How Many Plagues Were There?
Based on paper from alhatorah.org
No Biblical Source
The "Ten Plagues" or "עֶשֶר מַכוֹת" is such a famous phrase that it is frequently taken for granted and rarely questioned. But how do we know that there were "Ten Plagues"? Surprisingly, the Torah never uses either the number ten or the term "מכות" to describe the miracles in Egypt. Instead it refers to them as either "אוֹתֹת וּמֹפְתִים " ("signs and wonders") or as "שְפָטִים" ("acts of judgment").
The traditional count of the "Ten Plagues" begins with the Plague of Blood and concludes with the Plague of the Firstborn. However, the Biblical text sets no definitive starting or ending point for the series, leaving room to question the status of the two miracles which frame the set of the Plagues: the sign of the תַנִין and the splitting of Yam Suf. Are these fundamentally different from the other so called "plagues"? After all, these also are performed by a wondrous staff in front of Paroh, involve the hardening of his heart, and teach recognition of G-d. Moreover, the תַנִין is explicitly called a "מוֹפֵת". Conversely, perhaps the Plague of the Firstborn should be omitted from the count. Structurally it is distinct from the main plague narrative, and it is the only one of the wonders referred to as a "נֶגַע".
The count among the commentators ranges from 9 Miracles through 12 Miracles as described below:
Twelve Miracles
The twelve miracles from the sign of the תַנִין through the drowning of the Egyptians in Yam Suf all form one unified series.
SOURCES: R. N"H Wessely Ruach Chen 12 (pp.210-224) Yein Levanon Avot 5:5 Shirei Tiferet, Intro. to Vol. 3, R. Y"S Reggio Shmos 7:3, Shadal Shmos 7:17
- "אוֹתֹת וּמֹפ תִים" and "ש פ טִים" – These exegetes maintain that the terms denote different categories of miracles, with "אוֹתֹת וּמֹפְתִים" referring to the four interspersed signs of תַנִין, כִנִים, שְׁחִין, and חֹשֶךְ which were relatively harmless, and "שְפָטִים" (literally, "acts of judgment") being the other eight much harsher plagues and punishments.
Thus, the full set of twelve miracles consists of four triads, each of which opens with an initial warning sign ("אוֹת וּמוֹפֵת ") which is then followed by two more severe punishments ("שְפָטִים"). Alternatively, though, "אוֹתֹת וּמֹפְתִים" may refer to the first ten miracles, and "שְפָטִים" could describe the Plague of the Firstborn and the Splitting of the Sea.
- Dual purpose of the miracles – The four signs and wonders were intended to warn, instill fear, and embarrass the magicians, while the eight destructive plagues were meant to punish the Egyptian nation.
- Inclusion of ת נִין – The sign of the תַנִין is similar in purpose to the warning plagues of כִנִים, שְׁחִין, and חֹשֶךְ, and it deserves to be counted just as they are.
- Inclusion of Yam Suf – As the process of the punishment of the Egyptians was completed only with their drowning in Yam Suf, the Splitting of the Sea is also included in the count of twelve.
- Patterns – The grouping into four sets of three creates certain patterns as far as the agent who brings the plague, the object of destruction, the role of the magicians, and the lessons to be learned.
- Interruptions of the narrative flow – This approach could argue that the legal material in Chapters 12–13 is secondary to the main storyline of the twelve miracles.
- Hardening of Paroh's heart – According to this approach, exactly midway through the plagues (after two of the four triads), Paroh's resolve weakens and HaShem begins to harden Paroh's heart.
- "עוֹד נ ג ע א ח ד א בִיא" – This verse which precedes the Plague of the Firstborn would be interpreted as saying that there would be one more plague before the Exodus, but not that this would conclude the entire series.
