Then God sent ten terrible plagues upon the land of Egypt. Each one was more awful than the one before it. They were sent to teach the Egyptians that the God of Israel was the only true God, and to punish them for refusing to obey Him.
The First Plague.—The River Nile, which they worshiped, was turned to blood.
Second Plague.—An army of frogs, which the Egyptians considered sacred, came up from the river. They went into all the houses, and even into the ovens and the troughs where they made their bread.
Third Plague.—The very dust of Egypt became lice on both man and beast.
Fourth Plague.—Swarms of flies came up until "the land was corrupted" because of them.
Fifth Plague.—A "grievous murrain" came upon the cattle, so that a great many of them died.
Sixth Plague.—Moses sprinkled dust into the air, and it became boils on man and beast.
Seventh Plague.—An awful hail, mingled with fire, smote the land, and killed all men and beasts that were not under shelter.
Eighth Plague.—Clouds of locusts came up and ate every green thing.