Study Desk

So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.

So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. "Please don't treat your servants like this," they begged.

So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

But I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.

Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment.

So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them.

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent!

So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake.

Then announce to him, ‘The Lord , the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, "Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness." Until now, you have refused to listen to him.

So this is what the Lord says: "I will show you that I am the Lord ." Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood.

So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood!

The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn't drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt.

But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh's heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.

So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land!

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, "Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord ."

So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh's palace, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh.

So the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.'"

So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats.

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.