The Ten Plagues
The Ten Plagues occurred during the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt. God commissioned Moses to demand their release from Pharaoh, who repeatedly refused despite warnings. In response, God unleashed a series of ten escalating plagues, turning the Nile to blood, sending frogs, gnats, and flies, killing livestock, causing boils, hail, locusts, and darkness, and culminating in the death of Egypt's firstborn sons, while sparing the Israelites in the land of Goshen. These events demonstrated God's supreme power over Egypt's deities and forced Pharaoh to free the Hebrew people, leading directly to the Exodus and the institution of the Passover. In Scripture, the plagues underscore themes of divine judgment, redemption, and covenant faithfulness, serving as a foundational narrative for both Jewish and Christian traditions of God's deliverance.
Meanwhile in the World
Egypt is at the height of its New Kingdom power under pharaohs like Thutmose III and Ramesses II. The Hittite Empire controls Anatolia. The Late Bronze Age collapse is approaching. Troy exists as a real city. This is the time of the Amarna letters and international diplomacy.