The Fourth Plague: Flies
The LORD sends Moses to meet Pharaoh early and repeat the demand to let His people go and worship. If Pharaoh refuses, flies will fill Egypt, but Goshen will be spared so Pharaoh may know the LORD is present in the land and distinguishes His people.
T20hen the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and when Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand before him and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. 21But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your officials and your people and your houses. The houses of the Egyptians and even the ground where they stand will be full of flies. 22But on that day I will give special treatment to the land of Goshen, where My people live; no swarms of flies will be found there. In this way you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land. 23I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.’”
The LORD does as He says, and thick swarms of flies pour into Pharaoh’s palace and the houses of his officials until the land is ruined.
24And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined by swarms of flies.
Pharaoh offers to let Israel sacrifice within Egypt, but Moses refuses because their sacrifices would provoke the Egyptians. He insists on a three-day journey into the wilderness, as the LORD commands.
25Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.” 26But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us? 27We must make a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He commands us.”
Pharaoh agrees to let them go into the wilderness, though not far, and asks Moses to pray for him. Moses warns him not to deal falsely again; the LORD removes every fly, yet Pharaoh hardens his heart once more and will not let the people go.
28Pharaoh answered, “I will let you go and sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.” 29“As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will pray to the LORD, so that tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh and his officials and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceitfully again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.” 30Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, 31and the LORD did as Moses requested. He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not one fly remained. 32But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time as well, and he would not let the people go.