Reading for August 8th

 Read Exodus 8.20-32. In 8.20-32: The fourth plague: Swarms of flies invade Egyptian but not Israelite houses. In verse 22: Israel had lived apart from Egyptians in the land of Goshen, a fertile area in the delta region of the Nile River, since the days of Joseph (Gen 45.10). Israelite shepherds offended the Egyptians (Gen 43.32; 46.34).  This offense and subsequent separation from each other Egyptians proves to be advantageous, since the people of Israel are untouched any the plagues that terrorize Egypt 99.4, 26; 10.23). The tenth plague, with its blood on the doorpost of each individual Israelite house, seems to reflect another tradition in which the Israelites lived not apart from but among the other Egyptians homes (11.7; 12.23). In verse 26: The sacrifices probably involved sheep (12.1-10) and Egyptians found shepherds and sheep offensive (Gen 46.34). In verse 28: See v. 32 and the comment on 8,8. In verse 32: see comment on 4.21. Comments or Questions..