Then the LORD directed Mo'ses and Aa'ron to take up ashes from the furnace, and to cast them into the Heavens. As the ashes floated toward the ground a plague of boils began to afflict all the people of E'gypt, including the king. Even the magicians were so afflicted by the plague that they were unable to stand before the king.
The sixth plague upon the E'gyp-tians threatened all human life. It caused great sores and intense suffering, often resulting in death. It was by far the worst pestilence so far visited upon the people of E'gypt. It was also brought on in a manner designed to show the purpose of God in all the plagues. For years the Is'ra-el-ites had been forced to labor in the brick-kilns under the unbearable heat of the furnaces; when Mo'ses brought on this plague, the ashes of these very furnaces became a sign and promise of the affliction to smite the cruel E'gyp-tians. The very workshops in which the He'brews slaves toiled in preparing materials for the great temples of E'gypt became the source of ruin for the slave-masters.
No one in the land, except the Is'ra-el-ites in Go'shen, was spared from the terrible scourge of boils. But still the heart of Pha'raoh remained proud and unyielding, and he became more obstinate and willful than ever in his rejection of God. His pride was not yet humbled, nor his cruel spirit conquered; he still refused to grant the request of Mo'ses and Aa'ron.
After the sixth plague had failed to move Pha'raoh to repentance, the LORD sent Mo'ses with another message for the king. This time Mo'ses reminded him that all these judgments had come from God, that they had followed in quick succession, and that the king had sealed his own doom by repeated failure to obey the clear command of God. During these punishments there had been many opportunities for the king to repent, and to let the children of Is'ra-el go, but he had only hardened his heart the more. The LORD was, therefore, about to bring such great afflictions upon the people of E'gypt that they would have no other choice than to free the He'brews.
The seventh plague was announced to Pha'raoh as a destructive hailstorm covering the whole land. So terrible was the storm to be that it would bring violent death to any animals which had escaped the disease of a previous plague, and to any human beings who might be caught in it. Under its terrific force all vegetation would be destroyed, and the trees of both orchard and forest would be stripped of their branches.
But in this threatened destruction a special offer of mercy was made to any E'gyp-tians who had become convinced of the avenging power of God. Mo'ses told Pha'raoh to send warning of the approaching hailstorm to all workmen in the fields, and to other servants whose duties might expose them to the storm. This request was made so that all who believed in God might take shelter in their homes.
