Exodus 7:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.

NIV: And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could not drink the water of the river.

NASB: So all the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink from the water of the Nile.

CSB: All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink because they could not drink the water from the river.

NLT: Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn’t drink the water from the Nile.

KJV: And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

NKJV: So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river.

Generations before Moses, Egypt enslaved the Hebrew people (Exodus 1:11–14). Israelite children were murdered at the Nile river (Exodus 1:22). When the Lord demanded that Israel be freed (Exodus 5:1–4), Pharoah retaliated with even harsher labor (Exodus 5:6–9). He made the slaves scavenge for straw, which used to be provided to them (Exodus 5:15–19). God's first plague, meant to prove His power and free Israel (Exodus 3:19–20), has turned all the surface waters of Egypt into blood (Exodus 7:17–20). The Egyptians are now experiencing their own evils (Proverbs 5:22; Psalm 7:14–16). The blood of slaughtered children symbolically returns. The Egyptians must grope around for something they once took for granted.

The meaning of this plague deepens when considering Egyptian religion. Deities such as Hapi and Khnum were associated with the Nile. Yet they have no power here. Heqet, connected to fertility and midwives, cannot stop the Lord from avenging the deaths of countless Hebrew children (Exodus 1:15–17, 22). The next plague will further discredit Heqet, who was depicted as a frog (Exodus 8:3).

Exodus 7:14–25 records the first of the ten great plagues on Egypt (Exodus 3:19–20). Because Pharaoh has refused to free Israel (Exodus 1:11–14), the Lord turns all the water in Egypt—including the Nile, ponds, and artificial pools—into blood. This creates an unsanitary, foul situation. The Egyptians are forced to dig for water. When Egyptian magicians are able to turn water into blood, Pharaoh remains resistant. This terrible plague lasts for an entire week.

God again repeats (Exodus 3:19–20; 4:19–23; 6:6) the basic outline of how Israel will be freed from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1:11–14). He then commands Moses and Aaron to show Pharaoh one of the miraculous signs given for that purpose (Exodus 4:2–5). Egyptian magicians seem to duplicate the feat, so Pharaoh still refuses to hear Mo-ses' message. This results in the first plague: all water in Egypt, including the Nile river, becomes blood. This lasts seven days. The Lord then tells Moses to repeat the demand for Israel's release.

God commissioned Moses (Exodus 3:10) and commanded him to confront Egypt's ruler, the pharaoh (Exodus 4:19–23). When Moses obeyed (Exodus 5:1–3), the immediate result was even worse oppression for Israel (Exodus 5:19–21). This inspired Moses to doubt (Exodus 5:22–23). The Lord responded with reassurances (Exodus 6:1–8). Chapter 7 completes this declaration and begins the cycle of plagues (Exodus 3:19–20), starting with turning the Nile river into blood. These catastrophes will continue (Exodus 8—11) until Pharaoh finally releases the Israelites (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.