Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh that the God of Israel commanded him to let the people go into the wilderness to hold a festival. Pharaoh asked who the LORD was that he should obey and refused. He decided that the people had too little work, ordered that they receive no straw for bricks, and still required the same number of bricks. Israelite overseers were beaten, and the people blamed Moses and Aaron for making them offensive to Pharaoh.
God told Moses that Pharaoh would drive the people out under a strong hand. Before Pharaoh, Aaron threw down his staff and it became a snake. Egypt’s magicians did something similar, but Aaron’s staff swallowed theirs. Pharaoh still refused to listen.
Aaron struck the Nile, and its water became blood. Fish died, the river stank, and Egyptians dug along the bank for drinking water. Seven days later frogs came up from the river and filled houses, beds, and ovens. Pharaoh promised to release Israel if the frogs were removed, then hardened his resolve when relief came.
Dust became gnats on people and animals. The magicians could not reproduce the sign and called it the finger of God, but Pharaoh did not listen. Swarms of flies then filled Egyptian houses while Goshen, where Israel lived, was set apart. Pharaoh again offered permission to worship and withdrew it once the flies were gone.
A severe disease killed Egyptian livestock while Israel’s animals survived. Soot scattered into the air produced boils on people and animals, and the magicians could no longer stand before Moses. Hail then struck fields, trees, people, and animals left outdoors; only those who took the warning seriously found shelter. Pharaoh admitted his fault, but after the storm stopped he refused again.
When Moses warned of locusts, Pharaoh’s servants pleaded that Egypt was already ruined. Pharaoh offered to let only the men go, but Moses said that children, elders, and livestock must also leave. Locusts consumed what the hail had spared. Pharaoh confessed again, yet changed his mind after the locusts were driven away.
Moses stretched out his hand and darkness covered Egypt for three days, while the Israelites had light where they lived. Pharaoh said the people could go but their flocks and herds must remain. Moses answered that the animals had to go because they did not yet know what would be needed for worship. Pharaoh ordered Moses away and threatened him with death if he appeared again.
God told Moses that one final plague would follow and that Pharaoh would then drive Israel out completely. Moses announced that at midnight every firstborn in Egypt would die and a great cry would rise, while Israel would be spared. He then left Pharaoh in anger.
At midnight the firstborn died throughout Egypt, from Pharaoh’s firstborn to the firstborn of a prisoner, along with the firstborn of the livestock. A great cry rose because no house was without someone dead. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and told Israel to leave with its flocks and herds to worship the LORD. The Egyptians also urged the people to go quickly. Pharaoh, who had held them through nine plagues and the final warning, sent them out when the tenth plague struck.