Exodus chapters 7 to 13 in the King James Bible (KJV) recount one of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring sequences in the Bible: the ten plagues that God unleashes upon Egypt to deliver the Israelites from bondage. These chapters reveal God’s sovereign power over nature, His judgment against Egypt’s idolatry, and His faithfulness to the covenant with His people. The story of Moses confronting Pharaoh, the escalation of plagues, and the final Passover that secures Israel’s freedom highlight God’s redemptive plan and set the stage for their journey to the Promised Land.
Exodus 7: The Beginning of the Plagues
In Exodus 7, God sends Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh, commanding him to release the Israelites. God tells Moses that Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened, and as a result, He will multiply His signs and wonders in Egypt. Through these acts, the Egyptians will come to know that He is the LORD.
Moses and Aaron obey God’s command, and when Pharaoh demands a sign, Aaron throws down his staff, which miraculously turns into a serpent. However, Pharaoh’s magicians replicate this feat with their sorcery, though Aaron’s serpent swallows theirs. Despite this, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened.
God then instructs Moses and Aaron to go to the Nile River the next morning, where Moses is to strike the water with his staff. This first plague turns all the waters of Egypt into blood, causing the fish to die and the river to stink. The Egyptians cannot drink the water, and blood is found throughout the land. Despite this catastrophe, Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the act, and Pharaoh remains unmoved.
Exodus 8: Frogs, Lice, and Flies
In Exodus 8, the second plague strikes Egypt as frogs swarm the land, covering homes, beds, ovens, and even the people themselves. Pharaoh pleads with Moses to ask the LORD to remove the frogs, promising to let the Israelites go. Moses prays, and God removes the frogs, but once the plague ends, Pharaoh hardens his heart again and refuses to release the Israelites.
Next, God commands Aaron to strike the dust of the earth, which turns into lice, infesting both man and beast. Pharaoh’s magicians try to replicate the miracle but fail, declaring, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19 KJV). Yet, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened.
The fourth plague brings swarms of flies, which fill the houses and land of Egypt. However, in the region of Goshen, where the Israelites live, there are no flies, demonstrating God’s protection over His people. Pharaoh once again pleads with Moses to end the plague, but after Moses prays and the flies disappear, Pharaoh hardens his heart and refuses to let the Israelites go.
Exodus 9: Livestock Disease, Boils, and Hail
In Exodus 9, the fifth plague strikes the livestock of Egypt. God sends a severe pestilence upon the cattle, horses, camels, and sheep, killing them, but none of the livestock belonging to the Israelites is harmed. Even after this devastating loss, Pharaoh remains unyielding.
The sixth plague afflicts the Egyptians with painful boils. Moses and Aaron scatter ashes into the air, which causes boils to break out on both the Egyptians and their animals. The magicians are unable to stand before Moses because of the boils, but Pharaoh’s heart is still hardened.
The seventh plague is a destructive hailstorm, the likes of which Egypt has never seen. God warns Pharaoh through Moses to bring all livestock and people indoors, but many Egyptians ignore the warning. When the hail falls, it destroys crops, kills animals, and shatters trees. In Goshen, however, there is no hail. Pharaoh admits his guilt and promises to let the Israelites go, but after Moses prays and the hail stops, Pharaoh hardens his heart once more.
Exodus 10: Locusts and Darkness
In Exodus 10, God sends Moses to warn Pharaoh of the eighth plague: locusts. Pharaoh’s officials, weary of the destruction, plead with him to release the Israelites, but Pharaoh only agrees to let the men go. Moses refuses this partial offer, and God sends locusts that cover the land and devour what is left of Egypt’s crops after the hailstorm. Egypt is plunged into further ruin. Pharaoh pleads for forgiveness, but after the locusts are removed, he again refuses to let the Israelites go.
The ninth plague brings three days of total darkness over Egypt, a darkness so thick that people cannot see one another or leave their homes. Once again, the Israelites in Goshen are spared from the darkness. Pharaoh, increasingly desperate, offers to let the Israelites go but insists that they leave their livestock behind. Moses refuses, stating that the Israelites need their animals for sacrifices. Furious, Pharaoh tells Moses to leave his presence and threatens to kill him if he returns. Moses agrees, declaring that this will be their final meeting.
Exodus 11: The Warning of the Final Plague
Exodus 11 serves as a prelude to the final and most devastating plague. God informs Moses that He will bring one more plague upon Egypt, after which Pharaoh will not only let the Israelites go but will drive them out. This last plague will be the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh’s own son to the firstborn of the lowest servant, as well as the firstborn of the animals.
Moses warns Pharaoh of the coming judgment, but Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened. God is about to deliver a blow so severe that Egypt will finally relent.
Exodus 12: The Passover and the Death of the Firstborn
Exodus 12 introduces the institution of the Passover, a key event in the history of Israel. God commands the Israelites to select a perfect lamb or goat, slaughter it, and place its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. This blood will serve as a sign, and when God strikes Egypt, He will “pass over” the homes marked with blood, sparing the Israelites from the final plague.
The Israelites are instructed to eat the Passover meal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, dressed and ready to leave Egypt quickly. This meal, known as the Passover, becomes a lasting ordinance for the Jewish people, commemorating their deliverance from Egypt.
That night, the LORD strikes down all the firstborn in Egypt, just as He had warned. From Pharaoh’s palace to the prisons and farms, the firstborn in every household dies. Pharaoh, devastated by the loss of his own son, finally relents and orders the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately. The Egyptians, eager to see the Israelites go, give them silver, gold, and clothing, thus fulfilling God’s promise that the Israelites would leave with great wealth.
The Israelites depart in haste, and after 430 years in Egypt, the descendants of Jacob are finally free. The Passover becomes an enduring symbol of God’s salvation, and it will play a crucial role in the future of Israel’s worship and identity.
Exodus 13: The Consecration of the Firstborn and the Beginning of the Exodus
In Exodus 13, God commands the Israelites to consecrate every firstborn male to Him, both man and beast, in remembrance of how He spared their firstborn during the final plague. This act of dedication is a way for Israel to acknowledge God’s deliverance and maintain their covenant relationship.
God also instructs the Israelites to continue observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven-day period during which they are to eat unleavened bread as a reminder of their hasty departure from Egypt. This feast becomes another lasting ordinance in Israel’s religious calendar.
As the Israelites leave Egypt, God does not lead them through the land of the Philistines, fearing that they might encounter war and return to Egypt. Instead, He leads them toward the Red Sea by way of the wilderness. God also manifests His presence to them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, guiding their journey.
Moses takes the bones of Joseph with him, fulfilling Joseph’s request to be buried in the Promised Land. This act symbolizes the ongoing connection between God’s promises to the patriarchs and the unfolding events of the Exodus.
Conclusion
Exodus 7 to 13 showcases God’s powerful and miraculous intervention in the affairs of Egypt and Israel. Through the ten plagues, God demonstrates His sovereignty over nature and His supremacy over Egypt’s gods, while also showing His mercy and protection for His chosen people. The final act of deliverance, the Passover, becomes a foundational moment in Israel’s history, foreshadowing future acts of redemption. As the Israelites leave Egypt, God’s promise to Abraham begins to come to fruition, and the journey toward the Promised Land officially begins.
