The Plagues refer to the ten divine judgments that God inflicted upon Egypt as recounted in the Book of Exodus. These plagues were a demonstration of God's power and a means to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. The narrative is a pivotal event in the history of Israel, showcasing God's sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant people.

1. Water Turned to Blood (Exodus 7:14-25):
The first plague involved the transformation of the Nile River's waters into blood. This act of judgment was directed against the Egyptian god Hapi, the deity of the Nile. As a result, the fish died, and the river stank, making the water undrinkable. "And all the water in the Nile was turned to blood" (Exodus 7:20).

2. Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15):
The second plague brought an infestation of frogs that covered the land of Egypt. Frogs entered homes, bedrooms, and kitchens, causing great distress. This plague challenged the Egyptian goddess Heqet, who was depicted with a frog's head. "The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials" (Exodus 8:4).

3. Gnats (Exodus 8:16-19):
The third plague saw the dust of the earth become gnats, which tormented both man and beast. This plague demonstrated God's power over the Egyptian magicians, who were unable to replicate it. "The magicians tried to produce gnats by their magic arts, but they could not" (Exodus 8:18).

4. Flies (Exodus 8:20-32):
The fourth plague brought swarms of flies that filled the houses and land of Egypt, except in Goshen where the Israelites lived. This distinction highlighted God's protection over His people. "But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people live, so that no swarms of flies will be there" (Exodus 8:22).

5. Livestock Disease (Exodus 9:1-7):
The fifth plague struck the Egyptian livestock with a severe disease, resulting in the death of horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. This plague targeted the Egyptian god Apis, a bull deity. "All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died" (Exodus 9:6).

6. Boils (Exodus 9:8-12):
The sixth plague afflicted the Egyptians with painful boils. Moses and Aaron took soot from a furnace and tossed it into the air, causing boils to break out on people and animals. This plague demonstrated God's power over the Egyptian gods of healing. "The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils" (Exodus 9:11).

7. Hail (Exodus 9:13-35):
The seventh plague brought a devastating hailstorm that destroyed crops and livestock in the fields. This plague was a direct challenge to the Egyptian sky goddess Nut. "The hail struck down everything in the field—both man and beast" (Exodus 9:25).

8. Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20):
The eighth plague sent a swarm of locusts that consumed all the vegetation left after the hail. This plague demonstrated God's supremacy over the Egyptian god Seth, who was associated with storms and chaos. "They covered the face of all the land, so that the land was darkened" (Exodus 10:15).

9. Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29):
The ninth plague brought a palpable darkness over Egypt for three days, a direct affront to Ra, the Egyptian sun god. The Israelites, however, had light in their dwellings. "So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days" (Exodus 10:22).

10. Death of the Firstborn (Exodus 11:1-12:30):
The final and most severe plague was the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh's household to the lowest servant, as well as the firstborn of the livestock. This plague led to the institution of the Passover, where the Israelites marked their doorposts with lamb's blood to be spared. "At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:29).

These plagues served as a testament to God's power and His commitment to liberating His people, ultimately leading to the Exodus and the formation of Israel as a nation under God's covenant.