Exodus 7:19

How could Israel escape this judgment if it came upon all the land of Egypt?

PROBLEM: Several times in the account of the plagues the Scripture states that the judgments would be upon “all the land of Egypt” (7:19; 8:16, 24; [“throughout,” 9:22]). However, other passages assert that God protected Israel from the effects of the different plagues (8:22). Isn’t it a contradiction for some passages to say that the plagues would affect all the land of Egypt while others indicate that Israel was not affected by these plagues?

SOLUTION: In the Hebrew language the normal word for all is not necessarily absolute. The context must dictate whether the term is to be taken as absolute or not. God told Moses to make sure that Pharaoh knew that Israel was not being affected by the plagues which were being brought upon Egypt. “Then say to him … `And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land’ ” (Exodus 8:20; Exodus 8:22).