According to the biblical account, the water turned to blood when Moses, at God's command, raised his staff and struck the Nile River in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials.
Here's a breakdown of the event as described in the Book of Exodus:
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Divine Command: God instructed Moses to perform this act as a sign of His power and to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery.
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Action: Moses, accompanied by Aaron, obeyed God's command and struck the water of the Nile with his staff.
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Result: Immediately, all the water in the Nile River turned to blood.
This event is considered the first of the ten plagues inflicted upon Egypt, each designed to demonstrate God's power over the Egyptian gods and to compel Pharaoh to free the Israelites. The transformation of the Nile, a vital source of life and considered sacred to the Egyptians, was a particularly devastating blow. The fish in the river died, and the water became undrinkable, causing widespread hardship and distress.