{"id":41005,"date":"2018-09-26T22:37:19","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T19:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=41005"},"modified":"2022-04-25T15:04:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T12:04:09","slug":"exodus-8-more-plagues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/exodus-8-more-plagues\/","title":{"rendered":"Exodus 8: More Plagues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Three of the ten plagues take place in this chapter: frogs (which actually began in the last chapter), lice and wild animals.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a clear, detailed warning (for those who missed it, it’s in the last chapter – 7:26-29) of what will happen if Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go, the miracle occurs: “And Aaron stretched his arm over the waters of Egypt and frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt” (8:2). Pharaoh’s magicians see the next stage of the competition and… they also bring up frogs, which only makes the situation in Egypt worse – only God can remove the plague…<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Pharaoh is willing to let the people go (to sacrifice to God) if only the plague is removed, Moses prays and God accedes, but, as is to be expected, “and Pharaoh saw that there was relief and he hardened his heart and did not heed them” (8:11).<\/span><\/p>\n

Right away, in Verse 12, comes the next plague, and this time the plague comes from the soil – lice all over Egypt. Pharaoh’s magicians don’t give up; they too try their powers, but fail and admit “it is but God’s finger” (8:15). This plague also fails to bring Pharaoh to agree to Moses and Aaron’s demand, and so comes the next plague – a “mixture” (of animals).<\/span><\/p>\n

This plague, a mixture of harmful animals not described in detail, fills the land of Egypt. Pharaoh, dismayed, bargains with Moses and Aaron: You want to go and sacrifice? Fine. But do it here in Egypt. But Moses and Aaron insist: “We will walk three days’ journey in the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He instructs us” (8:23). Pharaoh agrees. But as soon as the plague ends: “And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time, too, and did not let the people go” (8:28).<\/span><\/p>\n

And there’s more to come…<\/span><\/p>\n

Points to ponder:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Who<\/strong> carries out the plague? <\/b>The plagues of frogs and lice descend on Egypt after an act performed by Aaron, not Moses. The Midrash provides a sensitive, educational explanation: Moses, who was saved by the Nile as a baby (Moses in the basket, remember?) and also by the soil (when he buried the Egyptian he killed in the dirt), won’t harm them – even if it means taking the Israelites out of Egypt…<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Uncompromising<\/strong> (and unconsidered) competition<\/b>. Note the magicians’ determination to keep up – even if it means making matters worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. What<\/strong> is “the mixed multitude”?<\/b> From the description of the plague this seems to be a mixture of small pests that can reach any place – scorpions, snakes… The sages interpret the plague to be an attack of large predators – lions, tigers… and this is what you’ll often see in illustrated Haggadahs.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. <\/span>Why in the desert?<\/b> Behind the cover story of celebrating in the desert lies a reason why it must be in the desert: “<\/span>for we will sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God; and if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us<\/span>?” (8:22). (“The abomination of the Egyptians” is a disrespectful way of saying “the Egyptian gods”). If you recall, the claim that sheep are considered gods by the Egyptians was already heard in Genesis, by Joseph, in order to get Goshen for grazing land far from the eyes of the Egyptians… and just wait till you hear what happens in Egypt in Chapter 12.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":86314,"id":86314,"title":"Points to ponder","filename":"Points-to-ponder.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/points-to-ponder-psalm-84\/points-to-ponder\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"points-to-ponder","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":86166,"date":"2021-01-09 20:56:58","modified":"2023-12-28 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