Exodus 8:16-19 The Plague of Gnats

"Then the LORD said to Moses,

'Tell Aaron, "Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,"

and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.'

They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff

and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals.

All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats.

But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, 

they could not.  And the gnats were on men and animals.

The magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.'

But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen,

just as the LORD had said."

Exodus 8:16-19 (NIV)

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The gnats produced in this latest plague were of great number, for the text says that "All the dust...became gnats." (v.17)  The gnats came upon men and animals alike.

The magicians were not able to duplicate this plague.  Perhaps this is due to the fact that it would be more difficult for the magicians to obtain [and contain!] great numbers of these tiny, biting creatures if the men were attempting to duplicate the miracle by sleight of hand.  Or perhaps the LORD was restraining them if they had attempted to use demonic powers.  At any rate, they were unsuccessful, although verse 18 says that they did give it a try.

Even the magicians are able to see that God's hand is in this matter.  They warn Pharaoh, but he would not listen to them, either.  His heart was hard, just as the LORD had predicted.  At this point, Pharaoh does not want to listen to anyone.