Pharaoh, and they were driven out of his

sence.

pre

But when the evil was inflicted, Pharaoh, under the pressure of distress, called for Moses and Aaron in haste, acknowledged his crime, and supplicated for mercy. Yet" when the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea, the obduracy of his heart returned. This calamity was succeeded by " a darkness over the Land of Egypt, even a darkness that may be felt. 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." Pharaoh now becomes more moderate in his demands, and is willing to permit men, women, and children to depart: "only let your flocks and your herds be stayed." Moses could not comply. He said "thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God." Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord until we come thither." Pharaoh was so enraged that he drove them from his presence with, a threat. "Take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt

die." Moses answers with an elevated and undaunted mind, well becoming the dignity of his mission; "Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again nomore." But before his departure he solemnly announced the greatest calamity which can befall a people, and which was to terminate the contest. He depicted in striking colours its extent, and the universal consternation it should occasion; and he foretold with exultation, that they would finally be compelled to comply with his demand, according to its utmost extent. The passage to which these observations refer, is so important, we shall transcribe the whole." And Moses said, thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the first born in the land of Egypt shall die; from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon the throne, even to the first born of the female servant that is behind the mill; and all the first born of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like to it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel, shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast; that ye may know how the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these

Exod. chap. xi. 4—9.

thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying; Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee; and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

Moses, by the command of God, prepared the Israelites for their departure, which he knew would be precipitate, instantly succeeding to the last dreadful calamity about to be inflicted upon the land. He ordered them to apply to the Egyptians, to give them such treasures as should be competent for their journey; " and the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyp tians for 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." This event was to constitute a new era in the Jewish economy. "The month shall be unto you the beginning of months it shall be the first month of the year unto you." The passover was also instituted as a signal of safety; the manner of observing it was minutely described; and the space of fourteen days was allowed to them for a due preparation, and the solemn observance of the festival. They were to eat it as upon the point of departure, "with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; it is the

* See Note E.

Lord's passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am Jehovah." The feast of unleavened bread was also instituted, as a memorial of their hasty departure from the land of bondage. "And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they."

When the awful moment was arrived" it came to pass that at midnight Jehovah smote all the first born in the land of Egypt, from the first born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the first born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first born of cattle."

A judgment so tremendous was irresistible. The passion of Dread now manifested its sovereignty, by subduing the most obdurate of hearts. An universal Panic seized the land, and they were as eager to dismiss the Hebrews as Pharaoh had been anxious to retain them. No further conditions were proposed; the permission, or rather the command, was absolute and peremptory; and the sovereign now implored the blessing of that Jehovah whom he had resisted and despised. "And Pharaoh rose up in the night, and he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians;

and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel, and go serve the Lord, as ye have said; and begone and bless me also." The Egyptians also. were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for,. they said we be all dead men.' "And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders." "For they were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry, neither had they prepared themselves any victual."

The sacred historian informs us that the Israelites had sojourned in Egypt about four hundred and thirty years; and that during this period, their population had increased to about six hundred thousand Men. Thus it is probable that the number of these emigrants exceeded two millions of souls. It is said that a mixed multitude went up also with them, and flocks and herds, even very much cattle." It is natural to suppose that this mixed multitude consisted of Egyptians, Ethiopians, and others, who had be