“The Lord did so; and heavy swarms came into the house of Pharaoh, and into the house of his servants; and throughout the land of Egypt the land was ruined due to the swarms” (Exodus 8:20). “The Lord did so; and heavy swarms came into the house of Pharaoh” – he was afflicted first, as he began with the wicked counsel first, as it is stated: “Pharaoh commanded…” (Exodus 1:22), and then, “the house of his servants.”
“Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: Go sacrifice to your God in the land. Moses said: It is not proper to do so, as we will sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God; behold, were we to sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, would they not stone us?” (Exodus 8:21–22). “Pharaoh called.… Moses said: It is not proper to do so” – because the Egyptians prostrate themselves to these animals as a god.
“We will go on a three-day journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He will command us” (Exodus 8:23). “We will go on a three-day journey into the wilderness” – in order to mislead them. “Pharaoh said: I will let you go, and you will sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; just do not go very far; entreat for me. Moses said: Behold, I am leaving you, and I will entreat the Lord, and the swarms will depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only let Pharaoh not continue to be deceitful by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord” (Exodus 8:24–25).
“Pharaoh said: I will let you go.… Moses said: Behold, I am leaving you” – what is “behold”? The prayer will be immediate, so that the swarm will depart from you tomorrow. That is what is written: “The swarms will depart…[tomorrow].” “Moses left Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord.
The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and He removed the swarms from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained” (Exodus 8:26–27). “Moses left.… The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and He removed the swarms” – why did He bring swarms upon them? It is because they would say to Israel: ‘Go out and bring us bears, lions, and leopards,’ in order to torment them; therefore, He brought upon them swarms of beasts; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda.
Rabbi Neḥemya said: [They were] species of hornets and mosquitoes. The statement of Rabbi Yehuda appears correct, as regarding the frogs it is written: "The frogs died” (Exodus 8:9), because there was no benefit from their skins; however, regarding the swarms there was [potential] benefit from their hides; therefore, “not one remained.” Had they been hornets or mosquitoes they could have been left to reek.