Plagues of Egypt facts for kids
The Ten Plagues of Egypt are a famous series of events described in the Book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible. These plagues were sent by God upon Ancient Egypt to convince Pharaoh to free the Israelites from slavery. Each plague was a powerful sign, showing God's might and Pharaoh's refusal to listen.
What Were the Ten Plagues?
The Ten Plagues were severe punishments that affected the land of Egypt and its people. They were meant to show Pharaoh that the God of the Israelites was more powerful than the Egyptian gods. Each plague was worse than the last, leading up to the final, most devastating one.
Why Did the Plagues Happen?
The story of the plagues begins when the Israelites, also known as Hebrews, were living as slaves in Egypt. Their leader, Moses, along with his brother Aaron, went to Pharaoh and asked him to let the Israelites go so they could worship their God. Pharaoh refused, making their lives even harder. Because of Pharaoh's stubbornness, God sent these ten plagues to force him to release the Israelites.
The Plagues Explained
1. Water Turns to Blood
The first plague turned all the water in Egypt into blood. This included the Nile River, canals, and even water stored in jars. The fish died, and the water became undrinkable. This lasted for seven days.
2. Frogs Everywhere
After the water turned to blood, the second plague brought countless frogs. They swarmed out of the rivers and into homes, beds, ovens, and even food. The frogs were everywhere, making life very difficult for the Egyptians.
3. Lice or Gnats
The third plague was an infestation of lice or gnats. These tiny insects covered people and animals, causing constant itching and discomfort. Unlike the first two plagues, the Egyptian magicians could not copy this one, which showed them that this was truly a divine act.
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4. Swarms of Flies
The fourth plague brought huge swarms of flies. These flies invaded homes and covered the land, causing great annoyance and disease. However, the land where the Israelites lived, called Goshen, was not affected by this plague. This showed a clear difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites.
5. Diseased Livestock
The fifth plague was a terrible disease that affected Egyptian livestock. Horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep all became sick and died. Again, the animals belonging to the Israelites were not harmed.
6. Painful Boils
The sixth plague caused painful boils to break out on the skin of both people and animals throughout Egypt. These boils were very uncomfortable and made it impossible for the Egyptian magicians to stand before Moses.
7. Thunderstorm of Hail
The seventh plague was a severe hailstorm, unlike anything Egypt had ever seen. Large hailstones mixed with fire rained down, destroying crops, trees, and killing people and animals who were outside. Once more, the land of Goshen was spared from this destruction.
8. Locusts
After the hail, the eighth plague brought massive swarms of locusts. These insects ate everything that the hail had not destroyed, leaving no green plant or crop behind. This caused a severe famine in Egypt.
9. Darkness for Three Days
The ninth plague covered Egypt in a thick, deep darkness that lasted for three days. It was so dark that people could not see each other or move around. However, the Israelites had light in their homes.
10. Death of Firstborn Sons
The tenth and final plague was the most tragic. It involved the death of every firstborn son in Egypt, from the Pharaoh's own son to the firstborn of the lowest servant, and even the firstborn of animals. To protect their own firstborn, the Israelites were instructed to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb. This event is remembered during the Jewish holiday of Passover. After this devastating plague, Pharaoh finally agreed to let the Israelites leave Egypt.
The Exodus
The story of the Ten Plagues leads directly to the Exodus, which is the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. This event is a central part of Jewish history and is celebrated every year during Passover. The plagues showed the power of God and led to the freedom of a people who had been enslaved for many years.
Images for kids
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Page from the Rothschild Haggadah depicting the plagues, from the collections of the National Library of Israel
See also
In Spanish: Diez plagas de Egipto para niños
