The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 3 · Section 64
SECT. LXIV.
PHaraoh continuing ſtill obſtinate, God ſends Moſes and Aaron again to him, and by their Miniſtry inflicts ten Plagues ſucceſſively upon the Eyptians, from which the Iſraelites (as 'tis probable) were wholly exempted. See Exod. 8.22. & 9.26. & 10.23. All which are reckoned Pſal. 78. & 105. which Plagues were all ſent within one month in this Order.
1. God Commands Moſes and Aaron to go and meet Pharaoh the next Morning,Firſt Plague, Their waters turned into Bloud for ſeven days together. who would then come to walk by the ſide of the River Nilus, and to tell him, That ſeeing he had refuſed to obey the Voice of the Lord, he would bring a grievous Plague upon Him and his People. They had ſhed the bloud of the Iſraelites Children, and drowned them in that River; Therefore God had commanded him to give order to Aaron with his Rod to ſmite the waters of the River; and he accordingly ſtretched forth his Hand over the Rivers, Streams and Ponds, (probably over ſome of them in the Name of the reſt) and ſtriking thoſe Waters, they were immediately turned into bloud; Yea by the influence of God's Almighty Power upon that percuſſion all their other Streams and Rivers, Ponds and Pools, yea Ciſterns of water (whether of Wood or Stone) were turned into bloud for ſeven days together. By which Plague the Fiſh that were in the River died, whereby the Egyptians were deprived of that which was their chief Food,(a)The Egyptians abſtained from the fleſh of many Beaſts of Superſtition, eſpecially ſuch as the Hebrews uſed in Sacrifice. as may be gathered from Numb. 11.5. We remember the Fiſh that we did eat in Egypt freely, and Iſa. 19.8. God threatens this as a great Judgment to Egypt, The Fiſhers ſhall mourn, and all that caſt Angles into the Brooks ſhall lament, and they that ſpread Nets upon the Waters ſhall languiſh. So that this was a ſore Plague on the Egyptians who fed much on Fiſh, and traded much with them, and maintained themſelves by them. And one great evil followed this alſo; for hereupon the River ſtank ſo horribly, that they could not drink of the waters of it (which uſed to be their ordinary Beverage, ſee Jer. 2.18.) but were fain to dig Pits near the River, that they might have ſome water to drink. But all this did not work upon Pharaoh's obdurate heart. For his Magicians and Sorcerers getting ſome water either from the Sea, or out of the new-digged-Wells, or from the houſes of the Iſraelites dwelling here and there intermixed with them, did by their Enchantments, and the Devil's help, get ſome blood whereby they tinctured the waters, or elſe unperceiveably removed the water, and ſubſtituted bloud in the place thereof. Which when Pharaoh ſaw done by them, he went away to his own houſe, and heeded not, nor laid to heart the foregoing Plague inflicted on him by Moſes.
Exod. Ch. 7. from 14. to the end.
2. God Commands Moſes and Aaron to go to Pharaoh again,Second Plague, Frogs. and to require him to let his People go; and to tell Him, That if he refuſed to do it, He would ſmite all his Borders with Frogs. They accordingly reſolutely purſue their Commiſſion, and evidence their Courage and Fidelity in God's Cauſe, notwithſtanding the ill ſucceſs they had had before. But Pharaoh would not give ear to them. Hereupon Aaron ſtretched forth his Rod (b)The Rod is called ſometimes the Rod of Moſes, ſometimes of Aaron, ſometimes of God, to ſhew that it was the Inſtrument they all uſed in working theſe prodigious things.over the Rivers, (c)Non ſingulos adiit fluvios, ſed virga eminus eos intenta deſignavit, extendit eam verſus Nilum & intentione verſus omnes aqas Aegypti.over the Streams, and over the Ponds, and the Frogs came up in great abundance upon the Land, (namely, not only thoſe that were in the Rivers before, but an innumerable number of new ones were produced,) and they crawled into Pharaoh's houſe, and into his Bed-Chamber; (d)How eaſily can God caſt contempt upon Princes, and how favourable is he to men, who, by his ordinary Providence, makes ſuch Creatures loth to come where man hath to do, which are ſo lothſome to him.yea upon his Bed, and into the Houſes of his Courtiers, and the reſt of his people; yea into their Ovens and Kneading-Troughs, ſo that they were grievouſly annoyed with them. Pharaoh calls for his Magicians to ſee if they could imitate this Miracle, and they, by ſtretching forth their Rods over the River, did by the Power of the Devil (e)The Devil it ſeems much delights in their monſtrous ſhape. For we find in the Scripture three unclean Spirits like Frogs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon.bring forth ſome true Frogs by unperceptible Conveyance to the place where the Conteſt was, (which poſſibly at this preſent was not covered with Frogs by Moſes's Working) though it is like they were but very few in compariſon of thoſe Moſes and Aaron had produced. And when they had brought them, they could not remove them again. Pharaoh and his people being thus grievouſly diſtreſſed with this Plague, he began to ſtoop a little, and to acknowledge God whom before he would not know, and therefore deſires Moſes and Aaron to intreat the Lord to remove theſe Frogs, and he would let the people go that they may Sacrifice unto the Lord their God. Moſes knowing that he was conſtituted as a God to Pharaoh [Ch. 7. verſ. 1.] to bring Judgments upon him, and romove them at God's appointment, and having in him the Faith of Miracles, and being directed by the Spirit of God, He told Pharaoh, He would do him the honour (f)Honorem tibi ſume ut des mihi tempus in quo orem pro te.to let him appoint the time when he ſhould pray to the Lord for him, and by his power deliver him from this Plague. And (ſays he) if my prayer take no effect, then do thou glory over me, and ſay, I am no better than one of thy Magicians; but if I do deliver thee, then own and obey the great God of Heaven, whoſe Servant I am. Pharaoh deſires the Frogs may be removed by the next Morning. Moſes Replies, Be it according to thy word, that thou mayſt know, that there is none like unto the Lord our God. Moſes then cried unto the Lord to remove this Plague from Pharaoh, and the Lord heard him, and immediately the Frogs died that were in the Houſes, Villages, and Fields; only ſome remained in the River; and they gathered the dead Frogs together and caſt them upon heaps, ſo that the Land ſtank by reaſon of them. But when this Plague was removed, and Pharaoh ſaw there was ſome reſpite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not to Moſes and Aaron as the Lord had foretold.
Exod. Ch. 8. from verſ. 1. to 16.
Third Plague, Lice.3. Pharaoh having thus mocked God (promiſing and not performing) the Lord to manifeſt his Indignation againſt him, Commands Moſes now to ſtrike him with a new Judgment, without giving him any warning, as at other times he had done. Aaron therefore is commanded forthwith to ſtretch out his Rod, and to ſtrike the duſt of the Land, that it may become Lice through all the Land of Egypt. Which Aaron accordingly doing, abundance of Lice came on Men and Beaſts; the duſt in very part of the Land; that is, a great deal of it turning into that Vermine. (g)V. 17. All the duſt of the Land became Lice. An hyperbolical Speech.The Magicians alſo try their Skill again, and accordingly they ſmote the duſt of the ground with their Rods, as Aaron had done, and endeavoured to do the like, but all in vain. (h)Non potuerunt Deo eos impediente ut ſe oſtenderet maximum in minimis.For here God confounded their Enchantments in a thing moſt vile, wherein yet he honoured himſelf. For he ſo reſtrained the Devil, and diſabled theſe Magicians, his Servants, that they could neither make Lice, nor make a ſhew of them. So that they were forced to acknowledge to Pharaoh, That this was the Finger of God, (i)Fuit haec non productio naturalis, ſed divina Creatio qualis hominis ex pulvere.and that this Miracle was wrought by the Power of the Almighty, and not by Art or Sorcery, which they ſhould have acknowledged of all the reſt of the Miracles wrought by Moſes and Aaron, but their Maſter the Devil would not permit them to do it. However, though the Lice continued both upon Man (k)Such little Creatures armed with Power from God, can puniſh the greateſt Tyrant, as Herod, Acts 12.23.and Beaſt; yet Pharaoh's heart was ſtill hardened, ſo that he would not hearken unto Moſes, as the Lord had before told him.
Exod. Ch. 8. from 16. to 20.
Fourth Plague, Flies, Waſps and Hornets.4. It being uſual with Pharaoh to walk in the Morning by the River-ſide, Moſes is ſent again to meet him there, and to require him in the Lords Name to let the people go, and to acquaint Him, That if he refuſed to do it, God would ſend upon him, and his people, ſwarms of Flies, Waſps and Hornets, and ſuch noyſome Inſects which ſhould fill their Houſes, and vex and ſting them, and they ſhould ſwarm in all the Land where the Egyptians dwelt, but ſhould not come into Goſhen where the Iſraelites dwelt, and then they ſhould know, to their Coſt, that the Lord Jehovah was the only Ruler in the whole Earth, and that he would put a difference between his own People, and the Egyptians, and would deliver them from that Judgment which ſhould be the portion of the Egyptians. And he tells him, This thing ſhould come to paſs the next morning. Pharaoh not regarding this threatning, the very next morning there came a grievous ſwarm of divers ſorts of Flies, (l)We read not of any uſe made of Moſes s Rod to bring this Plague, and 'tis like it was not uſed, that it might appear the power of thoſe Plagues was not in the Rod, but in the Hand of God.[ſee Pſal. 78.45. Pſal. 105.31.] into the houſe of Pharaoh, and his Servants, and into all the Land of Egypt. So that the people of Egypt were wonderfully annoyed with them, and (as it ſeems) ſeveral of them deſtroyed by them. Pharaoh being now terrified with this Plague, He yields thus far, That the Iſraelites ſhould have liberty to Sacrifice to the Lord their God, provided they went not out of Egypt to do it.(m)So that it ſeems they were not ſuffered, during their bondage in Egypt, openly to offer Sacrifice to the Lord. What they did this way was done in a private manner. This Moſes would not accept of, but requires they may have liberty to go three days Journey into the Wilderneſs to offer this Sacrifice. For (ſays he) if we ſhould in Egypt offer unto our God Oxen, Cows, Calves and Bullocks, which the Egyptians exhibit Divine Honour unto, it would ſeem an abominable thing unto them, and they would be ready to ſtone us. Pharaoh tells them, They ſhall then go into the Wilderneſs, provided they would not go very far, and would pray for him that this Plague may be removed. Moſes promiſes that they would pray for him, but intreats him to be true and faithful to his word and promiſe, and not to deal any more deceitfully with them. Moſes goes out accordingly, and and intreats the Lord to remove this Plague from Pharaoh, and his People, and the Lord was pleaſed preſently to do it. So that the next day this dreadful hoſt of Flies, Waſps and Hornets, was quite gone. But though the Plague was removed, yet Pharaoh's obſtinacy was not; for he would not yet let the People go.
Exod. Ch. 8. from 20. to the end.
5.Fifth Plague, Murrain on Beaſts. Upon the firſt day of the ſeventh Month (which was ſhortly after made the firſt month of the Year) God Commands Moſes to go to Pharaoh again, and to tell him, That if he would not let his People go, but did obſtinately keep them ſtill, he would ſmite all ſorts of his Cattel with a grievous Murrain, viz. Horſes, Aſſes, Camels, Oxen and Sheep, and this Judgment (he tells him) ſhall be inflicted the very next day. And ſo accordingly it was, by which the generality (n)V. 6. All his Cattel died] all is here to be taken Communiter, not Univerſaliter, viz. for the greater or moſt conſiderable number. For ſome Cattel were aſſuredly killed by the Hail, as we find Exod. 9.25. And in the tenth Plague, the Firſt-born of Beaſts were deſtroyed by the Angel.of the Cattel of the Egyptians died, but of the Cattel of tne Children of Iſrael, died not one. And Pharaoh ſent into Goſhen to ſee whether the Cattel of the Children of Iſrael had eſcaped, and he found it was ſo. Yet notwithſtanding his heart was hardened, and ſwelled with pride and malice againſt the Children of Iſrael, ſo that he would not let them go
Exod. Ch. 9. from verſ. 1. to 8.
6.Sixth Plague, Blains and Boils. About the third day of this Month God intending to bring a Sixth Plague upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians, He Commands Moſes and Aaron to go to him, and to take handfuls of aſhes out of the Furnace, and to ſprinkle the aſhes towards Heaven, to intimate to Pharaoh that the Plague came from the God of Heaven, and that as he and his people had oppreſſed the Iſraelites with Furnace-work, in forcing them to burn Brick for them, ſo they now ſhould be puniſhed with burning Sores, (o)Ulceribus calore & ſani… turgidis.cauſed by aſhes taken out of the Furnace. And Moſes and Aaron did as God commanded, and they ſprinkled handfuls of aſhes towards Heaven, which miraculouſly, by the mighty Power of God, became a Cloud of ſmall duſt over-ſpreading the whole Land of Egypt, and ſo fell down both upon Man and Beaſt. And this duſt, where it fell, cauſed Blains and Boils, and, as it ſeems, of an extraordinary nature, for they are thus deſcribed Deut. 28.27. The Boils of Egypt which cannot be cured. And the Magicians themſelves (who it ſeems continued to harden and embolden Pharaoh not to be moved with the things done by Moſes, telling him (as 'tis probable) that they were done by Magick) and were ſtill at hand to reſiſt Moſes and Aaron as far as they could, were now ſmitten with theſe Boils and Blains breaking out upon them. So that they were forced to go away, and ceaſe fighting againſt God. But yet Pharaoh's heart was ſo hardned, that he would not let the people go for all this.
Exod. Ch. 9. from 8. to verſ. 13.
Seventh Plague, Hail.7. Some few days after, God ſends Moſes again to Pharaoh, to require him to let his people go, that they may ſerve him; and to let him know, that though his Hand had been already heavy upon him, yet there were far ſorer Plagues ſtill behind, which he had determined to bring upon him and his people, if he continued obſtinate, and which ſhould ſting him to the very heart. And theſe he would preſently pour forth thick and threefold upon him, that he might know there is no God like to the great Jehovah in all the World. Moſes is further commanded to ſpeak thus to Him from the Lord, I have ſtretched out my Hand and deſtroyed a great part of thy Cattel by Murrain and Peſtilence, and I ſhould have deſtroyed thee and thy people thereby alſo,(p)Sic ergo vertendum, v. 16. Modo enim cum extendi manum meam, percuſſiſſem non tantum pecus, ſed te etiam & populum tuum; veruntamen ſeci ut reſtares, &c. J. T. (as you well deſerved) but that I have raiſed thee up for this very purpoſe, that the World might ſee my Juſtice in puniſhing of thee, and my Power in my Conqueſt over thee. And doſt thou yet ſo impudently exalt thy ſelf againſt Me and my People? Behold about this time to morrow I will cauſe it to rain a very grievous Hail upon Thee, ſuch as hath not been in Egypt ſince it became a Land inhabited by Miſraim Son of Cham, who gave Name to that People and Country. And Moſes the more to ſet forth the terrour of this Plague that was coming upon them, adviſes the Egyptians to ſend for, and get home their Cattel and Servants, and all that they had in the Field; For all that was found there, would be deſtroyed by the Hail. Some of Pharaoh's Servants believed this threatening of the Lord, and got their Servants and Cattel into houſes, and ſo had them preſerved; but Others regarded it not. On the morrow Moſes ſtretched forth his Rod towards Heaven, and the Lord ſent Thunder, and Hail mixed with Fire, that ran upon the ground, which deſtroyed not only a great part of their Corn, viz. the Barley (q)V. 32. But the Wheat and the Rie were not ſmitten, for they were not grown up; that is, ſo much as the Barley. It ſeems in Egypt they ſowed their Barley at the ſame time with their Wheat (which we do not) and there the Barley would be by far the forwardeſt. Hordeo laeſo incolume manſit triticum, quippe cum hordei culmus aliquantum arefactus adeo que induratus non cederet grandini, ſed obniteretur ita que frangebatur. Triticum autem tenerum adhuc & in herba velut abditum (licet non ſub terra) lenta flexili que ſua mollitia procellae impetum devitavit. Drufius.that was eared, and the Flax that was boll'd, and in the Stalk, and their Herbs, but brake a great part of their Trees, and killed both Man and Beaſt that were in the Storm, verſ. 25. (ſo ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 78.47, 48.) He deſtroyed their Vines with Hail, and their Sycamore-Trees with Hail-ſtones. He gave up their Cattel alſo to the Hail, and their Flocks to the Thunderbolts. And this dreadful Hail fell on all the Land of Egppt, only in the Land of Goſhen there was none. Pharaoh terrified with this dreadful Judgment, ſent for Moſes and Aaron, and told them, He did now plainly ſee, and accordingly did acknowledge, That he (r)The Wicked do ſometimes confeſs their ſins to God's Glory, but will not truly repent and reform, that they may be received to Mercy.had ſinned againſt God, and confeſs'd, That God was Righteous, and he and his people wicked. He deſires them therefore to pray unto the Lord to remove this Judgment, and that there might be no more ſuch dreadful Thunder and Hail, and he would let them go, they ſhould ſtay no longer. Moſes promiſes as ſoon as he ſhould be out of the City, he would ſtretch forth his hands in prayer to the Lord. He knew, by Inſpiration from God, that then the Thunder and Hail ſhould immediately ceaſe; and Pharaoh might hereby be inſtructed, that the Earth is the Lord's, and the whole Creation is at his diſpoſal. But as for thee, and thy Servants, (ſays he) I know before-hand that ye will be never a whit the better for the removal of this Judgment. And the event proved it to be ſo. For when, upon Moſes's prayer, the Thunder and Hail ſeaſed the heart of Pharaoh, and his Servants were hardened as before, and they would not let the people go.
Exod. Ch. 9. from 13. to the end.
Eighth Plague, Locuſts.8. About the ſeventh day of this Month God ſent Moſes to Pharaoh again, telling him, He had hardened (s)See Sect. 58.his heart, and the hearts of his Servants, that he might glorifie his Power and Juſtice in bringing more ſignal Judgments on him. However, though Pharaoh be obſtinate, yet thou Moſes (ſays God) ſhalt for a remembrance of my Power and Juſtice declare to thy Children, and Childrens Children the Wonders I have done in Egypt upon Pharaoh and his people, that ſo you, in your ſeveral Generations, may know and be aſſured that I am the Lord. Then Moſes and Aaron went to Pharaoh again, and expoſtulating with him, asked him, How long he would refuſe to humble himſelf before the Lord, and keep his people from going to ſerve him? They tell him, If he continued ſtill obſtinate, on the morrow the Lord would ſend Graſhoppers and Locuſts into all his Quarters, and they ſhould be ſent in ſuch vaſt numbers, that they ſhould in a manner cover the face of the Earth from man's ſight, and ſhould devour the reſidue of the Graſs, Herbs, and what was green on the Trees, and the Wheat, and Corn which had eſcaped the Hail, and they ſhould fill his houſe, and the houſes of his Servants, and of all the Egyptians in ſuch a manner, that neither he nor his Anceſtors, nor any that lived in Egypt before him did ever ſee ſuch vaſt numbers of Locuſts, nor any that did did ſo much miſchief as theſe ſhould do. And Moſes and Aaron when they had delivered their Meſſage, came away and left him. Then Pharaoh's Courtiers and Servants ſaid to him, How long ſhall this man Moſes be a Snare to us? that is, an Inſtrument, and means to bring Ruine and Deſtruction upon us? We beſeech thee l…t theſe people go; Seeſt thou not that the Land is already almoſt ruined by the Plagues and Judgments that have been brought upon us? Then Pharaoh ſent for Moſes and Aaron again to him, and told them, He was content they ſhould go, and ſerve the Lord their God. But then recalling himſelf, He asks, Who among them, and how many of them, did they deſire ſhould go? Moſes tells him, They would go up All; with their Old, and with their Young, with their Wives, Sons and Daughters, with their Flocks, and with their Herds; For they muſt make uſe of ſome of them for Sacrifice, and of part of theſe Sacrifices they muſt keep a Riligious Feaſt unto the Lord. Pharaoh being angry at this motion, that they ſhould deſire their Children ſhould go alſo (whom he intended to keep as Hoſtages for their coming back) he ſaid in a paſſion, I wiſh you might find no more ſavour from God than you are like to find from me, in this your Suit, to let your Children go alſo. Look to it, if you will preſume to go in this manner, at your own peril be it. I ſhall never conſent that you ſhould All go. But as for you that are men grown, I care not if I permit you to go. For that was all (as I underſtood)(t)Pharaoh either miſlook or perverted the words of Moſes and Aaron. For they demanded they might all go, but they deſiring at firſt that they might go to Sacrifice to the Lord, it ſeems Pharaoh thought that only the men meant to go, and not the Women and Children alſo. that at firſt you deſired. Moſes and Aaron not accepting of this, Pharaoh cauſed them to be driven out of his preſence. Then Moſes ſtretched forth his Rod over the Land of Egypt, and the Lord ſent an Eaſt-wind which blew very fiercely all day upon that Land, and the next morning it brought a vaſt Army of Caterpillars, and Locuſts very grievous, ſuch as had never been ſeen there before, nor are like ever to be again; and they were ſo many that they in a manner covered the face of the Earth where there was any Herbage, and by flying ſo many together like a Cloud, they in a manner darkned the Air, and they devoured all the Corn, and Graſs, and Herbs that the Hail had left. See Pſal. 78.46. and Pſal. 105.34. Then Pharaoh called for Moſes and Aaron in haſt, and ſaid to them, I have ſinned againſt the Lord your God, and againſt you, in uſing you as I have done. However pardon the wrong that I have done you, and once more intreat the Lord to be favourable to me, and remove this deadly Plague from me, which conſumes and deſtroys all, and is like to bring a grievous and general Famine upon us. And Moſes went out, and intreated the Lord for Pharaoh, and the Lord ſent a ſtrong Weſt-wind that carried the Graſhoppers and Locuſts away, and caſt them into the Red-Sea, where they all periſhed. But though this dreadful Judgment was removed, yet Pharaoh's hardneſs was not, for he would not yet let the people go.
Ch. 10. from verſ. 1. to 21.
The Month Abib, otherwiſe called Niſan, (anſwering to part of our March, and part of our April,) which before had been the ſeventh Month (as we ſhewed before) was from this time forward made the firſt Month (u)In rememberance of their miraculous Deliverance out of Egypt, they were appointed to begin the Year with this Month. Yet this account was afterwards kept only in Eccleſiaſtical Affairs. For the Jubilees, and ſuch other Civil affairs, it began as it had done before, Lev. 25.8, 9, 10.of the year; and upon the tenth day of this Month, or a little before, was inſtituted the Feaſt of the Paſsover, In Commemoration of God's paſſing over them, and not involving them in the Common Plague that ſmote the Houſes of the Egyptians. Touching which Paſsover ſeveral Laws and Directions are given to Moſes. 1. Concerning the Sacrifice it ſelf, or the matter of the Feaſt, viz. a Lamb, or Kid of the firſt year, a Male without blemiſh. 2. This muſt be ſet apart on the tenth day (x)No mention made of ſeparating the Paſchal Lamb from the Flock, four days before the Feaſt, in other places where the Paſsover is commanded.of this Month. Thus it was ordered at this time, that it might be in readineſs, and not to ſeek when they were encumbered with buſineſs about their going away. 3. If one Houſhold was too little for a Lamb, they were to joyn the next Houſhold to them, and they were to make their account proportionably to the Lamb, and to the perſons that were to eat of it, taking care that there might not be too few, nor too many for it.(y)Which number Joſephus reckons to be ten men, beſides women and children. 4. They were to keep the Lamb to the 14th day of the ſame Month. 5. Every Maſter of a Family of all the Congregation of Iſrael (whom it eſpecially concerned) was appointed to kill it on the 14th day between the two Evenings; (z)About that time our bleſſed Saviour, the true Paſchal Lamb, was put to death, Mat. 27.46.that is, between our three a Clock in the Afternoon and Sun-ſet. (a)The natural day from Sun to Sun, the Jews divided into four parts. The firſt from Sun-riſing to nine in the fore-noon, called the third hour. The ſecond from nine to twelve, called the ſixth hour. The third from twelve to three in the afternoon, called the ninth hour. The fourth from three in the afternoon to Sun-ſetting, called the twelfth hour.6. They were to ſtrike, and ſprinkle with a bunch of Hyſſop, dipped in the bloud (b)To direct the Faith of the Iſraelites to the bloud of their great Redeemer.thereof, the two ſide-poſts, and upper door-poſts of the door of the Houſe where they did eat it.(c)This ſeems peculiar to the Paſsover in Egypt. 7. None of them were to go out of the Houſe where they did eat it till the morning. 8. They were not to break a bone of it. 9. They were not to eat it raw or ſodden, but roaſted with fire. And they were to roſt it whole, Head, and Leggs with the appurtenance; that is, the inwards being firſt taken out, and waſhed. 10. They were to eat it with unleavened (d)Leaven haing two Properties to ſowr, and puff up, might well ſignifie malice, and pride which muſt be laid aſide.Bread and bitter Herbs. 11. They were to eat it with their Loins girded, their Shooes on their feet, and their Staff in their hand, like men in haſt, and ready to be gone, and march out of Egypt. (e)Theſe Ceremonies were peculiar to that Paſsover in Egypt.12. They were to let nothing of it remain unto the morning; but if any thing were left after they had eaten, it was to be burnt with fire. Theſe things being obſerved by them, Moſes tells them, The Lord intended to paſs by all the Houſes of the Iſraelites where the Paſchal-Lamb was thus eaten, and the doors thus ſprinkled, but He would ſmite by his holy Angel all the Firſt-born of the Land of Egypt, both of Men and Beaſts that remained. And he would then execute Judgment on all the Gods of Egypt; that is, either ſome ſuch notable Judgment or Stroke ſhould befal their Idols as did the Philiſtins Dagon (f)Dicunt Hebraei nocte illa idola lignea ſubito putrefacta, & metallica reſoluta, & lapidea comminuta. Artapanus apud Euſeb. lib. 9. Praepar. dicit motu terra concidiſſe plera que Templa Aegyptiaca.before the Ark, 1 Sam. 5.3. or elſe perhaps he intended hereby to ſignifie, That he would make it appear that their Idol-Gods were vain, and unable to preſerve themſelves againſt his Hand, who was the true and only God. 13. This Paſsover was to be obſerved by them afterwards in ſucceeding Generations, for a Memorial of this great Deliverance, and they were to obſerve it for ever; that is, all the time that that Ceremonial Service ſhould laſt; namely, till Chriſt (who is the true Paſsover) ſhall be ſacrificed, who fulfilling all the Figures, ſhall aboliſh the uſe of them, and bring in a new Age and State into the Church. 14. A Feaſt of Ʋnleavened Bread muſt be obſerved the ſeven days immediately following. The firſt of theſe ſeven days was the 15th day of this Month, and began at the Evening immediately after the eating of the Paſsover, which they were to eat at the latter end of the 14th day, as is ſaid before, and every perſon, whether ſtranger or born in the Land, that did eat leaven during that time, was to be cut off from Communion with the Church, and in caſe of contumacy and contempt, was liable to Capital Puniments from God, or the Magiſtrate. See Gen. 17.14. Exod. 31.14. The firſt and laſt days of this Feaſt were to be holy Convocations, and to be obſerved in the manner of Sabbaths, and no ſervile-work to be done in them. Yet with this difference, that on theſe days meat might be dreſſed, but not on the Sabbaths. And on theſe days the people were to meet for the Publick Worſhip of God. Laſtly, They were to acquaint their Children from Generation to Generation with the meaning of this Paſsover, and upon what occaſion it was Inſtituted. Moſes having received theſe Directions from God, Communicates them to the people, commanding them to draw out their Lambs according to their Families, and to ſet them apart on this 10th day, to be in readineſs againſt the 14th, as was preſcribed. And further, He injoyns them, that when they were to march out of Egypt (for which they ſhould now prepare themſelves) they ſhould borrow of the Egyptians Jewels, and Veſſels of Silver and of Gold, (g)Nempe eo pratextu quaſi ad Sacrificia & ſolemnitatem Domini uſui eſſent futura. Janſ.and precious Veſtments, and poſſibly rich Furniture, and ſuch kind of things, and that God would diſpoſe the hearts of the Egyptians to lend them any thing, rather then that they ſhould ſtay. The people of Iſrael when they heard theſe things, bowed the head, and worſhipped, in token of their ready ſubmiſſion and reverent acceptance of theſe Commands from God, and their willingneſs to obey them.
Ch. 12. from verſ. 1. to 29.
9. God now Commands Moſes, by ſtretching forth his hand towards the Heavens,Ninth Plague, Three days Darkneſs. to bring a ninth Plague on Pharaoh and his people. Which was three days of Palpable Darkneſs; thick Clouds, groſs Miſts, and moiſt Vapours, as 'tis probable ſo thickening, and condenſating the Aer, that it might be felt, and in likelihood by their moiſtneſs extinguiſhing all Fires, and artificial Lights, as Candles uſe to be put out by a damp. Neither, it ſeems, had they any light from Sun, Moon or Stars from above, but the darkneſs was ſo thick they could not ſee one another for three days together, and with the terrour thereof they durſt not ſo much as move from the places where they were. And being under the arreſt of this hideous Darkneſs, they ſat ſtill, not ſeeing whether to go, or what to do. And as ſome gather from Pſal. 78.49. they had at that time many frightful Apparitions of Devils, and evil Spirits among them.(h)Horrifica tum ſpectra Daemonum viderunt; quod idcirco memoratur, Pſal. 78.49. loco plagae tenebrarum quae ibi nec nominantur. H…nc Pharaonem plurimum commovet hac plaga qui ad priora obduruit. But the Iſraelites had all this while light in their Dwellings as at other times, and might have in theſe three days time gone away with all that they had, but God would not ſuffer them to go away as Fugitives, but to march out in a way of honourable and triumphant Victory over their Enemies. When the three days darkneſs was over, on the 14th day of this month Pharaoh ſent for Moſes in great haſt, and offered that they ſhould all go, Men, Women and Children, only their Flocks and Herds ſhould be left there as a Pledge and Pawn of their Return. But Moſes Replied, Thou muſt not only give way that we our ſelves may go, but muſt permit us to take our Cattel alſo, that we may have wherewith to ſacrifice to our God. For we know not what ſort, or what number of Cattel we ſhall be ordered to ſacrifice to the Lord, till we come thither; therefore our Cattel muſt go with us, there ſhall not an Hoof be left behind. But Pharaoh's heart was ſo hardened, that he would not conſent to this; But falling into a great Rage and Paſſion with Moſes, he bids him get him out of his ſight, and never ſee his face more. If he did, he ſhould die for it. Moſes tells him, He had ſpoken right in that, for he ſhould ſee his face no more. But God having revealed to him what he intended to do to Pharaoh, and his people. He acquaints him boldly with a Tenth Plague (and a very dreadful one) that the Lord would bring upon them. He tells him, That very night, about midnight God would by his(i)Moſt uſually the wicked are deſtroyed by good Angels, and the godly are chaſtiz'd by the bad, as we ſee in the caſe of Job. holy Angel (ſee Exod. 12.23.) ſlay the Firſt-born in all the Land of Egypt, from the Firſt-born of Pharaoh that ſitteth upon the Throne, to the Firſt-born of the Maid-Servant that is grinding (k)Or behind the Mill] Thoſe that thus worked at theſe Hand-Mills were ſaid to be behind them, becauſe they uſed to thruſt the Mill before them as they wrought. The meaneſt Servants were uſed to be put to this work, wherefore Mills were often in Priſons where Priſoners and Captives were wont to be ſet to work at them, thruſting and turning them about with the main ſtrength of their Bodies, and ſo driving them before them.at the Mill, and the Firſt-born of their remaining Cattel. And there ſhall be ſuch an hideous Out-Cry in all the Land of Egypt, as never was before, nor ſhall ever be again. But in the Habitations of the Children of Iſrael all ſhall be ſo ſtill, and quiet, that the very Dogs, who are uſually rouz'd by the leaſt noiſe, ſhall not ſo much as once bark, or move their tongues, or make any diſturbance either to Man or Beaſt. And when all this ſhall come to paſs, then (ſays he) you ſhall know how great a difference the Lord doth put between the Iſraelites and the Egyptians. And then ſhall theſe thy Servants and Courtiers be ſent by thee unto me, and ſhall bow themſelves unto me, ſaying, Go forth thou, and all the people that follow thee, over whom thou haſt the Government, and after that I will go forth, with all the people of Iſrael with me, and with all that we have. Moſes having thus ſpoken, went out from Pharaoh in a great anger, (i) his zeal for the Glory of God heightening his indignation againſt the obſtinacy of Pharaoh.
Ch. 10. from verſ. 21. to the end.
Ch. 11. from verſ. 4. to the 9.(l)See Numb. 12.3. Eph. 4.26.
Tenth Plague, The deſtruction of the Firſt-born.10. The Iſraelites when they firſt came down down into Egypt, being but few, part of the Province of Goſhen was ſufficient for them, but afterwards they multiplied ſo much, that they ſpread all over that Country, and beſides had many mixed Habitations in other parts of Egypt. (m)Habitant Egyptii Hebraeis permixti.The evening therefore of this 14th day of this Month being come, Moſes called for the Elders of Iſrael to draw out their Lambs, according to their Families, and to kill the Paſsover, and to ſprinkle with a bunch of Hyſſop the Door-poſts of their Houſes with the bloud of the Lamb, and that none of them ſhould ſtir out of the doors where they did meet to eat the Paſsover till the morning. The Children of Iſrael doing as the Lord had commanded them by Moſes; at Midnight the Angel of the Lord ſmote all the Firſt-born (n)Ica nullus Pater alii poſſit eſſe ſolatio, cum clades omnibus communis eſſet.in the Land of Egypt, from the Firſt-born of Pharaoh that ſat on the Throne to the Firſt-born of the Captive that was in the Dungeon, and all the Firſt-born of their remaining Cattel.
Pharaoh, upon this, and his Servants, and the Egyptians roſe up in the night, and there was a great and hideous Cry thorow out all the Land; for there was not an houſe in Egypt (which had a Firſt-born in it) where there was not one dead; and in houſes where there were no Children, probably the eldeſt and chief of the Family was ſlain. Pharaoh hereupon preſently ſent his Servants that were about him to Moſes and Aaron, and commanded them to ſpeak to them in his Name, That they ſhould preſently go away, and ſhould take their Wives and Children, Herds and Flocks, and all that they had along with them; and he deſires they would bleſs him, and pray for him at their departure, that He might not periſh by this Plague. (o)He had deſired their prayers for him ſeveral times before, Exod. 8.8. & 9.28. & 10.16, 17.And the Egyptians were very urgent with the Iſraelites, and uſed humble and earneſt Intreaties to them to be gone (ſee Exod. 11.8.) ſaying among themſelves, that if they did not haſten them away, they were all dead men; that is, in extream danger of death, and like to periſh. The Egyptians being in this dreadful Conſternation, the Iſraelites (as Moſes had commanded them) borrowed of them Jewels, (p)Solebant Idololatrae in colendis idolis ſe gemmis & in auribus decorare. Credebant autem Egyptii hoc petentes Iſraelitas ſuis Diis ſacrificaturos (prout antea fecerant) ideo que nec abituros è terra. Nam Moſes hactenus tridui tantum itineris mentionem fecerat.and Veſſels of Silver, and Veſſels of Gold, and fine Raiment, (q)V. 35. Et Veſtem] i. e. pretioſiores veſtes, tapetes & ſimilia. Janſ.and rich Furniture, and ſuch like precious things for their uſe in keeping the Feſtival. And God thus diſpoſed their hearts thorow the great and pannick fear they were in; For it ſeems they thought that if the Iſraelites were not ſent away preſently, the next Plague would deſtroy them all. And beſides, that the Lord gave the Iſraelites favour in their eyes, ſo that they very readily lent them, and furniſhed them with any thing they deſired of them. And poſſibly they thought the Iſraelites intended only a three days journey into the Wilderneſs, there to ſacrifice unto the Lord, and then would return, and ſo they ſhould have their rich things again. And that which in likelihood inclined their hearts the more to favour the Iſraelites, was the high opinion that both Pharaoh's Courtiers, and the people of Egypt had generally of Moſes. For him they much honoured and feared, in regard of his Wiſdom and Conduct: and the manifold Miracles that had been wrought by his Miniſtry, both in bringing Judgments, and removing them. So that whaſoever he ſhould ask or require of the Egyptians for himſelf, or the people of Iſrael, was not like to be denied him. And thus was fulfilled that which God promiſed to Abraham, Gen. 15.13, 14. Thy Seed ſhall be a ſtranger in a Land that is not theirs 400 years, and that Nation whom they ſhall ſerve will I judge, and afterwards they ſhall come out with great ſubſtance. And the ſame was alſo promiſed Exod. 3.22. and all now exactly performed. For now the Iſraelites carried away a great deal of the riches of the Egyptians, and that not only by Gods permiſſion, but expreſs Command, (Ch. 11.2.3.) who is the Supream Lord of all, and all that is in the World is his, and He may do what he will with his own, Mat. 20.15. And juſt it was with the Lord thus to recompence the Iſraelites for the hard Service, Injuries, and Oppreſſions they had ſuffered in Egypt, and as it were to pay them their wages which the Egyptians, had moſt unjuſtly detained from them.
Exod. 12. from 29. to verſ. 37.