The Third Blow: Gnats

8:16 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Extend your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become35 gnats36 throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” 8:17 They did so; Aaron extended his hand with his staff, he struck the dust of the ground, and it became gnats on people37 and on animals. All the dust of the ground became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt. 8:18 When38 the magicians attempted39 to bring forth gnats by their secret arts, they could not. So there were gnats on people and on animals. 8:19 The magicians said40 to Pharaoh, “It is the finger41 of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard,42 and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.