The Plague of Frogs: Chaos, Faith and Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart

The plague of blood had just ended, yet the entire land of Egypt was still soaked in its aftermath. The Egyptians faced enormous work: scrubbing away the filth, washing the walls and furniture, laundering all their garments. In the midst of these efforts, Moshe entered Pharaoh’s palace without permission, bypassed the heavy guards, and spoke firmly: “So said God: Let My people go so they may serve Me. If you refuse, I will strike all your borders with frogs.” Despite the suffering caused by the plague of blood, Pharaoh hardened his heart and declared that he would not release the Children of Israel. Moshe heard his answer and left the palace.

The next day the scene repeated itself, and again on the third and fourth days. Day after day, for twenty three days, Moshe warned Pharaoh, and Pharaoh refused. On the final occasion Moshe entered at midday before Pharaoh’s ministers and servants and delivered his warning publicly. When Pharaoh ignored even this, Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and suddenly frogs began to rise from the water. Slowly they spread across Egypt, first reaching Pharaoh’s palace and then covering the entire land.

Frogs Everywhere

From the lifeless Nile, which had just been struck by the plague of blood, masses of croaking frogs suddenly emerged. Some say a single frog came forth and when the Egyptians struck it, it multiplied into countless swarms. The croaking voices seemed to echo the silent cries of the infants who had once been thrown into the river.

The Egyptians were stunned. Once again their god, the Nile, struck them. Pharaoh hardened his heart and mocked Moshe: “You come with magic? I can call schoolchildren to produce frogs as well.” He summoned his magicians, and they too produced frogs, yet they could not remove them. What benefit was their wisdom?

Imagine Pharaoh seated on his throne in royal garments when cold, slippery green frogs leapt toward him, croaking as they entered his body and emerged from his mouth. From Pharaoh they spread to his ministers and servants, jumping upon them and croaking in their ears. When an Egyptian tried to kill one frog, it burst and six more came out.

Invading Every Corner

From the palace the frogs spread throughout Egypt. They leapt through doors and windows into Egyptian homes, climbing into bowls of dough, onto bread and into cooking pots. They even entered burning ovens, cooling their heat. There was no hot food left in Egypt. The frogs seemed to proclaim a message: Pharaoh denied the existence of God, yet these creatures recognized Him and even entered the flames in sanctification of His Name.

At every meal frogs jumped into the Egyptians’ plates. When they tried to drink, a frog waited in the cup. Even after drinking, frogs formed inside their bodies. The Egyptians who had demanded that Israel bring them creeping creatures were now disgusted by them themselves.

There was no safe place. Even the wealthiest Egyptians who locked their homes tightly could not escape. Frogs rose from beneath the earth, cracked marble floors and flooded their houses. They followed Egyptians even into hidden places, biting and tormenting them.

Frogs were everywhere: on chairs, in beds, inside ovens, in cups and plates, upon the Egyptians and worst of all inside their bodies. They never stayed quiet. The constant croaking caused more suffering than the physical damage itself. The noise echoed within their stomachs and ears until many Egyptians cried out, and some even died from the torment.

The cries of the frogs reminded them of the cries of parents who had once begged as their children were cast into the Nile.

An Egyptian trying to rest found every chair covered with frogs. Thousands leapt upon him, onto his knees and head. Beds were filled with frogs, preventing sleep. Some were large and heavy, pressing on the stomach and making breathing difficult, while smaller ones crawled into ears, eyes and nostrils. Just as the Egyptians had denied Israel rest, now they themselves could not sleep for days.

Cold, wet frogs covered the ground so densely that Egyptians slipped and fell wherever they walked. Falling meant rolling into a sea of frogs. If someone opened his mouth to cry out, a frog leapt inside. Yet when frogs saw an Israelite they fled, while they pursued Egyptians relentlessly. They filled Egypt’s borders but did not cross beyond them, even revealing the exact boundaries between nations.

A Twisted Heart

The nightmare continued day after day, each day feeling like eternity. Many Egyptians died, and it was a miracle that any survived with frogs croaking inside them for a full week.

Finally Pharaoh could no longer endure it and summoned Moshe and Aaron: “Pray to God and remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send the nation away to sacrifice to God.” Moshe asked when he wished the plague to end. Instead of asking for immediate relief, Pharaoh schemed politically, thinking the plague would end naturally and he could claim Moshe had no power. He said, “Tomorrow.” Moshe replied, “As you say, so you will know that there is none like our God,” and prayed that the plague would end the following day.

The End of the Plague

The frogs inside Pharaoh and his ministers spoke among themselves, saying they would leave only when Moshe prayed. Indeed, after Moshe’s prayer, the frogs died instantly and silence fell. Only the frogs that had entered the burning ovens returned alive to the Nile, rewarded for their devotion.

Yet the story did not end there. Egypt was covered with mountains of dead frogs. The stench filled the land, bringing disease and suffering long afterward. Even after the plague ended, many continued to die from its lasting effects.