Exodus 8:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank.

NIV: They were piled into heaps, and the land reeked of them.

NASB: So they piled them in heaps, and the land stank.

CSB: They piled them in countless heaps, and there was a terrible odor in the land.

NLT: The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land.

KJV: And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.

NKJV: They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank.

In a sense, the second plague on Egypt (Exodus 8:5–6) did not end when God accepted Moses' request (Exodus 8:8–11). It only shifted into a form the Egyptians could resolve—but an incredibly disgusting one, all the same. The frogs teeming all over the land (Exodus 8:3–4) all die, suddenly. They don't fade away or dwindle until they are gone. The animals drop dead; Egyptians are forced to collect and pile up the carcasses. Depending on the location and time of year, the Nile Delta region can be humid, so these mounds would not necessarily dry up quickly. As this verse notes, there were so many rotting frogs that the stink was everywhere.

As predicted (Exodus 3:19–20), Pharaoh will use even the slightest relief as an excuse to go back on his word. As soon as the frogs are in piles, and not hopping into everyone's food, he drops his promise to release the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 8:15).

Exodus 8:1–15 describes the second plague: frogs. The rotting Nile (Exodus 7:20–23) spits out a wave of frogs into Egyptian streets and homes. Pharaoh's conjurers can also summon frogs—but they can't remove them. So, Pharoh turns to Moses. They schedule a specific moment to lift the plague. This explicit timing made it clear that Israel's God, not the Egyptian frog goddess Heqet, was in control. As soon as the pressure of the plague is off, Pharoah changes his mind about releasing the Israelites.

After Pharaoh ignores the first plague (Exodus 7:20–23), God sends a swarm of frogs. Pharaoh's magicians can summon frogs, but they can't get rid of them. So, he appeals to Moses. Though the plague is lifted, Pharaoh re-jects the command to release Israelite slaves. This leads to a plague of gnats and then one of flies, with similar results. The arrival of these creatures might have been caused by the corruption of the Nile River, but only God's supernatural work could make them disappear. Future plagues will be increasingly severe (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22; 10:4, 22; 12:29–32).

Moses and Aaron offered a sign to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:10–13), but he still refused to release the Hebrew slaves (Ex-odus 1:11–14). This triggered the first of the ten plagues of Egypt: turning water into blood (Exodus 7:20–21). This chapter includes the next three disasters: frogs, gnats, and flies. Pharaoh stubbornly refuses to concede each time. Upcoming plagues will escalate (Exodus 9:6, 10, 22, 10:4, 22), leading to the death of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 12:29–32) and Israel's release (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.

Accessed 6/18/2025 7:46:00 AM