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.
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.
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.