1 But Pharaoh, scorning Moses’ plea, faced terrible plagues. I recount these uniquely severe afflictions so all may see Moses unfailingly delivered what he foretold, and so we learn not to provoke God, whose anger avenges wrongdoing. First, at God’s command, Egypt’s river flowed with blood, rendering it undrinkable. Whoever tried it experienced intense pain and torment. No other spring was available. Yet for the Hebrews, the water remained clear. Alarmed, Pharaoh agreed to let the Hebrews depart, but when that plague ceased, he changed his mind again, refusing their freedom. 2 Seeing Pharaoh’s ingratitude, God inflicted a second plague: frogs overran the land, spoiling the soil and saturating the rivers. Those who drew water found it fouled by the frogs, alive and dead, corrupting their tools, food, and beds with an unbearable stench. Overwhelmed, Pharaoh again allowed the Hebrews to leave, but when the frogs vanished, he revoked their liberty, as if eager to invite further suffering. 3 A third plague soon followed: hordes of lice sprang from the Egyptians’ own bodies, and because of their wickedness, they were past any remedy of ointments or washing.⁠a Pharaoh, fearful of his people’s downfall, once more granted the Hebrews permission to go. But when the plague ended, he demanded they leave their wives and children behind, provoking God further, as if the Almighty could be deceived. Consequently, Egypt was infested with swarms of new pestilential creatures not seen before, destroying people and farmland alike. Anything spared by the creatures fell to a deadly disease that struck humans too. 4 Pharaoh still clung to his demands that children remain, so God responded with even harsher calamities. Boils erupted on Egyptian bodies, many dying in agony. Unyielding, Pharaoh then faced destructive hail unlike any Egypt had ever witnessed, breaking fruit-laden branches. After that, locusts consumed any remaining crops, robbing Egyptians of future harvests. 5 One might expect such disasters to awaken anyone, even if merely foolish, but Pharaoh’s stubborn wickedness worsened. He proposed letting the men, women, and children go if they left their livestock behind, since Egyptian herds were ruined. Moses insisted this was unjust, for the Israelites needed those animals for sacrifice. While Pharaoh delayed, a dark, suffocating gloom enveloped Egypt for three days, causing many deaths. Yet Pharaoh hardened himself again, threatening Moses with death if he returned. Moses foretold that Pharaoh and his officials would soon beg for the Hebrews to leave, then left him. 6 God declared one final plague would compel Pharaoh’s submission and told Moses to order the Hebrews to prepare a sacrifice. On the tenth day of Xanthicus (Pharmuthi to Egyptians, Nisan to Hebrews), they made ready. On the fourteenth day, they offered the sacrifice, marked their doorposts with its blood using hyssop, and ate the lamb, burning any leftovers before dawn, for they were to depart. Thus we continue to observe this sacrifice, calling it ‘Pascha,’ meaning ‘Passover,’ in remembrance of how God spared us and struck the Egyptians. That night, the firstborn of Egypt died in great numbers, prompting desperate Egyptians near the palace to plead with Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. Alarmed, Pharaoh summoned Moses and urged them to leave, hoping to end Egypt’s anguish. Egyptians also offered gifts—some to hasten their departure, others from respect for neighbors and prior friendships.