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person who knew them； and pretended them to be divine； as also he
told him； that when he brought such wonderful sights before him；
he would only be believed by the unlearned。 Now when the priests
threw down their rods； they became serpents。 But Moses was not
daunted at it； and said； 〃O king； I do not myself despise the
wisdom of the Egyptians； but I say that what I do is so much
superior to what these do by magic arts and tricks； as Divine
power exceeds the power of man： but I will demonstrate that what
I do is not done by craft； or counterfeiting what is not really
true； but that they appear by the providence and power of God。〃
And when he had said this； he cast his rod down upon the ground；
and commanded it to turn itself into a serpent。 It obeyed him；
and went all round； and devoured the rods of the Egyptians； which
seemed to be dragons； until it had consumed them all。 It then
returned to its own form； and Moses took it into his hand again。
4。 However； the king was no more moved when was done than before；
and being very angry； he said that he should gain nothing by this
his cunning and shrewdness against the Egyptians； … and he
commanded him that was the chief taskmaster over the Hebrews； to
give them no relaxation from their labors； but to compel them to
submit to greater oppressions than before； and though he allowed
them chaff before for making their bricks； he would allow it them
no longer； but he made them to work hard at brick…making in the
day…time； and to gather chaff in the night。 Now when their labor
was thus doubled upon them； they laid the blame upon Moses；
because their labor and their misery were on his account become
more severe to them。 But Moses did not let his courage sink for
the king's threatenings； nor did he abate of his zeal on account
of the Hebrews' complaints； but he supported himself； and set his
soul resolutely against them both； and used his own utmost
diligence to procure liberty to his countrymen。 So he went to the
king； and persuaded him to let the Hebrews go to Mount Sinai； and
there to sacrifice to God； because God had enjoined them so to
do。 He persuaded him also not to counterwork the designs of God；
but to esteem his favor above all things； and to permit them to
depart； lest； before he be aware； he lay an obstruction in the
way of the Divine commands； and so occasion his own suffering
such punishments as it was probable any one that counterworked
the Divine commands should undergo； since the severest
afflictions arise from every object to those that provoke the
Divine wrath against them； for such as these have neither the
earth nor the air for their friends； nor are the fruits of the
womb according to nature； but every thing is unfriendly and
adverse towards them。 He said further； that the Egyptians should
know this by sad experience； and that besides； the Hebrew people
should go out of their country without their consent。
CHAPTER 14。
Concerning The Ten Plagues Which Came Upon The Egyptians。
1。 But when the king despised the words of Moses； and had no
regard at all to them； grievous plagues seized the Egyptians；
every one of which I will describe； both because no such plagues
did ever happen to any other nation as the Egyptians now felt；
and because I would demonstrate that Moses did not fail in any
one thing that he foretold them； and because it is for the good
of mankind； that they may learn this caution … Not to do anything
that may displease God； lest he be provoked to wrath； and avenge
their iniquities upon them。 For the Egyptian river ran with
bloody water at the command of God； insomuch that it could not be
drunk； and they had no other spring of water neither； for the
water was not only of the color of blood； but it brought upon
those that ventured to drink of it； great pains and bitter
torment。 Such was the river to the Egyptians； but it was sweet
and fit for drinking to the Hebrews； and no way different from
what it naturally used to be。 As the king therefore knew not what
to do in these surprising circumstances； and was in fear for the
Egyptians； he gave the Hebrews leave to go away； but when the
plague ceased； he changed his mind again； end would not suffer
them to go。
2。 But when God saw that he was ungrateful； and upon the ceasing
of this calamity would not grow wiser； he sent another plague
upon the Egyptians： … An innumerable multitude of frogs consumed
the fruit of the ground； the river was also full of them；
insomuch that those who drew water had it spoiled by the blood of
these animals； as they died in； and were destroyed by； the water；
and the country was full of filthy slime； as they were born； and
as they died： they also spoiled their vessels in their houses
which they used； and were found among what they eat and what they
drank； and came in great numbers upon their beds。 There was also
an ungrateful smell； and a stink arose from them； as they were
born； and as they died therein。 Now； when the Egyptians were
under the oppression of these miseries； the king ordered Moses to
take the Hebrews with him； and be gone。 Upon which the whole
multitude of the frogs vanished away； and both the land and the
river returned to their former natures。 But as soon as Pharaoh
saw the land freed from this plague； he forgot the cause of it；
and retained the Hebrews； and； as though he had a mind to try the
nature of more such judgments； he would not yet suffer Moses and
his people to depart； having granted that liberty rather out of
fear than out of any good consideration。 （35）
3。 Accordingly； God punished his falseness with another plague；
added to the former； for there arose out of the bodies of the
Egyptians an innumerable quantity of lice； by which； wicked as
they were； they miserably perished； as not able to destroy this
sort of vermin either with washes or with ointments。 At which
terrible judgment the king of Egypt was in disorder； upon the
fear into which he reasoned himself； lest his people should be
destroyed； and that the manner of this death was also
reproachful； so that he was forced in part to recover himself
from his wicked temper to a sounder mind； for he gave leave for
the Hebrews themselves to depart。 But when the plague thereupon
ceased； he thought it proper to require that they should leave
their children and wives behind them； as pledges of their return；
whereby he provoked God to be more vehemently angry at him； as if
he thought to impose on his providence； and as if it were only
Moses； and not God； who punished the Egyptians for the sake of
the Hebrews： for he filled that country full of various sorts of
pestilential creatures； with their various properties； such
indeed as had never come into the sight of men before； by whose
means the men perished themselves； and the land was destitute of
husbandmen for its cultivation； but if any thing escaped
destruction from them； it was killed by a distemper which the men
underwent also。
4。 But when Pharaoh did not even then yield to the will of God；
but； while he gave leave to the husbands to take their wives with
them； yet insisted that the children should be left behind； God
presently resolved to punis