The Fifth Plague: Livestock

1Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Go to Pharaoh (great house) and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God {Elohe} of the Hebrews (those from beyond), says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 2But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go, 3then the hand of the LORD {YHWH} will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. 4But the LORD {YHWH} will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel (he wrestles with God) and the livestock of Egypt (land of bondage), so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

5The LORD {YHWH} set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.” 6And the next day the LORD {YHWH} did just that. All the livestock of the Egyptians (double straits) died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites (God prevails) died. 7Pharaoh (great house) sent officials and found that none of the livestock of the Israelites (God prevails) had died. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened (made heavy),a and he would not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

8Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer), “Take handfuls of soot from the furnace; in the sight of Pharaoh (great house), Moses is to toss it into the air. 9It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt (land of bondage), and festering boils will break out on man and beast throughout the land.”

10So they took soot from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh (great house). Moses (drawn out) tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on man and beast. 11The magicians could not stand before Moses (drawn out), because the boils had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians (double straits).

12But the LORD {YHWH} hardened (stiffened)b Pharaoh’s (great house) heart, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said to Moses (drawn out).

The Seventh Plague: Hail

13Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh (great house), and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God {Elohe} of the Hebrews (those from beyond), says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 14Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you \against your heart/c and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.

15For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth. 16But I have raised you up (have spared you)d for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you [in you],e and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth <Rom 9:17>.f 17Still, you lord it over My people and do not allow them to go.

18Behold, at this time tomorrow I will rain down the worst hail that has ever fallen on Egypt (land of bondage), from the day it was founded until now. 19So give orders now to shelter your livestock and everything you have in the field. Every man or beast that remains in the field and is not brought inside will die when the hail comes down upon them.’”

20Those among Pharaoh’s (great house) officials who feared the word of the LORD {YHWH} hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter, 21but those who disregarded the word of the LORD {YHWH} left their servants and livestock in the field.

22Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt (land of bondage)—on man and beast and every plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.”

23So Moses (drawn out) stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD {YHWH} sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt (land of bondage). 24The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt (land of bondage) from the time it became a nation.

25Throughout the land of Egypt (land of bondage), the hail struck down everything in the field, both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and stripped every tree. 26The only place where it did not hail was in the land of Goshen (drawing near), where the Israelites (God prevails) lived.

27Then Pharaoh (great house) summoned Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer). “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD {YHWH} is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28Pray to the LORD {YHWH}, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you⁺ go; you do not need to stay any longer.”

29Moses (drawn out) said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD {YHWH}. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. 30But as for you and your officials, I know that you⁺ still do not fear the LORD our God {YHWH Elohim}.”

31(Now the flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom; 32but the wheat and spelt were not destroyed, because they are late crops.)

33Then Moses (drawn out) departed from Pharaoh (great house), went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the LORD {YHWH}. The thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the land.

34When Pharaoh (great house) saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart—he and his officials. 35So Pharaoh’s (great house) heart was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites (God prevails) go, just as the LORD {YHWH} had said through Moses (drawn out).