Plagues of Egypt
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The Plagues of Egypt (Hebrew: מכות מצרים, Makot Mitzrayim), the Biblical Plagues or the Ten Plagues (Hebrew: 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[1] to let the Israelite slaves leave.
John Martin's engraving of the plague of hail and fire
John Martin's engraving of the plague of hail and fire

The plagues as they appear in the Bible are:

1. (Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
2. (Exodus 7:26-8:11) reptiles (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
3. (Exodus 8:12-15) lice or gnats ('Kinim')
4. (Exodus 8:16-28) Either flies, wild animals or beetles ('Arov')
5. (Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever')
6. (Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin')
7. (Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad')
8. (Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
9. (Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
10. (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot')

Whereas all of 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.
Sarajevo Haggadah, from Barcelona, c. 1350
Sarajevo Haggadah, from Barcelona, c. 1350
Contents
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* 1 The plagues
o 1.1 Prelude (5:1 - 5:9, 7:8 - 7:13)
o 1.2 Blood (7:14 - 7:25) דָם
o 1.3 Frogs (7:26 - 8:11) צְּפַרְדֵּעַ
o 1.4 Lice (8:12 - 8:15) כִנִּים
o 1.5 Beasts or Flies (8:16 - 8:28) עָרוֹב
o 1.6 Pestilence (9:1 - 9:7) דֶּבֶר
o 1.7 Boils (9:8 - 9:12) שְׁחִין
o 1.8 Storm (fiery hail) (9:13 - 9:35) בָּרָד
o 1.9 Locusts (10:1 - 10:20) אַרְבֶּה
o 1.10 Darkness (10:21 - 10:29) חוֹשֶׁךְ
o 1.11 Death of Firstborn (11:1 - 12:36) מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת
* 2 Context
* 3 Textual issues
o 3.1 Traditional views
o 3.2 Secular views
+ 3.2.1 Versions of the Jahwist and Elohist
+ 3.2.2 Versions of the Priestly source and JE
* 4 Historicity
o 4.1 Archaeology
o 4.2 Natural explanations
o 4.3 Contradictions
* 5 Morality
* 6 The Plagues in Popular Culture
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

[edit] The plagues

The following is a summary of the Biblical account of the plagues which is found in chapters 7-12 of Exodus.

[edit] Prelude (5:1 - 5:9, 7:8 - 7:13)

Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh, and delivered God's demand that the Israelite slaves be allowed to leave Egypt for the purpose of observing a holiday of worship and prayer for their God. After an initial refusal by Pharaoh, God sent Moses and Aaron back to show him a miraculous sign of warning - Aaron's staff turned into a serpent . Pharaoh's sorcerers, using trickery, also turned their staffs into snakes, but Aaron's swallowed up theirs. Pharaoh remained unimpressed.

[edit] Blood (7:14 - 7:25) דָם

The first plague was blood. God instructed Moses to tell Aaron to extend his staff over the river Nile; all of its water turned into blood. As a result of the blood, the fish of the Nile died, filling Egypt with an awful stench. Other water resources used by the Egyptians were turned to blood as well (7:19). Pharaoh's sorcerers demonstrated that they too could turn water to blood, and Pharaoh therefore made no concession to Moses' demands. This plague lasted for seven days.