1. In 1996 two researchers describe the Plagues of Egypt in scientific terms. They claimed each preceding plague led to the next one.

2.  Treated as epidemiological puzzle with rational causes.  Scientific disciplines consulted included marine biology, entomology, epidemiology, herpetology, infectious diseases, tropical medicine animal virology, and Egyptology

3. 7:19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

4.  Blood Impossible.  May have been a red algae bloom in the Nile and tributaries.  May have infected ponds and adjacent pools of water.  Climate contributed to it.  Sold commercially, thought to be a unique protein bound carbohydrate that supports body’s immune system.  Might have been Red Slime Algae (Cyanobacteria). Salt water.  Might increase risk of bleeding.  Fresh water produces blooms of dinoflagellates. Eukaryotic organisms that are not animal, plant. or fungi.  Secrete neurotoxins. Kills water life.  Blood from dying fish turns water red.

5.  8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:  8:3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading troughs:  8:4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

6.  Frogs/toads are not a plague. Frogs were worshiped.  The Nile floods annually and can sweep frogs into homes.  Climate sometimes leads to ideal conditions for frog and toad breeding. It happens annually in many locals.  Frogs are edible and considered a delicacy.  Such increases are self limiting without water.  Spadefoot toads in Florida are size of raisins when born. Estimated at one million.  Accumulations of aquatic wildlife such as salamanders, minnows, fish, etc.

7.  Madagascar  Influx of alien poisonous toads came in shipping containers.  Ecological threat to 400 species of frogs, toads, amphibians and the food chain.  Cane toad intro to Australia in 1935 to control cane beetles. Cost $700 million.  Ravaged other wildlife; caused evolution of snakes. Brown snake in Guam.  Bullfrogs in the US.  Frogs considered evil by Catholic Church.  No fish to feed on frog eggs.

8.  Egyptian mythology – Frogs was symbol of life and fertility because so many appeared after Nile flooded annually  Frog Goddess named Heget. Woman with frog head or frog on end of Phallus.  China, Indochina, Greece, Rome, South America.

9.  8:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

10.  Genus Culicoides – 1500 species of midge.  Can spread virus.  Live around stagnant water.  Not tsetse, black fly, horse fly, house fly.  Could be stable fly. Lays over 500 eggs and bites.  Effects horses, cattle., camels, asses, goats, sheep

11.  “If you do not let my people go I warn you, I will loose swarms of flies upon you.”  Some translations refer to hoards of wild animals that roam the land and prey upon Egyptians.

12.  9:3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

13.  Foot and mouth disease.  African horse sickness. 95% die.  Drown in own fluids within 2 hours.  Blue tongue effects all ruminants.  Spread by midge called Culicoides.

14.  9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.  9:9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.

15.  Not Bubonic plague, herpes and small pox.  Glanders bacterial infection carried by stable fly.  Lymph nodes swell. Couls have been mistaken for boils.

16.  9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

17.  Hail is a common occurrence, experienced in all latitudes.  Can be as large as softballs.  Can be destructive to crops and livestock.  Can kill and maim humans.  Can be selective.  Animals were all killed off by previous plagues.

18.  10:4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:  10:5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field.

19.  Common occurrence.  Grasshoppers grow into a special, large generation with voracious appetite when conditions are ripe.  Numbers can darken the sky.  Usually short lived.

20.  10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.  10:22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days

21.  Clouds from fires.  Clouds and ash from volcanic eruptions.  Atmospheric conditions, storm clouds.  Sand storms.

22.  11:4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:  11:5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

23.  Livestock virus and bacterial infections.  Human infections during hard times cause deaths of most vulnerable.  Contagious infection of new mothers.  Spread by midwives.  Spread by religious and sanitary customs.  Caused by previous “plagues”.  Mark each house doorposts with blood from sacrifice so God will passover.

24.  “Plagues” were a series of natural events.  “Plagues” led to further plagues.  Miraculous tricks were equaled by Pharaoh's magicians.  “Plagues” were exaggerated. Imagine they were only a fraction of what they were claimed to be.  Total disasters cannot be repeated, total is total.

25.  Chain of natural events triggered by changes in climate and weather.  Not wrathful act of vengeful god.  Rameses the Second who ruled between 1279BC – 1213 BC. City of Pi-Rameses on the Nile Delta.  Was abandoned about 3,000 years ago.  Dramatic shift in climate.  Stalagmites tell of weather patterns. Plentiful rain followed by dry period.  Nile dried up.  Toxic waters killed frogs which caused outbreaks of mosquitoes.  Santorino, north of crete exploded 3,500 years ago spewing billions of tons of ash into atmosphere.  Clashed with thunderstorms produced hail anddarkness.Excavations have found pumice.  Death of first born caused by fungus that poisoned grain supplies.