The LORD then told Mo'ses to go out and meet Pha'raoh as he was walking near the river Nile, and to perform a miracle by which the river would become a raging torrent of blood. Mo'ses and Aa'ron had presented the message of God to Pha'raoh, but failed to gain his consent by any appeals to his pity or sense of justice; the time had now come when the stubborn king must be punished.
Going down to the river Nile at a place where he could be seen by Pha'raoh, Aa'ron waved his staff over the waters, and it was suddenly turnt into blood. Before the king's very eyes the great river which was the pride of all E'gypt, the source of great wealth and prosperity, and the object of superstitious reverence as the birthplace of the gods of E'gypt, was suddenly transformed into a stream of blood.
On the banks of the river were splendid crops of wheat and barley, and groves of sycamore and palm trees cast their welcome shade over many beautiful parks and paths. The richly scented flowers of the sacred lotus floated on the surface of the river. The waters abounded in fish, some of them valued highly for food, while others were regarded with superstitious fear or wonder. The waters of the Nile were considered safe for drinking, and were widely used for domestic purposes.
What a terrible blow it was to have these waters instantly changed into a disgusting stream of blood! The fish died, and soon an unbearable odor rose from the river. At the same time the waters of the canals and lakes throughout the country were also turnt into blood. For seven days this terrible condition prevailed. Wherever the people turnt in search of water their eyes fell upon blood, nothing but blood. Surely they must have felt that the God of Is'ra-el had power!
The blighting of this great river was also a terrible blow to the industry and commerce of the country. The Nile was the chief strength of E'gypt's trade, and it would be impossible to carry on commerce in a river which was now filled with blood. The nation which had grown wealthy from the forced labor of its thousands of slaves was now at the point of ruin because its great river was unfit for use. And yet, desperate as the people were, the king refused to help them by yielding to the will of God.
The LORD then directed Mo'ses to appear before Pha'raoh the third time, and to say to him, "If you still refuse to submit to God, then He will smite all your territory with frogs." The wicked king gave no heed to this warning, possibly because his magicians had been able to perform a trick in which water was apparently turnt into blood.
