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The Beginning of the End
Suddenly a darkness settled on the land, so thick and black that
it seemed to be a “darkness which may even be felt.” Breathing was
difficult. “They did not see one another; nor did any one rise from
his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in
their dwellings.” The sun and moon were objects of worship to the
Egyptians. This mysterious darkness struck the people and their gods
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alike. (See Appendix, Note 2.) Dreadful as it was, this judgment
was an evidence of God’s compassion and unwillingness to destroy.
He would give the people time for reflection and repentance before
bringing upon them the last and most terrible of the plagues.
At the end of the third day of darkness Pharaoh summoned Moses
and agreed to allow the people to leave, provided the flocks and herds
were permitted to remain. “Not a hoof shall be left behind,” Moses
replied firmly. The king’s anger burst forth uncontrollably. “Get
away from me!” he cried. “Take heed to yourself and see my face
no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die.”
Moses answered, “You have spoken well. I will never see your
face again.”
“The man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the
sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.” The king
did not dare harm him, for the people looked upon him as the only
one who possessed power to remove the plagues. They wanted the
Israelites to be permitted to leave Egypt—it was the king and the
priests who opposed the demands of Moses to the very end.
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