כִּנִּים Kinim, Lice were the third plague.

1. אַפּ֗וֹ “His Anger” - The soil turned to lice to a depth of one *amah.*¹⁵¹ is between between 18-22 inches When they walked it was as if they were treading on lice the way one treads on grapes in a winepress.

footnotes: ¹⁵¹ An Amah

2. עֶבְרָ֣ה “Wrath” - Lice were on humans and animals and stung them like needles. The Midrash states that there were fourteen types of lice which the Holy One brought upon the Egyptians. The smallest of them were the size of a chicken egg and the largest was the size of a goose egg. There were fourteen types so that the Egyptians would know that this was not an ordinary plague, as the Egyptians said, “It is the finger of God.” (Ex.8:15) Rather it was Yad HaShem¹⁵², hand is equivalent to fourteen, “the hand of God,” that was brought upon them. Further, since Scripture states, “strike the dust of the earth, and it shall turn to lice…” (Ex. 8:12) it made known to us that the lice were swarming from their actual bodies since human beings are a combination of fire, wind, water and dust.

footnotes: ¹⁵² The word Yad

3. וָזַ֣עַם “Indignation” - they scratched against their skin and the scratch caused boils that made wounds in their flesh.

4. וְצָרָ֑ה “Trouble” - It weakened their sight, as is said, confusion of the mind causes blindness. Confusion of clothing causes boils.¹⁵³

footnotes: ¹⁵³ See Teshuvot haRashba part IV 326 . וגרסינן התם אמר שמואל: ערבוביא דרישא, מייתא לידי עורונא. ערבוביא דמני, מייתא לידי שעמומיתא. ערבוביא דגופה, מייתא לידי שיחני וכיבי. I have been unable to find the source for this statement in rabbinic literature.

5. מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים “A band of deadly messengers.” - The lice entered into all their pots and dishes and in their food making them nauseous and causing them to vomit out their innards.