Study Desk

The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River."

Pharaoh's magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.

Then the Lord told Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh's way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.

Pharaoh sent his officials to investigate, and they discovered that the Israelites had not lost a single animal! But even so, Pharaoh's heart remained stubborn, and he still refused to let the people go.

So they took soot from a brick kiln and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses threw the soot into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord , the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.

Some of Pharaoh's officials were afraid because of what the Lord had said. They quickly brought their servants and livestock in from the fields.

But the wheat and the emmer wheat were spared, because they had not yet sprouted from the ground.)

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the Lord , the God of the Hebrews, says: How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can worship me.

They will overrun your palaces and the homes of your officials and all the houses in Egypt. Never in the history of Egypt have your ancestors seen a plague like this one!" And with that, Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

For the locusts covered the whole country and darkened the land. They devoured every plant in the fields and all the fruit on the trees that had survived the hailstorm. Not a single leaf was left on the trees and plants throughout the land of Egypt.

All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!' they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.' Only then will I go!" Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.

If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat.

They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal.

That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast.

The Israelites took their bread dough before yeast was added. They wrapped their kneading boards in their cloaks and carried them on their shoulders.

And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold.

The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!

you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the Lord , for they belong to him.

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."