THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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theon of helpless gods, 11 and 12. (Cf. Pharaoh’s destruc tion of infants— chaps. 1, 2, and that of Herod—Matt. 2). &—Evans.. The plagues group themselves in threes, gradually in creasing in severity for God gave Pharaoh every chance to repept. The first triad are plagues of loathsomeness, not inflicting actual pain or injury to life. 1. This plague was peculiarly offensive to the Egyptians, “the cleanest of all the ancient nations” as Stanley calls them. 2. This plague was also a challenge to the Egyptian religion, for the Egyptians worshipped the frog-headed goddess Heka. Therefore as the horrible croaking animals swarmed every where, even into the kneading-troughs and the beds, they were forbidden to kill them,, but must endure their clammy presence. Besides, the repulsive visitation came Out of the sacred Nile. 3. The lice— Such vermin was especially hated by the Egyptians, whose priest shaved their entire bodies every other day to make sure against it; and now they found the pollution even upon the carefully-kept sacred animals! Moreover, the plague sprung from the sacred soil.—Peloubet. The second triad of plagues involved the poverty, of the Egyptians as well as their persons. The land of Goshen where the Hebrews dwelt is pointedly exempted from the visitations; and Moses no longer makes use of the rod, as if to show that no magic virtue resides in that piece of wood. 4. This plague of flies or beetles—The Hebrew word for the plague is held to mean a mixture, i. e., various swarms of insects. 5. The murrain is a malignant, con tagious fever, affecting domestic animals. This occurence was marked as a miracle by its severity, its prediction for a definite day, the exemption of the Hebrews’ cattle, and the fact that many kinds of domestic animals were attacked at once. 6.. This plague arose from the symbolic sprinkling toward heaven of ashes from a furnace, it may be a smelting furnace for iron, perhaps in allusion to the furnace of af fliction through which the Hebrews had been made to pass, or perhaps in sarcastic imitation of the Egyptian priests who yearly offered sacrifices of burned human bodies—- often Hebrews-—to Set or Typhon, the god of Evil, scat tering the ashes in the air. The plague was some in- flamatory sore on the surface of the body, painful and dis gusting. It-evep drove the magicians from the scene al together.—Peloubet. The third triad of plagues. In this series “ a new aspect of awfulness now appears in the circumstance that the physical agency is no longer of local origination from within the land, but comes from the general system of the world; as if there now had been an invasion of- Egypt on the part of the unseen universe beyond it. The rod is now resumed.” Macgregor 7. The Egyptians were terribly impressed, because hail is almost unknown in that’ land, and thunder and lightning are rare. 8. Pharaoh quailed at the threat of'this plague, and for the first time the cour tiers joined Moses’ demands. They knew well what awful scenes would follow if the locusts should devour what was left from the hail. But, as before Pharaoh had limited his consent, requiring the sacrifice to be in Egypt, so now he limited it by holding back the women and children of the Hebrews as hostages. But Moses would have no compro mise; the plague fell. 9. Like the final plagues of the other triads this comes without warning and it is the most awful of all.— Peloubet. R |H 'm ELEMENTARY Kate H, Haus THE NINE PLAGUES. Ex. 5 to 10. Read carefully LESSON 18 After Moses and Aaron gathered the Jews together, and told them what God had said to them, and what He wanted them to do, the people believed and thanked God, because He was going to deliver them. They knew it was their
Second Test. The smitten . river turned to blood and the fish died. The magicians did likewise, and Phar aoh hardened his heart. (The judgments were all upon the Egyptian god s.^Hop i was the god of the Nile. Third Test. The water brought forth frogs (8:6-15) (Heka, the female goddess, with a frog’s head.) No soft ening of Pharaoh’s heart. Fourth Test. Dust turned to lice. This plague came without warning. (Seb— earth-god,— father of gods). Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Fifth Test. Swarms of flies (8 :20 ) none in Goshen. (Shu— god of the air.) Pharaoh now compromises and agrees to Israel going, but not far away. Sixth Test. The murrain upon cattle (9:1-7) (Apis, the ox-god). Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Seventh Test. Sprinkled ashes brought boils upon man and beast, and upon the magicians. (Neit, mother-queen of Heaven). Eighth Test. Hail and fire upon man and beast (9:22, 23) (Osiris, god of the elements). Pharaoh confesses his sin, but hardens his heart (vs. 27, 28-34). Ninth Test. Locusts (10:12-20). (ShuS god of the air.) Pharaoh hardened his heart. Tenth Test. Darkness for three days (10:21-23). Phar aoh relented. Moses demanded cattle for sacrifice, but again Pharaoh hardened his heart and commanded Moses ne~ver to see his face again (vs. 28, 29). Here is a lesson on the infatuation of sin. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt was also the king of sinners,-^-a representa tive man and a representative sinner. His sin was not that that he made Israel a nation of slaves, for he inherited them. He sinned in restraining them and failing to respond to God’s orders. Man’s condemnation is not that he was born a sinner; but that he continues in sin. In this lesson we have an illustration of God’s effort to bring sinners to terms, and the effort of sinners to outwit God. Topics for Study (1) The ingratitude of nations—-Joseph forgotten. (2 ) Foolishness of man’s wisdom. God makes the wrath of man to praise Him. (3 ) God hears the sobs of His distressed children. (4) God raises up a deliverer. He reveals Himself to His chosen. (5) God attests His Word by unmistakable signs. (6) The unbelieving world “Who is the Lord?” (7) The gradual hardening of man’s heart; the long^ suifering of God; the unequal battle against God. (8) The blood, the basis of peace with God; fellowship, the basis of unity. . (7 :20 ) The purpose of the plagues: (1 ) That the Egyptians might know Jehovah (7 :5 ). (2 ) Judgment upon the gods of Egypt (1 2 :12 ). (3) To honour Israel (8:22, 23). (4) To reveal the holiness, justice,'ahd power of God (7:3, 5; 9:15, 16, 27). (5) A COMMENTS testimony to future generations. (10: FROM THE 1, 2). It should not be lost sight of COMMENTARIES in the study of the plagues that they V. V. Morgan were the manifestation of a conflict be- _ tween the gods of Egypt and Jehovah, the God of Israel. Each plague was a direct attack upon some Egyptian god.—Evans. (7 :22 ) An arrangement of the plagues and the god against whom they were directed: 1. Blood—Against the Nile god, Osiris. 2. Frogs— Against the frog goddess, Heka. 3. Flies—Against the earth god, Leb. 4. Beetles— Against the beetle god, Khepara. 5. Murrain—Against the cattle gods, Apis, etc. 6. Boils—Against the goddess, Neit. 7. Hail— Against the air gods, Isis, etc. 8. Locust—Against the insect gods. 9. Darkness—Against the sun god, Ra. 10. First born slain, the finishing blow to the whole pan
sin that had b r o u g h t them into bondage, and now they repented and ¡worshipped God. Moses
vSKVEs' XND /a n d Aaron told Pharaoh, PROTECT^/ that God had said, “L e t . My people go.” Pharaoh mocked them, as he did not believe in
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