Exodus 7:1-25; Exodus 8:1-32; Exodus 9:1-35; Exodus 10:1-29; Exodus 11:1-10; Exodus 12:1-51II. The Ten Plagues (Exodus 7-12) The first nine plagues may be divided into three groups. It should be noted that warnings are given of the first two plagues of each group, the third plague in each group being inflicted without any warning. We naturally ask why? The plagues that the Egyptian magicians were able to duplicate were those that had been already fore-announced. Those plagues that were sprung suddenly and unannounced upon the people were not duplicated by the magicians, for they doubtless did not have time to make up the deception which they had previously palmed off on Pharaoh and the people. These plagues were wrought upon a natural basis; they were the credentials of Jehovah’ s messengers, and were for the punishment of Jehovah’ s enemies and the overthrow of Jehovah’ s rivals. 1. The Purpose of the Plagues 1. That the Egyptians might know Jehovah (Exodus 7:5). 2. Judgment upon the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). 3. To honor Israel (Exodus 8:22-23). 4. To reveal the holiness, justice, and power of God (Exodus 7:3; Exodus 7:5; Exodus 9:15-16; Exodus 9:27). 5. A testimony to future generations (Exodus 10:1-2). It should not be lost sight of in the study of the plagues that they were the manifestation of a conflict between the gods of Egypt and Jehovah, the God of Israel. Each plague was a direct attack upon some Egyptian god. An Arrangement of the Plagues The plagues may be arranged as follows, giving their location, the god against whom they were hurled, the time of the year when they were inflicted, and whether announced or unannounced: 1. Blood, Exodus 7:14-25 -Against the Nile god, Osiris. Announced (June). 2. Frogs, Exodus 8:1-11 -Against the frog goddess, Heka. Announced (September). 3. Flies, Exodus 8:16-19 -Against the earth god, Leb. Unannounced (October). 4. Beetles, Exodus 8:20-32 -Against the beetle god, Khepara. Announced (November). 5. Murrain, Exodus 9:1-7 -Against the cattle gods, Apis, etc. Announced (December). 6. Boils, Exodus 9:8-12 -Against the goddess Neit. Unannounced (January). 7. Hail, Exodus 9:13-35 -Against the air gods, Isis, etc. Announced (February). 8. Locust, Exodus 10:1-20 -Against the insect gods. Announced (March). 9. Darkness, Exodus 10:21-29 -Against the sun god, Ra. Unannounced (April). 10. Firstborn slain, the finishing blow to the whole pantheon of helpless gods, Exodus 11:1-10; Exodus 12:1-51. Compare Pharaoh’ s destruction of infants (Exodus 1:1-22; Exodus 2:1-25), and that of Herod (Matthew 2:1-23). Do we ask, How could the magicians duplicate partially some of these plagues? We say partially, for they could not remove them. Two reasons are suggested: First. That they were enabled to do so by the agency of Satan (cf. 2 Timothy 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 Samuel 26:8-20). Secondly. By conjuring-for the plagues which they duplicated were fore-announced, so that the magicians had time to prepare and practice their deception.