[Avodah] The plague of hail

[Saul Mashbaum]

Akiva Miller posted about the plague of hail, noting that it was
exceptional in that unlike most plagues that affected all Egyptians, this
plague could be avoided by some by bringing things indoors.

This does not seem to me to be a strong argument. The effects of the plague
could be minimized to some extent, but apparently, every Egyptian was
affected by it. The very fact that no Egyptian could go outdoors is a
severe consequence of the plague. Furthermore, some plagues, like dever and
arbeh, presumably didn't directly affect some parts of the population,
those who had no animals or fields, but were considered plagues on Egypt as
a whole. Another point is that a major element of the plague of hail was
psychological; the phenomenon itself, of hail and fire, combined with very
frightening noises, was apparently extremely distressing and disturbing,
and indeed could be considered to have affected all Egyptians.
I have something to add in regard to saving animals by bringing them
indoors. There is a midrash that points out a certain irony. Indeed, some
servants of Paro did save horses by bringing them indoors, and had Paro
relented at that point they would have been completely saved, but these
very horses were subsequently used to attack the Jews after they left
Egypt, and perished in Yam Suf.

Saul Mashbaum
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