of Egypt died, who sought to avenge the death of the Egyptian that had been slain; but his successor was equally oppressive to the Hebrews.

While he was watching the flocks of Jethro, his father-in-law, in the desert by mount Horeb, Moses was surprised and terrified by a miraculous. appearance, by which he was informed, for the first time, of the benignant designs of God towards the Israelites; and that he would be commissioned to undertake the arduous office of being their deliverer, from the yoke of oppression. He was ordered to return to his countrymen, assemble the elders, and inform them, that "the God of their fathers had appeared to him ;” had manifested his commiseration at their distress, and his purpose to deliver them from servitude, and to replace them in the land formerly inhabited by their ancestors. Moses was assured that the Israelites with the elders would hearken to his voice, and that they should conjointly. apply to the Sovereign for permission to go three days journey into the wilderness, to sacrifice to their God. He was also informed that the heart of Pharaoh would be hardened against them; nor would he attend to their supplications, until Pharaoh and the Egyptians should be fully convinced of the divinity of his mission, by the numerous plagues which he should be empowered.

to inflict upon the land of Egypt: that finally, the grant would not only be obtained from the Sovereign, but the Egyptians themselves would facilitate the departure of the Hebrews, by accommodating them with raiment, and abundance of wealth.

The narrative further informs us, that Moses himself was incredulous and reluctant; and that he stated various impediments to his being acknowledged as a messenger from God. He was immediately enabled to perform a miracle for his own conviction, and he suffered a temporary punishment for his incredulity. The rod in his hand was turned into a serpent, and recovered its form; his hand became leprous and was immediately restored. The diffidence of Moses in his own qualifications induced him still to allege, that he was not endowed with the powers of speech competent to the design. This objection was removed by the appointment of his brother Aaron to attend him and be his spokesman, who was a man of eloquent speech. "He shall be thy spokesman unto the people; he shall be unto thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be unto him instead of a God, and thou shalt take this rod in thy hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs."

Moses thus convinced, commissioned, and

qualified, obtained leave of Jethro to return to Egypt, with his family. Moses and Aaron first went, and "gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel; and Aaron spake all the words, which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did signs in the sight of the people; and the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had boked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped."*

Having thus obtained the unanimous consent of the people, they delivered the message of the Lord unto Pharaoh, and told Pharaoh, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. But Pharaoh refused, saying, Who is Jehovah, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go. He interpreted the application into an excuse for indolence; and he augmented the sufferings of the Israelites, compelling them to employ much of their time to gather straw, in order to make the usual tale of bricks, without granting a diminution of the number required of them as a task. This addition of servitude excited their resentment against Moses and

* Exod. c. iv. 29.

Aaron, as the efficient causes of it: who were thus placed in an embarrassed and critical situation. "Ye have made our favour to be abhorred in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword into their hands to slay us." "And Moses returned unto the Lord and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil intreated this people? Why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he has done evil to this people, neither hast thou delivered thy people at all."

Upon a second application to Pharaoh, Aaron was empowered to work a miracle at the command of Moses, in his presence, and upon his requiring a miracle, as an evidence of their divine mission. "Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent." "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; they also did in like manner with their enchantments."

It is possible that Pharaoh, imagining the imitations of the Egyptians to be real miracles also, performed by the power of his gods, interpreted them into a counter order, prohibiting the departure of the Israelites; the repugnance he felt to comply with the demand of Moses, would thus be greatly strengthened, and as it were respected as an act of religion. Nor did the obvious superiority of the miracle

performed by Moses, whose serpent swallowed up those artfully substituted in the place of their rods, by the sorcerers, appear to be of such importance as to change his resolution. His heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go.

The miracle which succeeded was of a more alarming nature; and it induced a punishment. "Aaron smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh, and his servants, and all the waters were turned into blood; the fish died and the river stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink of the river;" and they were obliged to dig round about the river to procure fresh water. The magicians are stated to have imitated this miracle also. From the nature of the case we may infer that the imitation must have been upon a very small scale; for as the waters in the river and in the streams, ponds, and pools supplied by it, were all turned into blood, they could simply try their experiments of deception by the water procured from the wells recently dug. Pharaoh might possibly ascribe the limitation of their power to this circumstance alone; and he still continued obsti

nate.

After the respite of seven days, Moses was ordered to renew his application, and to threaten