THEOSISWlastow G.K.
This chapter marks a pivotal moment in the history of the oppressed Israelites. Following Moses's initial confrontation with Pharaoh and the first miracle of transforming water into blood, commentators suggest that over two months passed. This first miracle, aligning with the regular inundation of the Nile, likely occurred in mid-June. Throughout this period, the Israelites endured hardships, and Moses was without fresh divine revelations. Ultimately, after earnestly appealing to the Lord, Moses receives a profound revelation concerning the miraculous liberation of Israel, affirmed by the sacred name of Jehovah. Thus begins the account of Israel's salvation and the intensified afflictions affecting Pharaoh's realm.
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All that preceded served as a preparation for this deeply meaningful narrative, illustrating how the natural elements and phenomena were transformed into plagues by the Lord's command, showcasing their potency and order, ultimately manifesting and vanishing at the prayer of Moses, the divine messenger. As Moses composes this section, he pauses the recounting of events to introduce (as is his practice throughout the Pentateuch) the genealogies of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, highlighting the lineage of this patriarch, who is the forebear of Aaron, within the Israelite community. The narrative proceeds uninterrupted from this point until Pharaoh, as the Lord had informed Moses, ultimately expels Israel from his territory.