Exodus 7:8-13·~1 min

Aaron’s Staff

The LORD prepares Moses and Aaron for Pharaoh’s demand for a miracle and gives the sign Aaron is to perform with his staff.

T⁸he LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ⁹“When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ you are to say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a serpent. ”

Aaron performs the sign before Pharaoh, the magicians copy it, but Aaron’s staff swallows theirs. Even so, Pharaoh’s heart stays hard and he does not listen.

¹⁰So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. ¹¹But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. ¹²Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs. ¹³Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

Section summaryWhen Pharaoh asks for a sign, Aaron throws down his staff and it becomes a serpent before the court. Egypt’s magicians imitate the act, but Aaron’s staff swallows theirs, and Pharaoh remains hard-hearted as the LORD had said.

Role in the chapterThis section begins the contest in Pharaoh’s presence and shows that imitation is not mastery. The sign makes clear that the LORD’s power stands over Egypt’s arts, even though Pharaoh still refuses to listen.