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let you go； and ye shall stay no longer。〃 The answer was； 〃As soon as I am
gone out of the city； I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord； and the
thunder shall cease； neither shall there be any more hail； that thou mayest
know how that the earth is the Lord's。 But as for thee and thy servants； I
know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God。〃
Moses knew that the contest was not ended。 Pharaoh's confessions and
promises were not the effect of any radical change in his mind or heart； but
were wrung from him by terror and anguish。 Moses promised； however； to grant
his request； for he would give him no occasion for further stubbornness。 The
prophet went forth； unheeding the fury of the tempest； and Pharaoh and all
his host were witnesses to the power of Jehovah to preserve His messenger。
Having passed without the city； Moses 〃spread abroad his hands unto the
Lord： and the thunders and hail ceased； and the rain was not poured upon the
earth。〃 But no sooner had the king recovered from his fears than his heart
returned to its perversity。
Then the Lord said unto Moses； 〃Go in unto Pharaoh： for I have hardened his
heart； and the heart of his servants； that I might show these My signs
before him； and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son； and of thy
son's son； what things I have wrought in Egypt； and My signs which I have
done among them； that ye may know how that I am Jehovah。〃 The Lord was
manifesting His power； to confirm the faith of Israel in Him as the only
true and living God。 He would give unmistakable evidence of the difference
He placed between them and the Egyptians； and would cause all nations to
know that the Hebrews； whom they had despised and oppressed； were under the
protection of the God of heaven。
Moses warned the monarch that if he still remained obstinate； a plague of
locusts would be sent； which would cover the face of The earth and eat up
every green thing that remained； they would fill the houses； even the palace
itself； such a scourge； he said； as 〃neither thy fathers； nor thy fathers'
fathers have seen； since the day that they were upon the earth unto this
day。〃
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The counselors of Pharaoh stood aghast。 The nation had sustained great loss
in the death of their cattle。 Many of the people had been killed by the
hail。 The forests were broken down and the crops destroyed。 They were fast
losing all that had been gained by the labor of the Hebrews。 The whole land
was threatened with starvation。 Princes and courtiers pressed about the king
and angrily demanded； 〃How long shall this man be a snare unto us？ let the
men go； that they may serve the Lord their God： knowest thou not yet that
Egypt is destroyed？〃
Moses and Aaron were again summoned； and the monarch said to them； 〃Go；
serve the Lord your God： but who are they that shall go？〃
The answer was； 〃We will go with our young and with our old； with our sons
and with our daughters； with our flocks and with our herds will we go； for
we must hold a feast unto the Lord。〃
The king was filled with rage。 〃Let the Lord be so with you；〃 he cried； 〃as
I will let you go； and your little ones： look to it； for evil is before you。
Not so： go now ye that are men； and serve the Lord； for that ye did desire。
And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence。〃 Pharaoh had endeavored to
destroy the Israelites by hard labor； but he now pretended to have a deep
interest in their welfare and a tender care for their little ones。 His real
object was to keep the women and children as surety for the return of the
men。
Moses now stretched forth his rod over the land； and an east wind blew； and
brought locusts。 〃Very grievous were they； before them there were no such
locusts as they； neither after them shall be such。〃 They filled the sky till
the land was darkened； and devoured every green thing remaining。 Pharaoh
sent for the prophets in haste； and said； 〃I have sinned against the Lord
your God； and against you。 Now therefore； forgive； I pray thee； my sin only
this once； and entreat the Lord your God； that He may take away from me this
death only。〃 They did so； and a strong west wind carried away the locusts
toward the Red Sea。 Still the king persisted in his stubborn resolution。
The people of Egypt were ready to despair。 The scourges that had already
fallen upon them seemed almost beyond endurance； and they were filled with
fear for the future。 The nation had worshiped Pharaoh as a representative of
their god； but many
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were now convinced that he was opposing himself to One who made all the
powers of nature the ministers of His will。 The Hebrew slaves； so
miraculously favored； were becoming confident of deliverance。 Their
taskmasters dared not oppress them as heretofore。 Throughout Egypt there was
a secret fear that the enslaved race would rise and avenge their wrongs。
Everywhere men were asking with bated breath； What will come next？
Suddenly a darkness settled upon the land； so thick and black that it seemed
a 〃darkness which may be felt。〃 Not only were the people 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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Chapter 24
The Passover
When the demand for Israel's release had been first presented to the king of
Egypt； the warning of the most terrible of the plagues had been given。 Moses
was directed to s