Exodus 9:31
“The flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom.”
What does Exodus 9:31 mean?
During the plague of hail in Egypt, this verse describes which crops were destroyed and which survived. Flax and barley, being more mature and exposed at that time of year, couldn't withstand the violent storm, while other crops like wheat and spelt, which hadn't yet sprouted, were spared. The detail about their growth stage (barley in the ear, flax in bloom) shows how the plague's timing created a kind of natural selection among the crops. It's a small but striking reminder that the plagues weren't random catastrophes but specifically calibrated events that demonstrated knowledge and power over creation itself.