PlaguesNatural Explanations

1
Plagues--Natural Explanations?

• Excessive flooding mountain algae (water becomes
  blood)
• Anthrax bacillus in frogs they were forced from
  water
• Mosquitoes multiplied since there were breeding
  pools all over the land
• Flies in decaying vegetation
• Anthrax spores from frogs kill livestock
• Flies carried anthrax into stalls as boils

2
Plagues according to the Pentateuchal Sources

• J Moses main actor Aaron silent. Let my people
  go! People living apart from Egyptians, in
  Goshen. Negotiations. Goal--that Pharaoh may know
  me. 7 in number (cf. Psalm 78). 820-32
• P Aaron chief actor magicians signs and wonders
  validate Moses and Aaron and glorify Yahweh. No
  Let my people go. 816-19 98-12

3
Israel Exempt

• flies (4)--land of Goshen set apart (822)
• cattle (5)--no cattle of Israel died (94-6)
• No hail (7) in Goshen (926)
• Israel exempt from darkness even though they did
  not live separately from Egyptians (1023)
• Death of firstborn (117)

4
Pharaoh Pray for me!

• Pray to take away frogs (88-9)
• Dont go far pray for me (after flies) (828)
• I have sinned (927) (after hail)
• I have sinned against Yahweh and against you
  (1016-17) (after locusts)
• Get a blessing for me (1231-32)

5
Concessions by Pharaoh

• I will let people go to sacrifice (88 frogs)
• Sacrifice to your God within the land (825
  flies)
• Dont go very far (828 flies)
• Only men may go (1011 locusts)
• Little ones may go, not animals (1024 darkness)
• Go, also flocks and herds bless me also
  (1231-32 firstborn)

6
Magnification of Miracles in P

• Aarons Rod becomes a dragon
• Blood in trees (sap) and stones (springs) 719
• Crossing of Red Sea (contrast J)
• I will get glory over Pharaoh (144, 17)
• Glory in tabernacle (401)
• 1610 (quails) Num 1410 (spies) 1642
  (murmuring) 206 (water)

7
Magicians Who Gets Glory?

• Change rods into dragons by secret arts (712)
• Change water into blood phenomenon already
  nation-wide (722 bring up frogs already
  nation-wide) 87
• no gnats this is Gods finger (819)
• boils on magicians (911 acne kids!)

8
Passover and Unleavened Bread

• Unleavened bread was originally a harvest
  festival presupposes life in the land
• Passover originally was a festival when herds
  changed location in spring.
• First of months at home eat in haste
• Slave or stranger may participate if he is
  circumcised (1244, 48)

9
Passover (continued)

• Writer uses occasion to lay down legislation
• Passover 1-14 Unleavened Bread 1-15--1-21
• Significance of blood on the doorposts
• In Egypt for 430 years
• Significance of redemption of firstborn humans
  and animals

10
Despoiling of EgyptiansExod 112 1235-36

• Wages for their slavery? (Jubilees 4818 in
  return for the bondage in which they had forced
  them to serve)
• Put to better use with Israel? (Augustine)
• Materials for tabernacle?
• Israel leaves Egypt as victors in a battle
  (spoils of war)

11
Despoiling of Egyptians

• Psalm 10537-38 Yahweh brought Israel out with
  silver and gold--Egypt was glad when they
  departed.
• They honored the Hebrews with gifts so that they
  might depart more quickly, others because of the
  neighborly relations they had with them. Josephus

12
Hardening of Pharaohs Heart

• J Pharaoh does hardening himself and is
  negative reaction to the signs of Yahweh
  Hardening keeps Egyptians from knowing Yahweh
• P Yahweh hardens Pharaohs heart in order to
  magnify miraculous Plagues dont reveal
  Yahweh--crossing of Reed Sea does (144).
  Hardening motif connects plagues to crossing
  motif.