8:16–19 The third plague was gnats, that came from the dust. “Gnats” is the traditional interpretation, but the word can mean “mosquitoes.” The word kinnam (translated “gnats”) is used only in reference to this plague. Other suggestions are “ticks” and “lice” or, generally, “vermin.” Both gnats and mosquitoes were indigenous to Egypt, but the latter were much more personally invasive. This third plague, like the sixth (boils), is in a short form concluding its cycle of three. Although the account is short, the rhetorical effect is striking. The word “gnats” occurs five times in three verses.

The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron, “Stretch out your staff” for the third and final time. The chords of the theme of creation are struck again, for when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and…