As we all know, there were ten plagues in all. While we all know that these

plagues were both signs and wonders, and represented G-d's "Powerful Hand" and

"Outstretched Arm," it seems from the above, that the ten plagues were divided into

This entire statement seems rather odd. Exactly what does this mean? Weren't all

the plagues signs and wonders done with both G-d's Mighty Hand and Outstretched

Hand and two others which were done with his Outstretched Arm? If so, which ones

are we referring to?

In order to figure it all out, we must first define what these five different terms

mean. What exactly are we alluding to when we say that G-d has a "Mighty Hand"

or an "Outstretched Arm"? It should be quite obvious that the words arm and hand

are only a metaphor meaning an analogy or figure of speech. We all know that it is

no understanding of G-d Himself. Even if we were to describe Him in the greatest of

terms, it would be incorrect since He is way beyond all human comprehension, and

must realize that all of our descriptions of G-d are nothing but a metaphor. So let's

begin my trying to understand what these words allude to.

and power. One that can do anything at will and immobilize his enemy without any

effort whatsoever will be perceived as having great power or strength. Perhaps this is

show of force than destroying the enemy without doing a thing.

is similar to the action of a sword. This describes some type of positive action that

is being taken against one's opponent. This can mean sending out some weapon of

destruction that will destroy an enemy. This can be the army, navy or air force or

it can refer to G-d's mighty army of locusts or hail, which He sends out to destroy

Egypt.

him. The fright alone is enough to make him surrender. Not a single missile need be

launched. Not a single finger need be lifted. The enemy is so frightened by what they

see, that they surrender without a shot being fired.

going to happen. This can refer to any event even if it is not wondrous in nature. It

can be a prediction such as who will win the next lottery or when the next earthquake

in Los Angeles will come. A sign can also predict a wondrous event such as that the

sun will stand still.

nature such as the sun standing still or water turning to blood. While certainly all the

which were wondrous in part, while there were others that were a total miracle.

wondrous, they didn't represent a complete change of the laws of nature. Most of

them just seemed as if nature ran amok. There was no change of nature, but rather

it was nature running out of control. Instead of there being a population of a million

frogs, they suddenly began to multiply into the trillions. Instead of the frogs remaining

in the water, they now began jumping everywhere even entering through people's

chimneys. Had a frog changed into a mouse it would then classify as a full-fledged

miracle. The fact that they multiplied at an extraordinary rate was no different then

the mice, roaches and rats that populate New York. While the invasion of rats can

cause serious damage, it certainly does not classify as a miraculous event. The only

That's because the change of water to blood is a complete change of the laws of

nine more to go.

fit.

Perhaps you ought try working on it and see what you come up with. You'll find

that it's not easy at all since some seem to fall into more than one category.

Now that you've had plenty of time to think about it, let's see what you've come

up with.

refers to the stick turning into a snake and the water turning into blood. We'll have

to leave out the one of the stick turning into a snake since this is not included in the

ten plagues and therefore is not the one we are looking for. Yet, this Rashi seems

sign? Actually this may not be a contradiction at all since as we've already said that

referring to the time that Moshe took some water and showed Pharaoh how he was

able to change it into blood. He performed this miracle as a "sign" even though the

sign happened to be a wondrous one. So let's go on to the next Rashi. Here Rashi

Perhaps this is because we don't find G-d sending out any army of animals or birds

to kill the animals. They just died out on their very own. This certainly shows G-d's

out his arsenal of weapons such as animals or hail etc. to do the job. What greater

power can there be than this? No army, navy or air force needed!

So now we know two out of the ten. The next Rashi gives away another one. The

went into every Egyptian house and killed their firstborn. So now we've got three out

of ten. Let's try and figure out the rest.

Pharaoh that it will first be tomorrow that he will take them away. By giving him a definite time when it will go away, this wonder may also classify as a "sign."

will be this sign,"

Perhaps locusts are classified as "outstretched hand" since they went out and ate

up all the food causing starvation.

it. While I'm not really sure if all the above are correct, it's the best I can do for now.

I'll be glad to hear your opinion on the matter.

1) Dam - Blood - =Mofes - A wonder.

2) Tzfardeya -Frogs = Sign

3) Kinim - Lice = Wonder

4) Orov -Wild animals = Sign

5) Dever - Animals died out = Yad Chazaka.

6) Shchin - Boils = Yad Chazaka

7) Borod - Hail= Moreh Godol

8) Arbeh - Locust = Outstreched Hand

9) Choshech - Darkness= Moreh Godol

10) Makos Be'chros -.= Outstretched Hand

Wonders

1. Dam - Blood

1. Kinim - Lice

Signs

1. Tzfardeya -Frogs

2. Orov -Wild animals

Yad Chazaka

2. Dever - Animals died out

2. Shchin - Boils

Zeroah Netuya

1. Arbeh - Locust

2. Makos Be'cohros

Mora Godol

1. Choshech - Darkness

2. Borod – Hail