Study Desk

Then the LORD said to Moses, "^(C1)Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, ^(F1)as ^(C2)he comes out to the water; and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: "^(C3)Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

"For if you are not going to let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people, and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they live.

"^(C1)But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are ^(F1)living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that ^(F2)(C2)I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land.

"I will ^(F1)put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur."'"

Then the LORD did so. And ^(F1)thick swarms of flies entered the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants, and the land was ^(C1)laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh ^(C1)called for Moses and Aaron and said, "^(C2)Go, sacrifice to your God within the land."

But Moses said, "It is not permissible for us to do so, because we will sacrifice to the LORD our God ^(F1)that which is ^(C1)an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice ^(F1)that which is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us?

"We must go a ^(C1)three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God, just as He ^(F1)commands us."

Pharaoh said, "^(C1)I will let you go, so that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. ^(C2)Plead for me."

Then Moses said, "Behold, I am going to leave you, and I will plead with the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh ^(C1)deal deceitfully again in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."

So ^(C1)Moses left Pharaoh and pleaded with the LORD.

The LORD did ^(F1)as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained.

But Pharaoh ^(F1)hardened his heart this time also, and ^(C1)he did not let the people go.