The Three Signs at the Burning Bush as Egypt's Sentence

"And you shall take from the water of the river" — a hint to him that he would take his judgment from the water, as it is said, "Shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10). [Another interpretation:] "And it became a serpent" — just as the serpent bites and kills, so were the Egyptians biting and killing Israel; and afterward the serpent became like wood, so shall the Egyptians be, as it is said, "Egypt is like dry wood." "And behold, his hand was leprous" — just as leprosy is an impure thing and defiles, so are the Egyptians impure and defile Israel. "And behold, it had returned like his flesh" — thus shall I purify Israel from the impurity of Egypt. "And you shall take from the water of the river" — that water which you take from the river shall become blood upon the dry land; thus shall I smite Egypt with the plague of blood.