Exodus-Chap-8-1-28

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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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 “Exodus Chapter 8: 1-28”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

The Finger of אֱלֹהִים – Elohim (God).

Exodus Chapter 8 covers the second, third, and fourth plagues: Frogs, Gnats (Lice), and Flies. While the first plague (Blood) affected the Nile, these plagues invade the “private space” of the Egyptians their homes, their beds, and their very skin. This chapter highlights the breakdown of Egyptian magic and the increasing pressure on Pharaoh to recognise a power higher than his own.

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Below are the verses from Exodus Chapter 8, verses 1 to 28: with Explanations located directly below the verses.

1. “And יְהוָה - the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Say unto Aaron: Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt’.

2. And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

3. And the magicians did in like manner with their secret arts, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

4. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: ‘Entreat יְהוָה - the LORD, that He take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto יְהוָה - the LORD’. 

5. And Moses said unto Pharaoh: ‘Have thou this glory over me; against what time shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs be destroyed from thee and thy houses, and remain in the river only?

6. And he said: ‘Against to-morrow’. And he said: ‘Be it according to thy word; that thou mayest know that there is none like unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu.

7. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only’.

8. And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh; and Moses cried unto יְהוָה - the LORD concerning the frogs, which He had brought upon Pharaoh.

9. And יְהוָה - the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields.

10. And they gathered them together in heaps; and the land stank.

11. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as יְהוָה - the LORD had spoken.

Explanations: Verses 1-11: The Plague of Frogs (Tzefardaya) The Nile, usually a source of life, becomes a source of nuisance. Unlike the Blood, this plague is invasive. Moses gives Pharaoh the honour of choosing when the frogs should depart, proving that the timing is controlled by אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, not by natural cycles or magic. Pharaoh’s request for prayer shows his first crack in resolve.

12. And יְהוָה - the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Say unto Aaron: Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats throughout all the land of Egypt’.

13. And they did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and there were gnats upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.

14. And the magicians did so with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats upon man, and upon beast.

15. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh: ‘This is the finger of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’; and Pharaohs heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as יְהוָה - the LORD had spoken.

Explanations: Verses 12-15: The Plague of Gnats (Kinim). This plague begins without a warning. The Egyptian magicians try to replicate it but fail, leading to the famous admission: This is the finger of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim”. They acknowledge a divine force they cannot mimic, yet Pharaoh’s heart remains "hardened," choosing pride over the evidence before his eyes.

16. And יְהוָה - the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him: Thus saith יְהוָה - the LORD: Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

17. Else, if thou wilt not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses; and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.

18. And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end that thou mayest know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD in the midst of the earth.

19. And I will put a division between My people and thy people by to-morrow shall this sign be’.

20. And יְהוָה - the LORD did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses; and in all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by reason of the swarms of flies.

21. And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said: ‘Go ye, sacrifice to your אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’ in the land’.

22. And Moses said: ‘It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu; lo, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us?

23. We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to , as He shall command us’.

24. And Pharaoh said: ‘I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheychem in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away; entreat for me’.

25. And Moses said: ‘Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat יְהוָה - the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to יְהוָה - the LORD’.

26. And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated יְהוָה - the LORD.

27. And יְהוָה - the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.

28. And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go”.

Explanations: Verses 16-28: The Plague of Flies (Arov) and the First Distinction
In this fourth plague,
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim creates a “division” (pedut). The swarms devastate Egypt but do not enter the land of Goshen where the Israelites live. This proves אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is not just powerful; He is specific. Pharaoh tries to compromise, telling the Jews they can sacrifice “within the land”, but Moses insists on total freedom, refusing to worship אֱלֹהִים - Elohim under the shadow of Egyptian bondage.

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My Closing Message:

Exodus 8 teaches us about the danger of the “partial return”. Pharaoh was willing to admit אֱלֹהִים - Elohims power when he was uncomfortable, and even willing to negotiate a “middle ground”, but he wasn’t willing to truly let go. These verses remind us that spiritual growth requires more than just acknowledging “the finger of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim” during a crisis; it requires the courage to follow through and make a complete change when the pressure is lifted.

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“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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