Plagues of Egypt
235
deprived of light, but the atmosphere was very oppressive, so that
breathing was difficult. “They saw not one another, neither rose any
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; in this mysterious darkness the people and their gods
alike were smitten by the power that had undertaken the cause of the
bondmen. [
See appendix, note 2.
] Yet fearful as it was, this judgment
is an evidence of God’s compassion and His 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.
Fear at last wrung from Pharaoh a further concession. At the end
of the third day of darkness he summoned Moses, and consented to the
departure of the people, provided the flocks and herds were permitted
to remain. “There shall not an hoof be left behind,” replied the resolute
Hebrew. “We know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we
come thither.” The king’s anger burst forth beyond control. “Get thee
from me,” he cried, “take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in
that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.”
The answer was, “Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again
no more.”
“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.” Moses was
regarded with awe by the Egyptians. The king dared not harm him,
for the people looked upon him as alone possessing power to remove
the plagues. They desired that the Israelites might be permitted to
leave Egypt. It was the king and the priests that opposed to the last the
demands of Moses.
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