The plagues or pestilences sent upon the Egyptians are a series of divine judgments described in the Book of Exodus, chapters 7 through 12. These plagues were inflicted by God upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. The narrative underscores God's sovereignty, justice, and power over the false gods of Egypt, as well as His covenantal faithfulness to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Context and Purpose

The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for several generations, and their cries for deliverance reached God. In response, God appointed Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of His people. Pharaoh's hardened heart and refusal to comply led to a series of ten plagues, each increasing in severity. These plagues served not only as judgments against Egypt but also as signs and wonders to demonstrate the supremacy of the God of Israel over the Egyptian deities.

The Ten Plagues

1. Water Turned to Blood: The first plague involved the waters of the Nile River turning into blood, causing the fish to die and the river to stink, making the water undrinkable (Exodus 7:14-25). This plague was a direct affront to the Egyptian god Hapi, the deity of the Nile.

2. Frogs: The second plague brought an overwhelming infestation of frogs, which invaded homes and disrupted daily life (Exodus 8:1-15). This plague mocked the goddess Heqet, who was depicted with a frog's head and associated with fertility.

3. Gnats: The third plague saw the dust of the earth become gnats, afflicting both people and animals (Exodus 8:16-19). The magicians of Egypt could not replicate this miracle, acknowledging it as "the finger of God."

4. Flies: The fourth plague involved swarms of flies that filled the houses and land of Egypt, sparing only the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived (Exodus 8:20-32). This distinction highlighted God's protection over His people.

5. Livestock Diseased: The fifth plague struck the Egyptian livestock with a severe pestilence, killing horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats (Exodus 9:1-7). This plague demonstrated God's control over life and death, challenging the bull-god Apis.

6. Boils: The sixth plague afflicted the Egyptians with painful boils, affecting humans and animals alike (Exodus 9:8-12). This plague further demonstrated the impotence of the Egyptian magicians and their gods.

7. Hail: The seventh plague brought a devastating hailstorm, destroying crops and livestock in the fields (Exodus 9:13-35). This plague was a direct challenge to the sky goddess Nut and the agricultural deities.

8. Locusts: The eighth plague unleashed locusts that consumed what was left of the crops after the hail (Exodus 10:1-20). This plague emphasized the futility of relying on the fertility gods for sustenance.

9. Darkness: The ninth plague cast a palpable darkness over Egypt for three days, a direct affront to Ra, the sun god (Exodus 10:21-29). The Israelites, however, had light in their dwellings, underscoring God's favor.

10. Death of the Firstborn: The final and most severe plague was the death of all firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh's heir to the firstborn of the livestock (Exodus 11:1-12:30). This plague led to the institution of the Passover, where the Israelites were spared by the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, foreshadowing the ultimate redemption through Christ.

Theological Significance

The plagues upon Egypt serve as a powerful testament to God's ability to deliver His people and execute judgment upon those who oppose His will. They reveal the futility of idolatry and the ultimate authority of the God of Israel. The narrative of the plagues is foundational to the identity of Israel as a people chosen and redeemed by God, and it prefigures the greater deliverance accomplished through Jesus Christ.Exodus 12:29,30
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The First-Born
... obstinacy Egypt had gone down into famine, pestilence and destruction ... the Hebrew
hath loosed his direst plague upon Egypt, and ... For they have sent madness upon me ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xl the first-born.htm

Here Next Followeth the History of Moses
... The fourth vengeance was that God sent all manner kind of ... Then the fifth plague was
that God showed his hand ... sheep and oxen, and was a great pestilence on all ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here next followeth the history.htm

Sovereignty of God in Administration
... The same distinction was observed in connection with the ninth plague: "And the
LORD said unto Moses ... I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter three sovereignty of god.htm

First Commandment
... for God to impress this lesson upon the Israelites ... Him continually, and were punished
with plague, pestilence, war and ... from God, until finally He sent them into ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/first commandment.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... army, and it was decimated by a sudden pestilence. Sennacherib fled from the
plague-stricken camp, carrying with him ... with the help of the troops sent by Gyges ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

Britain's Mercies, and Britain's Duty
... a cruel and ambitious Haman, "Mordecai sent letters unto ... Not only the sword, but
plague, pestilence, and famine ... What great numbers upon the continent have been ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/britains mercies and britains duty.htm

God's Controversy with Man. Rev. Charles Prest.
... Not long since God sent a pestilence into our ... another evil has come upon us"a greater
evil, perhaps, than people imagined at first"this plague among our ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/gods controversy with man rev.htm

"The Time of Trouble. "
... by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them ... that flieth by day; nor for the
pestilence that walketh ... evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /39 the time of trouble.htm

The Time of Trouble
... by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them ... that flieth by day; nor for the
pestilence that walketh ... evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 39 the time of.htm

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... 1507] Such an expression as the plague of Pharisaism ... There might be seven years of
pestilence in the land ... They sent, indeed, thank offerings to the Temple, but ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm

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