Tell Aaron
Aaron, Moses' brother, is often seen as the spokesperson and high priest. The Hebrew name "Aaron" means "mountain of strength" or "enlightened," indicating his role as a leader and intermediary. This command to Aaron signifies the collaborative leadership between Moses and Aaron, as well as the importance of obedience to God's commands. It also reflects the structure of leadership God established for His people, where Aaron's priestly role is crucial in executing God's will.

Stretch out your staff
The staff is a symbol of authority and power, often used by shepherds, which Moses and Aaron both were. In Hebrew, the word for "staff" is "matteh," which can also mean "tribe" or "branch," symbolizing leadership and guidance. The act of stretching out the staff signifies the extension of God's power through His chosen leaders. This imagery is powerful, as it connects the physical act with the spiritual authority granted by God.

and strike the dust of the earth
The dust of the earth, in Hebrew "aphar," is a reminder of humanity's creation, as man was formed from the dust (Genesis 2:7). Striking the dust signifies a transformation of the natural order by divine intervention. This act is a demonstration of God's control over creation, turning the mundane into a tool for His purposes. It also serves as a judgment against the Egyptians, who revered the earth and its elements.

and it will become gnats
The transformation of dust into gnats, or "ken" in Hebrew, represents a miraculous sign and a plague upon Egypt. Gnats, small and numerous, symbolize the pervasive and inescapable nature of God's judgment. This plague challenges the Egyptian magicians and their gods, demonstrating Yahweh's supremacy over the natural and spiritual realms. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of hardening one's heart against God's will.

throughout the land of Egypt
The phrase emphasizes the widespread impact of the plague, affecting all of Egypt. This comprehensive reach signifies the totality of God's power and the seriousness of His judgment. Historically, Egypt was a powerful and influential civilization, and this plague serves as a humbling act, showing that no nation is beyond God's reach. It also foreshadows the eventual liberation of the Israelites, as God's power is displayed over the oppressors.

It is disputed whether this plague was one of lice or of mosquitoes. Josephus and the Jewish commentators generally take the former view, while the latter is supported by the LXX. and Vulgate, by the authorities of Philo, Artapanus, Origen, and St. Augustine in ancient, and by those of Rosenmller, Michaelis, ?dmann, Gesenius, Keil, and Kalisch in modern times. The word used (kinnim) seems connected with the Greek ????, or ?????, and is reasonably regarded as formed by onomatopoeia, from the sharp tingling sound given out by the insect when on the wing.[58] The trouble caused to the Egyptians of the Delta by mosquitoes is noticed by Herodotus (ii. 95); while moderns, as Forskal (Descript. Anim. p. 85), declare that they amount to an absolute pest at certain seasons. They are most troublesome towards October, and are said to attack not only the exposed parts of the skin, but especially the ears, the nostrils, and the eyes, where they do great damage. Some have thought that mosquitoes do not molest cattle (Exodus 8:17); but Kalisch says, "They molest especially beasts, as oxen and horses, flying into their eyes and nostrils, driving them to madness and fury, and sometimes even torturing them to death."

[58] In Egyptian the word for "mosquito" is Khnemms, (Brugsch, Diet. Hierogl. p. 1103).

It is to be noticed that the third plague, whatever it was, came without warning. It was God's judgment on Pharaoh for hardening his heart and breaking his promise (Exodus 8:15); and he was not given the option of avoiding it by submission to God's will.

(16) Smite the dust of the land.--Dust prevails in Egypt to an extent that is highly inconvenient. "We travelled to Ashmim." says one writer, "through clouds of dust, raised by a high wind, which intercepted our view as much as if we had been travelling in a fog." "There is one great source of discomfort," says another, "arising from the dryness of the atmosphere, namely, an excessive quantity of dust." When "all the dust of the land became mosquitoes" (Exodus 8:17), the plague must indeed have been great.