1. Plagues--Natural Explanations? b Excessive flooding; mountain algae (water becomes blood) b Anthrax bacillus in frogs; they were forced from water b Mosquitoes multiplied since there were breeding pools all over the land b Flies in decaying vegetation b Anthrax spores from frogs kill livestock b Flies carried anthrax into stalls as boils

2. Plagues according to the Pentateuchal Sources b J Moses main actor; Aaron silent. Let my people go! People living apart from Egyptians, in Goshen. Negotiations. Goal-- that Pharaoh may know me. 7 in number (cf. Psalm 78). 8:20-32 b P Aaron chief actor; magicians; signs and wonders validate Moses and Aaron and glorify Yahweh. No “Let my people go.” 8:16- 19; 9:8-12

3. Israel Exempt b flies (4)--land of Goshen set apart (8:22) b cattle (5)--no cattle of Israel died (9:4-6) b No hail (7) in Goshen (9:26) b Israel exempt from darkness even though they did not live separately from Egyptians (10:23) b Death of firstborn (11:7)

4. Pharaoh: Pray for me! b Pray to take away frogs (8:8-9) b Don’t go far; pray for me (after flies) (8:28) b I have sinned (9:27) (after hail) b I have sinned against Yahweh and against you (10:16-17) (after locusts) b Get a blessing for me (12:31-32)

5. Concessions by Pharaoh b I will let people go to sacrifice (8:8 frogs) b Sacrifice to your God within the land (8:25 flies) b Don’t go very far (8:28 flies) b Only men may go (10:11 locusts) b Little ones may go, not animals (10:24 darkness) b Go, also flocks and herds; bless me also (12:31-32 firstborn)

6. Magnification of Miracles in P b Aaron’s Rod becomes a dragon b Blood in trees (sap) and stones (springs) 7:19 b Crossing of Red Sea (contrast J) b I will get glory over Pharaoh (14:4, 17) b Glory in tabernacle (40:1) b 16:10 (quails); Num 14:10 (spies); 16:42 (murmuring); 20:6 (water)

7. Magicians: Who Gets Glory? b Change rods into dragons by secret arts (7:12) b Change water into blood; phenomenon already nation-wide (7:22 bring up frogs; already nation-wide) 8:7 b no gnats; this is God’s finger (8:19) b boils on magicians (9:11; acne kids!)

8. Passover and Unleavened Bread b Unleavened bread was originally a harvest festival; presupposes life in the land b Passover originally was a festival when herds changed location in spring. First of months; at home; eat in hasteFirst of months; at home; eat in haste Slave or stranger may participate if he is circumcised (12:44, 48)Slave or stranger may participate if he is circumcised (12:44, 48)

9. Passover (continued) b Writer uses occasion to lay down legislation b Passover 1-14; Unleavened Bread 1-15--1-21 b Significance of blood on the doorposts b In Egypt for 430 years b Significance of redemption of firstborn humans and animals

10. Despoiling of Egyptians Exod 11:2; 12:35-36 b Wages for their slavery? (Jubilees 48:18 in return for the bondage in which they had forced them to serve) b Put to better use with Israel? (Augustine) b Materials for tabernacle? b Israel leaves Egypt as victors in a battle (spoils of war)

11. Despoiling of Egyptians b Psalm 105:37-38 Yahweh brought Israel out with silver and gold--Egypt was glad when they departed. b They honored the Hebrews with gifts so that they might depart more quickly, others because of the neighborly relations they had with them. Josephus

12. Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart b J: Pharaoh does hardening himself and is negative reaction to the signs of Yahweh; Hardening keeps Egyptians from knowing Yahweh b P: Yahweh hardens Pharaoh’s heart in order to magnify miraculous; Plagues don’t reveal Yahweh--crossing of Reed Sea does (14:4). Hardening motif connects plagues to crossing motif.