A more terrible stroke followed--murrain upon all the Egyptian cattle that were in the field. Both the sacred animals and the beasts of burden--kine and oxen and sheep, horses and camels and asses--were destroyed. It had been distinctly stated that the Hebrews were to be exempt; and Pharaoh, on sending messengers to the home of the Israelites, proved the truth of this declaration of Moses. "Of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one." Still the king was obstinate.

Et endnu frygteligere slag fulgte - pest over alt det ægyptiske kvæg, som var på markerne. Både de hellige dyr og arbejdsdyrene - køer, okser, får, heste, kameler og æsler - døde. Det var udtrykkelig blevet sagt, at hebræerne ville blive skånet, og da Farao sendte bud til den landsdel, hvor israelitterne boede, viste det sig, at Moses ord var sande. "Ikke et eneste dyr af israelitternes kvæg var dødt." Men kongen var lige hårdnakket.