The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 247

EXPOSITION Vers. 21-29-THE NINTH PLAGUE. The its extent, covering as it did "e.11 the land of ninth plague, like the third and the sixth, Egypt;" 2. In its intensity-" they saw not we.s inflicted without special warning. God one another" (ver. 23)-" darkness which may he.d e.nnoUDced, nfter the plague of boils, that be felt" ( ver. 21) ; 3. In its circumscription, he we.s about to " send e.11 his plagues upon extending, as it did, to e.11 Egypt except only the heart" of the king ; nnd so a succession of the land of Goshen (ver. 23). These circum- inflictions was to be expected. The ninth stances made Pharaoh at once recognise its plague probably followed the eighth after e. heaven-sent character, and request its removal very short interval. It is rightly regarded as of Moses, whom he sought to persuade by con- an aggravation of a well-known natural pheno- ceding the departure of the Israelites with menon - the Khamsin, or "Wind of the their families. He marred, however, the Desert," which commonly visits Egypt about whole grace of this concession by a. proviso the time cf the vernal equinox, and is accom- that they should leave behind them their flocks panied by nn awful and weird darkness. This and herds, viewing these as, equally with their is caused by the dense clouds of fine sand fu.milies, a security for their return. Moses which the wind brings with it, which inter- therefore indignantly rejected his offer-the cept the sun's light, and produce a darkness flocks and the herds should go with them- beyond that of our worst fogs, and compared he would not have a hoof left behind-they by some travellers to "the most gloomy did not know what sacrifices would be required night." The wind is depressing e.nd annoy- at the feast which they were nbout to keep, ing to an extreme degree. " While it lasts or how many (ver. 25, 26)-therefore they no man rises from his place ; men and beasts must take e.11. Pharaoh, greatly angered, hide themselves ; the inhabitants of towns and forthwith broke up the conference ( ver. 28), villages shut themselves up in their houses, in but not, e.s it would seem, before Moses, underground ape.rbnents, or vaults." It eque.lly displeased, hnd announced the. tenth usue.lly blows for a space of two, or nt most plague, and the results which would follow it three, days, and sometimes with great violence, (eh. xi. 4-8). though more often with only moderate force. Ver. 21.-Darkneas which may be felt. The visitation here recorded wns peculiar, 1 In Litere.lly, " and one she.11 feel, or grasp, dark-  238 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [err. x. 21-20,