Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/177



OSES and  Aaron  went  to  Pharao  (Fig.  21)  and  demanded, in the  name  of  God,  that  he  should  allow  the  people  of Israel  to  go  out  into  the  desert  to  offer  sacrifice  to  the  Lord. Pharao proudly  answered: “Who  is  the  Lord that  I should  hear His voice,  and  let  the  people  go? I know not  the  Lord,  neither will I let  Israel  go.”  And  from  that  day  forth,  he  ordered  the overseers and  taskmasters  to  oppress the  Israelites  more  and  more, by putting  them  to  still  harder work.



The Lord  told  Moses  and Aaron to  appear  again  before Pharao. They did  as  the  Lord commanded, and  Aaron  cast  his rod before  Pharao, and  it  was changed into  a serpent. Pharao called the  magicians,  and  they,  by enchantments  and  certain  secrets, also turned  their  rods  into  serpents; but Aaron’s  rod  devoured  their rods. Yet the  heart  of  Pharao remained hardened ,  and  he  would not let  the  people  go. Then the  Lord  began  to  send  ten  plagues upon the  Egyptians.

Next morning,  by  the  command  of  God,  Aaron  went  to  the bank of  the  Nile,  and  struck  the  river  with  his  rod,  and  instantly