The story of Moses turning a river to blood is found in the Bible’s book of Exodus. When Moses went before Pharaoh to demand that he let the Israelites go from their slavery in Egypt, Pharaoh refused. As a result, God sent 10 plagues upon Egypt to show His power and force Pharaoh to change his mind. The first of these 10 plagues was the river turning to blood. But what river was it? Let’s explore the details and context of the Biblical account to find out.
The Setting of Exodus
The book of Exodus details the escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses. The setting at the time was the land of Egypt under the reign of an unnamed Pharaoh. The Israelites had migrated to Egypt generations earlier during a famine under the protection of Joseph, who had risen to power in Egypt. But after time, the Egyptians began to fear the growing numbers of Israelites and so forced them into harsh slavery.
The Bible specifies that the Israelites were concentrated in the eastern Nile delta region of Egypt, called Goshen. This places key events in Exodus in the eastern Nile delta.
Main Rivers of Egypt
The two main rivers that flowed through Egypt during Biblical times were:
- The Nile River
- The Pelusiac Branch
The Nile River was and still is the lifeblood of Egypt, allowing settlement, agriculture and transportation. It flows northward through eastern Africa before splitting into multiple branches as it approaches the Mediterranean Sea. The Pelusiac Branch was one of the easternmost branches of the Nile. It branched off from the Nile near the city of Memphis and flowed east and north through the deserts to the Mediterranean. This branch was key for transportation and irrigation in eastern Lower Egypt.
The Land of Goshen
The Bible states during Joseph’s time he settled his family in the land of Goshen:
And Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. (Genesis 47:11)
Later when a new Pharaoh subjected the Israelites to slavery it states:
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens…But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. (Exodus 1:11,12)
Archaeological and ancient Egyptian records help identify Goshen as located in the eastern Nile delta region. This places the events of Exodus and the plague of the river of blood in the eastern Nile delta area.
Moses’ Early Life in Egypt
Moses was a Hebrew who was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as an Egyptian. He lived in the royal palaces during his early life:
One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. (Exodus 2:11)
This again points to Moses originating from the area of Goshen, as this is where the Hebrews lived. The plagues on Egypt started after Moses returned to Egypt following his exile in Midian.
The Ten Plagues
After confronting Pharaoh multiple times to let the Israelites go from slavery, God sent a series of 10 plagues upon Egypt:
- Water turned to blood
- Frogs
- Lice
- Flies
- Livestock diseased
- Boils
- Hail
- Locusts
- Darkness
- Death of firstborn
These escalating plagues were God’s judgement on the Egyptian gods and Pharaoh. The first plague, the Nile river turning to blood, attacked the very life source of Egypt.
The Water Turns to Blood
The Biblical account records how Aaron, under the direction of Moses, turned the waters of Egypt into blood:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country. The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.’”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs—and they will turn to blood.’ Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone.”
Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.
(Exodus 7:14-21)
The extent of the plague indicates it affected all the waters of Egypt – streams, ponds and reservoirs. The fact that fish died confirms this reached significant waterways like the Nile river itself. The reference to the water being undrinkable by the Egyptians also points to the wider Nile river system being affected.
What River Was Turned to Blood?
We have established the geographical setting of the Israelites was in the eastern Nile delta region called Goshen. When Moses initiated the plague, it affected all the waters of Egypt, including the Nile river and its branches/canals reaching into the eastern delta area.
Taking all the contextual information into account, the river Moses turned into blood was very likely the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. This branch flowed through the eastern delta area where the Israelites lived. Turning this life-giving branch into blood was a direct attack on Egyptian power and agriculture in the region.
The Pelusiac branch was also important for transportation to the eastern border areas. Polluting these waters stagnated Egyptian activity in the key eastern delta areas. While the Pelusiac branch is not directly named in Exodus, the context points to it as the key river source for the Israelites Moses turned to blood.
Impacts on Egyptian Agriculture
The heavy dependence of Egyptian agriculture on the Nile river system meant the plague of blood had devastating effects:
- Loss of drinking water for people and livestock
- Death of fish as a food source
- Lack of water for irrigation canals
- Inability to grow crops or water livestock
- Build up of decaying fish and blood contaminants
Economically, socially, and practically, turning the Nile waters to blood was disastrous for the Egyptians while showing the power of God. It struck at the foundation of their food, economy, transportation, agriculture, and society.
Archaeological Evidence?
It must be noted that no direct archaeological evidence has been found documenting this miraculous plague. However, the Biblical account records it as a supernatural event directly caused by God. As such, no naturalistic traces would be expected to be found. Lack of direct archaeological evidence does not invalidate the Biblical record. Circumstantial evidence such as Egyptian practices around the Nile do accommodate the plausibility of such an event occurring.
Later Plagues
The defeat of various Egyptian gods was a common theme in the 10 plagues:
| Plague | Egyptian deity attacked |
|---|---|
| Nile to Blood | Hapi – god of the Nile |
| Frogs | Heqet – frog goddess of fertility |
| Lice | Geb – god of the earth |
| Flies | Khepri – god often depicted as a fly |
| Livestock diseased | Apis – goddess depicted as a cow |
| Boils | Imhotep – god of medicine |
| Hail | Nut – sky goddess |
| Locusts | Seth – god of storms and disorder |
| Darkness | Ra – sun god |
| Death of firstborn | Pharaoh – ultimate power in Egypt |
The impact on Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile river, was direct and profound. This plague pronounced God’s authority over false Egyptian gods. It set the stage for each subsequent plague by shattering confidence in their god’s powers.
Pharaoh’s Reaction
The Bible records Pharaoh’s response to the first plague as follows:
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.” (Exodus 8:8)
This shows the plague had its intended impact and Pharaoh began to bargain with Moses and Aaron. However, after the plague was stopped Pharaoh reneged on his word.
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:15)
It took the cumulative impact of all 10 plagues to fully change Pharaoh’s mind permanently. But the first plague paved the way by capturing his attention and demonstrating God’s power over Egypt.
Conclusion
The river Moses turned to blood was likely the Pelusiac branch of the Nile in the eastern delta region of Egypt. This allowed Moses to directly strike Egypt where it hurt most – their food and agriculture base. Contaminating the waters pronounced God’s power over the false Egyptian gods and natural elements they worshiped. It was a strategic and effective first shot across the bow to start the process of releasing the Israelites from slavery.