Rhyming Haggadah: Ten Plagues
Cruel Pharaoh believed having slaves, it was fun
that's until God changed his mind with plague number one
Think where there's water
in oceans and sinks
in lakes and in clouds and in fountains for drinks
Now imagine the horror
to say nothing of dread
if all that clear water
should like blood become red
Well in Egypt it happened
the Nile turned to blood
all the people they panicked
as red seeped through the mud
Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plaque ended
and Pharaoh said "No!
Pharaoh was stupid, he hadn't a clue
But God caught his attention with plague number two
You may know a frog
a tadpole from birth
now imagine if frogs
covered all of the earth
Well in Egypt it happened
frogs everywhere
in gardens and basements
on clothes and in hair
No one could stand it
the green and the slime
and everywhere "ribbit"
certainly not a good time.
Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Pharaoh was foolish, believing the bad was no more
until there appeared plagues three and then four
After frogs, there came lice
causing itching and scratching
and then came the beasts
with their growling and snatching
With each plague, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Pharaoh believed that the plagues were just tricks
until God opened his eyes with plagues five and then six
Along came a sickness that killed all livestock
the cattle, the camels, the sheep in the flock
And after that plague came boils o' so sore
all the people were screaming,
they could bear it no more.
And yet again with each plague, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
The worn out Egyptians then faced plague number seven
as hail it poured forth from the reaches of heaven
there was no escaping the hard ice as it struck
it seemed certain that Pharaoh had run out of luck
And again, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Just when Pharaoh perceived a slight change in his fate
God tormented Egypt with a plague number eight
Locusts are insects,
in great swarms they do fly
hovering over the horizon
they darken the sky
Locusts cause trouble where ever they land
for they eat all the crops
and make fields become sand
Well in Egypt they landed
and they ate all the wheat
the people soon panicked
afraid of nothing to eat
And yet again, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No"!
Pharaoh relaxed for he thought all was fine
But then God struck his kingdom with plague number nine
Try to think, if you will
of a day without light
incredible darkness
a terrible fright
Well, in Egypt it happened
the sun didn't shine
Not a thing could be seen,
just a horrible time
Once again, Pharaoh seemed ready
to let the slaves go
but then the plague ended
and Pharaoh said "No!"
Pharaoh was stubborn,
he thought he was smart
with the end of each plague he would harden his heart
he was cruel, he was foolish, he was dumb, he was mean
to ignore all the warnings of that God yet unseen
The God of compassion had really no choice
for Pharaoh would not listen to God's clear holy voice
The Hebrews still suffered
slavery without end
God demanded freedom, but Pharaoh just wouldn't bend
I shudder to tell you of plague number ten
it was tragic and painful
it was it was very sad when ...
…When on that still and restless night ...
the angel of death passed through Egypt
causing sorrow, leaving fright.
All the first born Egyptians
where wealthy or poor
there were no exceptions
each went through death's dark door
The anguish was felt in every city and town
the kingdom was shattered
only death to be found
And then, in the shadow of that awesome tragedy
there emerged a small ray of hope
Pharaoh finally relented
he gave up and repented
no more plagues, nor more death could he cope
Pharaoh was defeated, his arrogance depleted
the moment of truth had arrived
the Hebrews went free
what a great victory!
That brit, God's great promise survived.
(Leaving a drop of wine/juice for each plague:
Dam/Blood, Tzfardeya/Frogs, Kinim/Lice, Arov/Wild Beasts, Dever/Blight, Sh'hin/Boils, Barad/Hail, Arbeh/Locusts, Hoshech/Darkness, Makat B'chorot/Slaying of the First Born
Our ancestors found freedom
on that incredible night
by the thousands they left Egypt
what a staggering sight!
There's much more to our story
of traditions so dear
of wonders to tell you
so much you should hear
But for the moment, at least, I think that we've told
enough of our story, of our God strong and bold
The story is wondrous
it's yours and it's mine
it's my hope and my prayer
that in freedom you'll find ...
... All of the opportunity
to learn and to grow
to read and to listen
more Torah you'll know
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