EXPOSITION. Vers. 4---8.-The writer returns here to his declaration, which showed that he e.cted in the accollllt of the List interview between Moses matter merely e.s God's instrument--" Thus and Pharaoh, repeating the introductory words sa.ith Jehovah." He makes the announcement of eh. x. 29-" end Moses said." Having with the utmost plainness, noting the exact accepted his dismisBe.l, and declared tha.t he time of the visitation (ver. 4)-its extent would not see the face of Pharaoh any more (ver. 5)-the terrible" cry" that would follow (ibid.), Moses, before quitting the presence, (ver. 6) - the complete exemption of the proceeded to announce the List plague, pre• Israelites (ver. 7)-themessagewhich Pharaoh facing the 11.I1J1ouncement, e.s 11Bual ( eh vii. would send him by his servants, to depo.rt e.t 17; viii. 2; iL I, 13; x 3), with the wlefun once-and his own intention of e.cting on it llII, XI, 4-8.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS.
(ver. 8). Then, without waiting for II reply, the Egyptians as a sensible aggravation of the In hot nngcr at tho prolonged obstin1J.Cy of tho infliction. It would wound them both in their mono.rch, he went out domestic and in their religions sensibilities. Ver. 6.-There shall be a great cry. The Ver. 4.-About midnight.-Comp!lre eh. violence of Oriental emotions, and the freedom xii. 29. It would add to the horror of the with which they a.re vented are well known. infliction that it ehould come in the depth of Herodotus relates that the Egyptians stript the night. Probably the night intended was themselves and beat their breasts e.t funeral~ not the next night, but one left purposely (ii. 85) No doubt they e.lso uttered shrill indefinite, that terror and suspense might work le.mentations, as did the Greeks (Lucian, De upon the mind of Phllrooh. Shall I go out. Luctu, § 12) and the Persians (Herod. ix. 24). The word " I " ie repressed in the original, With bitter mourning in every house, the and is emphatic. This crowning plague J eho- " cry" might well be one, such as there had vah inflicts by no instrumentality, but takes been none like before, neither would there be wholly upon himself. (See eh, xii. 12, 13, any like a.gain. 23, 27, 29.) Ver. 7.-Shall not a. dog move his tongue. Ver. 5.-All the :II.rat-born. The law of So fllr from a sudden destruction coming upon primogeniture prevailed in Egypt, as among them, there shall not so much as a dog-bark at most of the nations of antiquity. The mon- them. They shall incur no hurt-no danger !lrchy (under the New Empire, e.t any rate) (Comp!lre Josh. x. 21.) That ye may know was hereditary, and the eldest son was known how that the Lord doth put a diJference-i.e., as erpa wten sa, or" hereditary Crown Prince." " that both ye courtiers and all Egypt may Estates descended to the eldest son, and in know how great a difference God puts between many cases high dignities e.lso. No severer ns--his peculiar people-and you wretched blow could have been sent on the nation, if it idolaters." were not to be e.nnihile.ted, tha.n the loss in Ver. 8.-All these thy servants--i.e., all each house of the hope of the family-the these courtiers here present. Shall come. p!lrents' stay, the other children's gullrdie.n e.nd Literally, "shall descend." Kalisch observes protector. Who sitteth. " Sitteth" refers to that by the Hebrew idiom " going from a "Phllre.oh," not to "first-bom." The meaning nobler place to one of less distinction is ea.lied is, " from the first-bom of the king who occu- descending" ( Comment. p. 133). And bow pies the throne to the first-bom of the humblest down. Make obeisance to me, as if I were a. slave or serve.nt." This last is represented by king. The last of the plAgues would cause the handmaid who is behind the mill, since the courtiers to look on Moses e.s the real king grinding at a mill was reg!lrded as one of the of the land, and pay him royal honours. All severest e.nd most irksome forms of Li.boor. the people that follow thee. Literally, as i11 The work was commonly assigned to captives the margin, " that is at thy feet ; " i.e., that (Is. xlvii. 1, 2; Jndg. xvi. 21). It was done follows and obeys thee." Tbe Egyptians by either one or two persons sitting, and con- looked on Moses e.s king, or at e.ny rate prince sisted in rote.ting rapidly the upper millstone of his nation. In a great 1LI1.ger. Literally, upon the lower by means of e. handle. All the "in heat of e.nger." The abrupt dismissal 11.rat-bom of beasts. Not the first-bom of (eh. x. 28), Lhe threat against his life (ibid.) cattle only, but of all beasts. The Egyptians and the announcement that no more inter- had pet animals in most houses, dogs, apes, views would be gre.nted him moved the indig- monkeys, perhaps cats e.nd ichneumons. Most ne.tio11 of Moses, who was not conscious to him- temples had se.cred ani.me.ls, and in most dis- self of having done anything to dese1 ;e such tricts of Egypt, some beasts were regllrded as treatment. He had answered the king ce.lmly sacred, and might not be killed, their death and temperately ( eh. x. 29 ; x.i. 4--8) ; but being viewed as a calamity. The loss of so knew what his feelings had been, and here many animals would consequently be felt by records them.
HOMILETICS. Vera. 5-7.-The issues of life and death are in the hand of God. For the most part there is, or there seems to be, one event to the righteous and to the wicked (Eccles. ix. 2). Death happens alike to all, and does not appear to choose his victims on any principle of sparing good and punishing ill desert. War, famine, pestilence, sweep away equally the good and the bad. This is the general law of God's providence; but he makes occasional exceptions. The issues of life and death are really his. Not a sparrow falls to the g!l")lnd without our Father. If he see fit, he can "put a difference" between his own people and others. He can strike with death whomsoever he pleases; he ca.n spare those whom he choo~es to spare. We see him here : - 250 THE BOOK OF EXODU& to:i. x.r. 4-8