Chapter VII

THE HARDENING OF PHARAOH'S HEART, vii. 3-13.

The assertion offends many, 112.--Was he a free agent? When hardened. A.V. incorrect, 113.--He resists five plagues spontaneously. The last five are penal, 114.--Not "hardened" in wickedness, but in nerve. A.V. confuses three words: His heart is (_a_) "hardened," 115.--(_b_) it is made "strong" (_c_) "heavy," 116.--Other examples of these words, 117.--The warning implied, 117-19.--Moses returns with the signs, 119.--The functions of miracle, 120.

THE PLAGUES, vii. 14.

Their vast range, 121.--Their relation to Pantheism, Idolatry, Philosophy, 122.--And to the gods of Egypt. Their retributive fitness, 123.--Their arrangement, 124.--Like our Lord's, not creative, 125.--God in common things, 126.--Some we inflict upon ourselves. Yet rationalistic analogies fail, 127.--Duration of the conflict, 128.

THE FIRST PLAGUE, vii, 14-25.

The probable scene, 129.--Extent of the plague. The magicians. Its duration, 131.--Was Israel exempt? Contrast with first miracle of Jesus, 132.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SECOND PLAGUE, viii. 1-15.

Submission demanded. Severity of plague, 133.--Pharaoh humbles himself, 134.--"Glory over me." Pharaoh breaks faith, 135.

THE THIRD PLAGUE, viii. 16-19.

Various theories. A surprise. Magicians baffled, 136.--What they confess, 137.

THE FOURTH PLAGUE, viii. 20-32.

"Rising up early," 137.--Bodily pain. Beetles or flies? "A mixture," 138--Goshen exempt. Pharaoh suffers. He surrenders, 139.--Respite and treachery. Would Moses have returned? 140.

CHAPTER IX.

THE FIFTH PLAGUE, ix. 1-7.

First attack on life. Animals share our fortunes, 141. The new summons. Murrain, 142.--Pharaoh's curiosity, 143.

THE SIXTH PLAGUE, ix. 8-12.

No warning, yet Author manifest. Ashes of the furnace, 144.---Suffering in the flesh. The magicians again. Pharaoh's heart "made strong," 145.--Dares not retaliate, 146.

THE SEVENTH PLAGUE, ix. 13-35.

Expostulation not mockery, 146-7.--God is wronged by slavery, 147.--Civil liberty is indebted to religion. "Plagues upon thine heart," 148.--A mis-rendering: why he was not crushed, 149.--An opportunity of escape. The storm, 150.--Ruskin upon terrors of thunderstorm, 151.--Pharaoh confesses sin, 152.--Moses intercedes. The weather in history. Job's assertion, 153.

CHAPTER X.

THE EIGHTH PLAGUE, x. 1-20.

Moses encouraged, 154.--Deliverances should be remembered. A sterner rebuke. Locusts in Egypt, 155.--Their effect. The court interferes. Yet "their hearts hardened" also, 156--Infatuation of Pharaoh. Parallel of Napoleon, 157.--Women and little ones did share in festivals, 158.--A gentle wind. Locusts. Another surrender, 159.--Relief. Our broken vows, 160.

THE NINTH PLAGUE, x. 21-29.

Menephtah's sun-worship, 161.--Suddenness of the plague. Concentrated narrative, 162.--Darkness represents death, 163.--The Book of Wisdom upon this plague, 164-5.--Isaiah's allusions. The Pharaoh's character, 165.--Altercation with Moses, 166.

CHAPTER XI.

THE LAST PLAGUE ANNOUNCED, xi. 1-10.

This chapter supplements the last. The blow is known to be impending. Uses of its delay, 167.--Israel shall claim wages. The menace, 168.--Parallel with St. John, 169-70.