: מִצְרַיִם מכות, makkah Mitsrayim) or the Ten Plagues (עשר המכות, Eser Ha-Makot) are the ten calamities inflicted upon Egypt by God in the Biblical story recounted the book of Exodus, chapters 7-12, in order to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelite slaves leave.
The plagues as they appear in the Torah are:
1. (Ex 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood (דָם 'Dam')
2. (Ex 7:26-8:11) amphibians (commonly believed to be frogs) (צְּפַרְדֵּעַ 'Tsfardeia')
3. (Ex 8:12-15) lice (כִנִּים 'Kinim')
4. (Ex 8:16-28) Either flies, wild animals or beetles (עָרוֹב 'Arov')
5. (Ex 9:1-7) disease on livestock (דֶּבֶר 'Dever')
6. (Ex 9:8-12) unhealable boils (שְׁחִין 'Shkhin')
7. (Ex 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire (בָּרָד 'Barad')
8. (Ex 10:1-20) locusts (אַרְבֶּה 'Arbeh')
9. (Ex 10:21-29) darkness (חוֹשֶך 'Choshech')
10. (Ex 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn (מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת 'Makat Bechorot')
Whereas all the other plagues did not affect the Israelites, the Torah indicates that they were only spared from the final plague by sacrificing the Paschal lamb, marking their doorpost with the lamb's blood, and eating the roasted sacrifice together with Matzot ("Poor Man's Bread" לחם עוני) in a celebratory feast. The Torah describes God as actually passing through Egypt to kill all firstborn, but passing over (hence "Passover") houses which have the sign of lambs' blood on the doorpost. It was this plague which resulted in Pharaoh finally relenting, and sending the Israelites away at whatever terms they wished.
The Torah also relates God's instructions to Moses that the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt must be celebrated yearly on the holiday of Passover ("Pesah" פסח); the rituals observed on Passover recall the events surrounding the Exodus from Egypt. The Torah additionally cites God's sparing of the Israelite firstborn as a rationale for the commandment of the redemption of the firstborn (Exodus 13:11-16).
This event is also commemorated by the fast of the firstborn on the day preceding Passover but which is traditionally not observed because a siyum celebration is held which obviates the need for a fast.
The plagues of Egypt are recognized by Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
The first three plagues seemed to affect "all the land of Egypt," while the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th did not affect the children of Israel. Conditions of the 8th plague are unclear. For the last plague the Torah indicates that they were only spared from the final plague by sacrificing the Paschal lamb, marking their doorpost with the lamb's blood, and eating the roasted sacrifice together with Matzot (לחם עוני) in a celebratory feast. The Torah describes the angel of death as actually passing through Egypt to kill all firstborn children, but passing over (hence "Passover") houses which have the sign of lambs' blood on the doorpost. The night of this plague, Pharaoh finally relents and sends the Israelites away under their terms.
More...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
11
(181)
-
▼
October
(24)
- The West Bank
- The Tree of Jesse
- The Book of Kells
- Ancient Egypt
- Samuel
- N.T. Wright
- Righteousness
- Crown of Thorns
- Joseph of Arimathea
- The Abomination Of Desolation
- Spiritual Warfare
- Jacob
- Alexander the Great
- Freemasonry
- Sheol
- The Plagues of Egypt
- General epistles
- Dallas Willard
- Archangel
- Palestine
- The Names of God
- Andrew
- Abrahamic religion
- Yom Kippur
-
▼
October
(24)
LifeNews.com
- Texas County Becomes 80th Location to Ban Abortions - 4/17/2025 - Mark Lee Dickson
- Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Has Closed 10 Centers in 2025 - 4/17/2025 - Sarah Neely
- Judge Rules Catholic Employers Don’t Have to Fund Abortions - 4/17/2025 - Joshua Mercer
- Parents Fight Hospital’s Attempt to Remove Baby’s Ventilator Without Their Consent - 4/17/2025 - McKenna Snow
- Court Orders Planned Parenthood to Disclose How It Traffics Teens for Secret Abortions - 4/17/2025 - Steven Ertelt
Desiring God Blog
- The Cost of Being a Loner - 4/17/2025 - John Piper
- He Became the Better Man: The Two Gardens of Maundy Thursday - 4/17/2025 - Clinton Manley
- Big-God Preaching for God-Hungry People - 4/16/2025 - David Mathis
- He Welcomed Her Worship: The Holy Waste of Holy Wednesday - 4/16/2025 - Scott Hubbard
- The Call to Christian Unity - 4/16/2025 - John Piper
Youth for Christ International
- Videos - 4/19/2020 - international
- Videos - 4/19/2012 - admin
- Hello world! - 9/1/2022 - admin
- YFC Ukraine Refugee Stories: An Interview with Andriy Kostyshyn - 8/17/2022 - YFC E.M.E.N.A.
- Meet Kersy - 8/16/2022 - YFC Africa
related
- Follow Jesus
- Timothy Ministries News
- Dallas Willard
- Christian Resources
- Missional Church dot Org
- Between Two Worlds
- GinkWorld
- New Tribes Mission
- Prime Time Jesus
- All Things Aramaic
- Blogging the New Testament
- Campus Crusade for Christ International
- Bible.org
- Vineyard South Africa
- AnswersInGenesis
- Allelon Movement of Missional Churches
- Billy Graham
- Christian Classics Ethereal Library
- Christian answers
- Christian Worldview
- Historical Jesus Studies
- Monergism
- Christians Unite