And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
Take to you handfuls ... The next plague assailed the persons of the Egyptians, and it appeared in the form of ulcerous eruptions upon the skin and flesh (Leviticus 13:20; Job 2:7; 2 Kings 20:7). That this epidemic did not arise from natural causes was evident from its taking effect from the particular action of Moses done in the sight of Pharaoh. Various explanations have been given of this plague. By one class of writers it is said, the attitude which Moses and Aaron assumed was similar to that of Eastern magicians, who, 'when they pronounce an imprecation on an individual, a village, or a country, take the ashes of cows' dung (that is, from a common fire) and throw them in the air, saying to the objects of their displeasure, such a sickness or such a curse shall come upon you' (Roberts' 'Orient. Illustrations'). But this act is not analogous to that of Moses, who certainly did not utter any imprecations in the manner of pagan soothsayers.