Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/179

This page needs to be proofread.

man and beast that were in the open fields. None of it fell, however, in the land of Gessen, where the children of Israel dwelt. Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said: “I have sinned this

time also. Pray ye the Lord that the thunder may cease, and that I may let you go.” But when, at the prayer of Moses, the hail had ceased, the king broke his promise, and his heart became exceedingly hard. (Seventh plague.)

Then the Lord sent a burning wind, which blew all that day and night; and in the morning, the locusts^[1] came, and they covered the whole face of the earth and wasted all things, devouring the grass of the earth, and whatever fruits the hail had left; and there remained not anything that was green, either on the trees, or in the herbs in all Egypt. Therefore Pharao in haste called Moses and Aaron, saying: “Forgive me my sin this time also, and pray to the Lord your God that He take away from me this death.” Moses prayed to the Lord, and the Lord sent a very strong wind from the west which took the locusts and threw them into the Red Sea. This time, again, Pharao hardened his heart. (Eighth plague.)

Then Moses stretched forth his hand towards heaven, and there came a horrible darkness^[2] in all the land of Egypt for three days. No man saw his brother, nor moved himself out of the place where he was. But where the children of Israel dwelt, there was light. Then Pharao called Moses and Aaron, saying:

↑ The locusts (Fig. 22). A horribly dense swarm of creatures, something like grasshoppers, but three or four inches long, passed over the land, devouring everything green, on which they settled.
↑ Darkness. In the Book of Wisdom (17, 2 &c.) this terrible darkness is thus described: “For while the wicked (Egyptians) thought to have dominion over the holy nation, Thou didst fetter them with the bonds of darkness and a long night, shut up in their own houses. No power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night. For if anyone were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly. For they were all bound together in one chain of darkness.” The darkness, being the effect of a miracle, and meant to serve as a plague, was more dense than the darkest night.

[1] The locusts (Fig. 22). A horribly dense swarm of creatures, something like grasshoppers, but three or four inches long, passed over the land, devouring everything green, on which they settled.

[2] Darkness. In the Book of Wisdom (17, 2 &c.) this terrible darkness is thus described: “For while the wicked (Egyptians) thought to have dominion over the holy nation, Thou didst fetter them with the bonds of darkness and a long night, shut up in their own houses. No power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night. For if anyone were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly. For they were all bound together in one chain of darkness.” The darkness, being the effect of a miracle, and meant to serve as a plague, was more dense than the darkest night.

[1]

[2]