Questions Being Asked From "Read through the Bible in 2010"
The plagues on the Egyptians-how could the magicians repeat the acts of Moses esp. turning the Nile to blood and the staff to a snake? History, and even present day reality tells us that miracles are performed not only by followers of the true God, but also by followers of Satan. The text says twice that the magicians of Egypt did these things with their secret arts, Exodus 7:11 and 7:22. Do notice that they could only do these magical tricks up to a certain point. They were only able to copy the 1st and 2nd plague; at the 3rd plague look what they say, Exodus 8:18-19...they couldn't copy this plague and said "This is the finger of God." Simple answer is they were able to do the first two through the power of Satan.
How much time passed between the plagues? One time it said 7 days passed but many it did not give a time-line. With all those frogs, gnats and flies it seems that it would be a pretty hard time. You are correct; we are only given a time on the one plague. Evidently God didn't think it important for us to know anymore on the timing. You are also correct that it had to be a pretty stinky mess and hard time. God's wrath is never fun or enjoyable.
What happened after all the livestock got the plagues? It appears that all the livestock in Egypt died but then after the next plague there are still more? Was the time in between long enough to multiply them again? How did they eat without the livestock if they all died after the plagues? How did they get their work done without them? As I read the text I noticed in Exodus 9:3 the words are used "that are in the field." This seems to indicate that the plague that killed the animals only touched those who were in the field, out in the open. In Exodus 9:4 it says there was made a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and the Egyptians. So my thought as to why there were still animals around when following plagues came is that animals in shelters had not been killed by the fifth plague and animals of the Israelites were still around since we are told they weren't affected. Exodus 9:19-21 also indicates there were distinctions made between animals left outside and those in shelters since those Egyptians who now saw their trouble to be from God moved animals indoors (Exodus 9:20).
With all the people of Israel sacrificing all these animals after they were freed and it appears to be over a million-how could they dispose of so many dead animals without it being a stinking mess? If you are speaking about the animals killed at the plague of the Passover note in Exodus 12:10 they were instructed to burn everything. Thus I don't think there would have been anything around left to rot.
How much time has passed while during the book of Leviticus? The content of Leviticus was given in less than a month's period of time. It was given between the first month of the year (Exodus 40:1, 34-35; Leviticus 1:1) and the second month of the year (Numbers 1:1). Number 9:15-10:13 records their departure from the area around Mt Sinai.
How much of this time was spent camping out around Mt. Sinai? The entire book of Leviticus took place at or near Mt Sinai. It was here that God met them to give them instructions on being His Holy Nation.
Did Moses have to go up to the Mount every time he heard from the Lord? Once the tabernacle was built (Exodus 40:1-38) it seems as though God then met Moses in the tabernacle to speak to him. (Leviticus 1:1).