The species of locust was the 73x ‘arbeh, or common migratory locust (see above, p. 130*).
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892
The peculiarity of the plague was their coming in such immense numbers, for Egypt is by no means sv liable to devastation by locusts as Syria; and they swept clean all the remnants of vegetation that the hail had left, including the wheat and the spelt. The ground was darkened, that is, concealed by the multitude of the locusts. Burckhardt has described such a locust-plague in the Hauran (Syria, p. 381). Lepsius also, in March 1843, while aren in opening a sarcophagus in a mummy it, was suddenly overshadowed by a cloud of ocusts from the south-west, which darkened the heavens (p. 45). Denon saw in May an immense mass of locusts flying from east to west a little over the ground (p. 286). Volney’s description of the locust-plague in Syria is well known (i. 305). |
At Pharaoh’s entreaty Moses prayed for their removal, which was accomplished by a strong wind from the Mediterranean, which swept them into the Red Sea, for, destructive as they are, they are the sport of the winds so much that ‘tossed like a locust’ is a proverbial expression (Ps 109%).
For other references to locusts in Egypt see Tischendorf’s Reise im Orient, i. 252; Shaw, 165; Hasselquist, 254 ; Niebuhr, 168; Forskal, 81.
(9) The Plague of darkness was sent without warning, and was brought on By Moses stretchin forth his hand (107-*, E). For three days the lan was covered with a palpable cloud which shut out all light from sun, moon, and stars. This condition is described in the words 3¥n wp) ‘that one may feel (the) darkness’ (LXX ψηλαφητὸν σκότος). Of this plague there is a graphic account in Wis 17.
It has been supposed that the author of J did not know of this plague, from the words ‘only this once’ in v.17, but it may have been immediately after the locusts, as if a part of the same visita- tion. The condition of darkness referred to is atrikingly like that brought about by the severer form of the electrical wind hamsin. This is a S. or S.W. wind that is so named because it is liable to blow during the 25 days before and the 25 days after the vernal equinox (hamsin=50). It is often not so much a storm or violent wind as an oppres- sive hot blast charged with so much sand and fine dust that the air is darkened. It causes a black- ness equal to the worst of London fogs, while the air is so hot and full of dust that respiration is impeded. There are excellent accounts of these storms of darkness in Prosper Alpinus, Medic.
Avi t. i. 7; Savary, ii. 229; Niebuhr, i. 468; Legh, 48; v. Schubert, ii. 409; Ruppell, 270;
Sonnini, ii. 166; Pruner, 35; Wittman, ii. 54; Volney, i. 47; Pococke, i. 306. Denon says that it sometimes travels as a narrow stream, so that one part of the land is light while the rest is dark (P: 286). In such a way the Land of Goshen was eft unclouded while the rest of Egypt was dark. As the first plague showed God’s power over the river, so did this over the light of the sun, who as Ra was one of Egypt’s chief deities. At Pharaoh’s request this plague was also removed. Three days is not an uncommon duration for the hamsin.
(10) The Death of the Firstborn.—In his last interview with Pharaoh, Moses was dismissed from his presence with the threat of death if he again appeared on behalf of Israel, whereupon he announced God’s last judgment (11‘). The plague followed at midnight on that day. God claimed all the firstborn of humanity as His own, and ordained that in Israel they were to be redeemed by sacrifice (13:8), In this plague the unredeemed firstborn of Egypt were sacrificed in one great slaughter. It affected all classes from Pharaoh on the throne to the maid at the mill (115, J), to the captive in the prison (12%, J, P) as well as the domestic cattle. By this final catastrophe the obstinacy of Fnaraoh was overcome, and, as Moses
PLAGUES OF EGYPT
had foretold, the Egyptians not only freed Israel, but commanded their exodus.
There are many traditional and historical records of sudden outbreaks of plague. See Syncellua (i. 101-103), Diodorus (40), Thucydides (ii. 48), Procopius (ii. 22), ete. Modern outbreaks in the month of April, or a little after the vernal equinox, are reported by Bruce (iii. 715), Sonnini (i. 277), Tobler (Lustreise, i. 187), Legh (118). It is worthy of note that many authorities say that the plague often is worst at the time of the hamsin wind (Prosper Alpin. i. 7; Thevenot, i. 375; v. Schubert, ii. 188; Lane, i. 3; and Pruner, p. 419), The coexistence of cattle disease with the plague is mentioned by Débel (Wanderungen, ii. 205).
The account of this plague bears internal evi- dence that it is compiled from materials from all three sources.
This catastrophe has been regarded by some as a sudden outbreak of pestis siderans, but accord- ing to the narrative it cannot have been a natural plague, but on account of the peculiarities in its course and incidence it was evidently a direct interposition, and one the memory of which was meant to have a lasting effect on the conduct of Israel (1314-15),