שמות, פרק ז׳, פסוק כ״ד

The sudden transformation of the Nile turned Egypt's greatest source of life and pride into a devastating nuisance. It paints a vivid, somewhat mocking picture of a mighty empire forced to toil and sweat just to secure a little water for basic survival [קאסוטו]. Unlike fleeting acts of magic, this plague was unyielding, lasting a full seven days [העמק דבר]. The sweet, drinkable water that once defined the river was completely lost [רבנו בחיי], and the overwhelming stench of dead fish made any attempt to consume from it impossible [הטור הארוך].

Desperate for relief, the population resorted to digging around the riverbanks. The primary approach among commentators is that this was a physical excavation into the earth to draw clean water unaffected by the plague [שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The goal was to uncover fresh springs far away from the rotting fish that spoiled the main water supply [בכור שור]. Another interpretation views this action as a broader search for alternative sources, which ultimately forced the Egyptians to acquire water from the Israelites [העמק דבר]. While it is commonly thought that the Israelites were entirely spared, one perspective argues that the first three plagues struck both populations equally, meaning the Israelites also had to dig for water alongside their Egyptian neighbors [אבן עזרא, אבי עזר].

Although the people dug with the clear intention to drink, the historical record leaves a lingering silence on whether their efforts actually succeeded [רבנו בחיי, ברכת אשר על התורה]. One approach suggests that God delivers punishment with precise measure and did not intend to kill the entire nation of thirst. According to this view, the groundwater remained pure, and the people were able to find and drink water, though only sparingly and with great effort [ביאור יש״ר, מלבי״ם], or they were forced to survive on salty, barely drinkable water [רבנו בחיי]. Conversely, another perspective insists that the plague permeated the groundwater as well. No matter how deep they dug, the water they uncovered instantly turned to blood, leaving them completely unable to drink [רבנו בחיי, מלבי״ם]. This absolute deprivation is subtly reflected in the text's abbreviated spelling of the act of drinking, indicating that the people could not manage even a single, small sip [שפתי כהן].