וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֒ אֱמֹ֣ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן נְטֵ֤ה אֶת־יָדְךָ֙ בְּמַטֶּ֔ךָ עַל־הַ֨נְּהָרֹ֔ת עַל־הַיְאֹרִ֖ים וְעַל־הָאֲגַמִּ֑ים וְהַ֥עַל אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the lakes, and through this action, you will raise the frogs upon the land of Egypt.

וַיֵּ֤ט אַהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל מֵימֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתַּ֙עַל֙ הַצְּפַרְדֵּ֔עַ וַתְּכַ֖ס אֶת־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Aaron extended his hand over the water of Egypt, and the frogs arose and, in their abundance, covered the entire land of Egypt.

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֥ן הַֽחֲרְטֻמִּ֖ים בְּלָטֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

The magicians did the same with their artifices and they raised the frogs upon the land of Egypt. This was rather unhelpful to Pharaoh, as instead of ridding Egypt of its frog infestation, they caused more frogs to ascend upon the land.

וַיִּקְרָ֨א פַרְעֹ֜ה לְמֹשֶׁ֣ה וּֽלְאַהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַעְתִּ֣ירוּ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְיָסֵר֙ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים מִמֶּ֖נִּי וּמֵֽעַמִּ֑י וַאֲשַׁלְּחָה֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וְיִזְבְּח֖וּ לַיהוָֽה׃

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and he said: Plead with the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send forth the people, and they will sacrifice to the Lord. For the first time, Pharaoh expresses some measure of submission to Moses and Aaron.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה לְפַרְעֹה֮ הִתְפָּאֵ֣ר עָלַי֒ לְמָתַ֣י ׀ אַעְתִּ֣יר לְךָ֗ וְלַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ וּֽלְעַמְּךָ֔ לְהַכְרִית֙ הַֽצֲפַרְדְּעִ֔ים מִמְּךָ֖ וּמִבָּתֶּ֑יךָ רַ֥ק בַּיְאֹ֖ר תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה׃

Moses said to Pharaoh: Challenge me, you have the opportunity to glorify yourself in victory over me by requesting a matter that you consider beyond my reach: For when shall I plead for you and for your servants and for your people, to excise the frogs from you and from your houses? Set a time when the frogs will be destroyed or removed, and from that moment only in the Nile will they remain. Moses wanted to show Pharaoh who was in control of this plague. The ability of Moses and Aaron to remove the frogs at will would increase Pharaoh’s fear of them and further demonstrate God’s power.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְמָחָ֑ר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כִּדְבָ֣רְךָ֔ לְמַ֣עַן תֵּדַ֔ע כִּי־אֵ֖ין כַּיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

He, Pharaoh, said: Tomorrow, and he, Moses, said: It shall be as your word, so that you will know that there is none like the Lord our God.

וְסָר֣וּ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֗ים מִמְּךָ֙ וּמִבָּ֣תֶּ֔יךָ וּמֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ וּמֵעַמֶּ֑ךָ רַ֥ק בַּיְאֹ֖ר תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה׃

Tomorrow, the frogs will depart from you and from your houses, and from your servants and from your people; only in the Nile will they remain. They will not harm anyone there, but will serve as a constant reminder and a threat that might be visited upon Egypt at any time.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה וְאַהֲרֹ֖ן מֵעִ֣ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיִּצְעַ֤ק מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה עַל־דְּבַ֥ר הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֥ם לְפַרְעֹֽה׃

Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s presence and Moses cried out to the Lord over the matter of the frogs that He had inflicted upon Pharaoh. Moses cried out in prayer before God because the removal of a plague at a specific time required a special request.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ יְהוָ֖ה כִּדְבַ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיָּמֻ֙תוּ֙ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים מִן־הַבָּתִּ֥ים מִן־הַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת וּמִן־הַשָּׂדֹֽת׃

The Lord did in accordance with the word of Moses, and the frogs died from the houses, from the courtyards and from the fields.

וַיִּצְבְּר֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם חֳמָרִ֣ם חֳמָרִ֑ם וַתִּבְאַ֖שׁ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

They piled them into heaps, and the land reeked from the smell of the dead frogs.

וַיַּ֣רְא פַּרְעֹ֗ה כִּ֤י הָֽיְתָה֙ הָֽרְוָחָ֔ה וְהַכְבֵּד֙ אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ (ס)

However, Pharaoh saw that there was respite, as the frogs had gone, and he made his heart stubborn and he did not heed them, despite the fact that on this occasion he had asked Moses to plead on his behalf. This change of heart was as the Lord had spoken.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֒ אֱמֹר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן נְטֵ֣ה אֶֽת־מַטְּךָ֔ וְהַ֖ךְ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהָיָ֥ה לְכִנִּ֖ם בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your staff and strike the dust of the earth, and it will become lice in the entire land of Egypt.

וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֗ן וַיֵּט֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן אֶת־יָד֤וֹ בְמַטֵּ֙הוּ֙ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתְּהִי֙ הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה כָּל־עֲפַ֥ר הָאָ֛רֶץ הָיָ֥ה כִנִּ֖ים בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

They, Moses and Aaron, did so. Aaron extended his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and the lice were upon man and upon animal; all the dust of the earth was lice in the entire land of Egypt.

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֨ן הַחַרְטֻמִּ֧ים בְּלָטֵיהֶ֛ם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־הַכִּנִּ֖ים וְלֹ֣א יָכֹ֑לוּ וַתְּהִי֙ הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃

The magicians in Pharaoh’s court did so with their artifices: They attempted to draw out the lice, to mimic the plague by producing their own lice, in order to mitigate the influence of the wonder produced by Moses and Aaron by showing that this, too, was within their capabilities, but they could not. Alternatively, they attempted to remove the lice but could not; the lice infested man and animal.

וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֶצְבַּ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִ֑וא וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֣ע אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ (ס)

The magicians said to Pharaoh: It is the finger of God. In other words, this infestation was not caused by an act of magic. Nevertheless, it is not a sign of divine intervention, as it is still within the bounds of natural occurrences. Pharaoh accepted the magicians’ claim, and refused to be swayed by the fact that they were incapable of producing or removing the lice. Perhaps he thought that their failure was due to a lack of skill, whereas a more expert magician might have been successful. In any case, Pharaoh’s heart hardened and he did not heed them, and he refused to release the children of Israel, as the Lord had spoken.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם בַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וְהִתְיַצֵּב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה הִנֵּ֖ה יוֹצֵ֣א הַמָּ֑יְמָה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שַׁלַּ֥ח עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃

The Lord said to Moses: Arise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh; behold, he goes out to the water to bathe, relieve himself, relax, or worship (see 7:15). And you shall say to him: So said the Lord: Send forth My people and they will serve Me.

כִּ֣י אִם־אֵינְךָ֮ מְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ אֶת־עַמִּי֒ הִנְנִי֩ מַשְׁלִ֨יחַ בְּךָ֜ וּבַעֲבָדֶ֧יךָ וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֛ וּבְבָתֶּ֖יךָ אֶת־הֶעָרֹ֑ב וּמָ֨לְא֜וּ בָּתֵּ֤י מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָרֹ֔ב וְגַ֥ם הָאֲדָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֥ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃

For if you do not send forth My people, I will cast the swarm of wild beasts among you, among your servants, among your people, and in your houses; the houses of Egyptians will be filled with the swarm, as well as the ground on which they are.

וְהִפְלֵיתִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ גֹּ֗שֶׁן אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַמִּי֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עָלֶ֔יהָ לְבִלְתִּ֥י הֱיֽוֹת־שָׁ֖ם עָרֹ֑ב לְמַ֣עַן תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃

I will distinguish on that day the land of Goshen upon which My people stands, so that a swarm will not be there. Although Goshen is not far from here, it will remain unaffected by this plague. This will occur so that you will know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. This differentiation between the Israelite and Egyptian population centers will demonstrate that God watches over and controls earthly events, as it will prove that the plague is intended solely for Pharaoh and his people.

וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י פְדֻ֔ת בֵּ֥ין עַמִּ֖י וּבֵ֣ין עַמֶּ֑ךָ לְמָחָ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה הָאֹ֥ת הַזֶּֽה׃

I will set a division between My people and your people; tomorrow this sign will come to be. Alternatively, this means: I will save My people while bringing the plague upon your people. Some commentaries combine the two interpretations, explaining that the distinction between the peoples will be the salvation of the children of Israel.

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ יְהוָה֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיָּבֹא֙ עָרֹ֣ב כָּבֵ֔ד בֵּ֥יתָה פַרְעֹ֖ה וּבֵ֣ית עֲבָדָ֑יו וּבְכָל־אֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֛יִם תִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֥י הֶעָרֹֽב׃

The Lord did so the next day, and a heavy swarm of wild beasts came upon the house of Pharaoh and from there it spread to the house of his servants; in the entire land of Egypt the land was destroyed because of the swarm. The beasts roamed unrestrained, wreaking havoc and sowing fear throughout the land.

וַיִּקְרָ֣א פַרְעֹ֔ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה וּֽלְאַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְכ֛וּ זִבְח֥וּ לֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

After the first three plagues yielded no change in Pharaoh’s behavior, the plague of wild beasts is apparently a turning point, as Pharaoh agrees to negotiate with Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and he said: Go, sacrifice to your God in the land. He granted them the freedom to perform their religious worship inside Egypt.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה לֹ֤א נָכוֹן֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת כֵּ֔ן כִּ֚י תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מִצְרַ֔יִם נִזְבַּ֖ח לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ הֵ֣ן נִזְבַּ֞ח אֶת־תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת מִצְרַ֛יִם לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א יִסְקְלֻֽנוּ׃

Moses said to Pharaoh: It is not proper to do so, as we will be sacrificing the abomination of Egypt to the Lord our God. Behold, will we sacrifice the abomination of Egypt before their eyes, and they not stone us? If we desecrate the honor of an Egyptian deity, they will certainly respond by stoning us.

דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים נֵלֵ֖ךְ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְזָבַ֙חְנוּ֙ לַֽיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר יֹאמַ֥ר אֵלֵֽינוּ׃

Rather, we will distance ourselves from the Egyptians and we will go on a three-day journey into the wilderness and we will sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He will tell us, in accordance with His command.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֗ה אָנֹכִ֞י אֲשַׁלַּ֤ח אֶתְכֶם֙ וּזְבַחְתֶּ֞ם לַיהוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר רַ֛ק הַרְחֵ֥ק לֹא־תַרְחִ֖יקוּ לָלֶ֑כֶת הַעְתִּ֖ירוּ בַּעֲדִֽי׃

Pharaoh said: I will send you forth, and you will sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; just do not go very far; plead for me that the wild beasts will be removed from the land.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י יוֹצֵ֤א מֵֽעִמָּךְ֙ וְהַעְתַּרְתִּ֣י אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְסָ֣ר הֶעָרֹ֗ב מִפַּרְעֹ֛ה מֵעֲבָדָ֥יו וּמֵעַמּ֖וֹ מָחָ֑ר רַ֗ק אַל־יֹסֵ֤ף פַּרְעֹה֙ הָתֵ֔ל לְבִלְתִּי֙ שַׁלַּ֣ח אֶת־הָעָ֔ם לִזְבֹּ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֽה׃

Moses said: Behold, I am departing from your presence and I will plead with the Lord and as a result, the swarm will depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow. Just, Pharaoh must not continue provoking by not sending forth the people to sacrifice to the Lord. Since Pharaoh had already reneged on his previous commitment to release the children of Israel (8:4, 11), Moses warns him to keep his word this time.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א מֹשֶׁ֖ה מֵעִ֣ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיֶּעְתַּ֖ר אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃

Moses departed from Pharaoh’s presence and he pleaded with the Lord. He did not pray in Pharaoh’s palace, as it was an unfit location for supplication.

וַיַּ֤עַשׂ יְהוָה֙ כִּדְבַ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַיָּ֙סַר֙ הֶעָרֹ֔ב מִפַּרְעֹ֖ה מֵעֲבָדָ֣יו וּמֵעַמּ֑וֹ לֹ֥א נִשְׁאַ֖ר אֶחָֽד׃

The Lord did in accordance with the word of Moses and the swarm departed from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people; not one remained.

וַיַּכְבֵּ֤ד פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ גַּ֖ם בַּפַּ֣עַם הַזֹּ֑את וְלֹ֥א שִׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָעָֽם׃ (פ)

Pharaoh made his heart stubborn this time as well and he did not send forth the people, notwithstanding his earlier pledge to release them.