No warning
Brought by HaShem and Moshe
Lasted seven days
Painful skin disease affecting people and animals
Combined natural order and miracle resulting in the utter humiliation of the Sorcerers
The Plague:
The sixth plague that G-d inflicted on the Egyptians was shchin or boils. G-d commanded Moshe and Aaron to take two handfuls of soot from the kiln and had Moshe throwing it skyward, thus spreading it all over Egypt. Unlike other plagues except the blood, Paroh stood witness to the initiation of this plague. This painful skin disease affected Paroh and his magicians as well as all other Egyptians and their animals. This was significant since not only could the magicians not replicate this Plague, but they were unable to heal even themselves.
Three miracles occurred:
- Moshe and Aaron each take as much ash as their hand could hold. Aaron then transferred the ash in his hand into Moshe’s hands and Moshe was able to hold both portions.
- The small amount of ash spread throughout Egypt to coat every person and animal.
- Ash is light and cannot be thrown very far. However, when he threw the ash it carried out of sight. Some say the ash escaped the atmosphere, picked up radioactivity prior to returning to Egypt.
Why Boils?
The plagues preceding this one affected the environment. Shchin was the first plague that caused harm to the bodies of the Egyptians. Though the boils affected all of Egypt its first signs were seen on Paroh and his sorcerers. This was to prove to Paroh that the might and strength of G-d. Indeed, the Plague of Boils was yet another declaration of G-d's power. First, it took but a couple of handfuls soot to cause the spread of boils all over Egypt, a miracle in itself.
Secondly, the use of soot to cause boils was an overruling of ordinary laws of nature, as soot was actually used to cure boils. The Egyptians looked to their G-d of medicine, Thoth, who was unable to cure the boils.
Additionally, we see a "Measure for Measure" - as the boils disfigured the Egyptians, a retribution for hurting the Jews, often disfiguring them with the harsh physical abuse
Then Paroh relented, promised to let the Israelites leave. And then, once the Boils/Schin was removed, Paroh hardened his heart, and he reneged on his promise.
