The punishments that were brought upon Pharaoh and Egypt by God, to persuade him to set the Israelites free (see Exodus). The plagues were: (1) the Nile waters turning to blood; (2) the swarming of frogs; (3) lice; (4) probably flies, although traditionally regarded as wild animals; (5) pestilence, afflicting the Egyptian livestock; (6) a skin inflammation; (7) heavy hailstorm; (8) locusts; (9) three days of darkness; (10) death of the Egyptian firstborn. The plagues were divided into three groups, each with its own message to Pharaoh. Thus, before the first plague, Pharaoh was told: "By this you will know that I am the Lord" (Ex. 7:17). Before the fourth plague, he was told: "that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth" (Ex. 8:18). Finally, before the seventh plague, Moses was instructed to say to Pharaoh that the purpose of the plagues was "that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth" (Ex. 9:14). The messages stated that: a) God is the Lord; b) that He is actively involved in everything that occurs; and c) that He is omnipotent, and there is none but Him. In each group of three plagues, Pharaoh was warned in advance of the first two, while the third was brought about unannounced. This division into three is also found in the mnemonic device of R. Judah, quoted in the Passover Haggadah, which divides the ten plagues into groups of three, three, and four. Another division of the plagues is into groups of three, and a final tenth plague. Poetic accounts of the plagues are given in Psalms 78:44-51 and 105:28-36. The Midrash contains various fanciful interpretations, some of which are incorporated in the Passover Haggadah.
The New Encyclopedia of Judaism. Copyright © 1989, 2002 by G.G. The Jerusalem Publishing House, Ltd. All rights reserved.
