Literary Structure of the Plagues
Plague |
Exodus source | Forewarning | Time indication of warning | Instruction formula | Agent | ||
| First series | 1 | Blood | 7:14-24 | yes | "in the morning" | "Station yourself" | Aaron |
| 2 | Frogs | 7:25-8:11 | yes | none | "Go to Pharaoh" | Aaron | |
| 3 | Lice | 8:12-15 | none | none | none | Aaron | |
| Second series | 4 | Insects | 8:16-28 | yes | "in the morning" | "Station yourself" | G-d |
| 5 | Pestilence | 9:1-7 | Yes | none | "Go to Pharaoh" | G-d | |
| 6 | Boils | 9:8-12 | none | none | none | Moses | |
| Third series | 7 | Hail | 9:13-35 | yes | "in the morning" | "Station yourself" | Moses |
| 8 | Locusts | 10:1-20 | yes | none | "Go to Pharaoh" | Moses | |
| 9 | Darkness | 10:21-23 | none | none | none | Moses | |
| Climax | 10 | Death of Egyptian firstborn |
11:4-7 12:29-30 |
yes | none | none | G-d |
