he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

And the LORD said unto Moses

'Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be

' darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which 'may be felt.'

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, 'Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed let your little ones also go with you.' And Moses said, 'Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt

offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our GOD. 'Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof 'be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the 'LORD our GOD; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.'

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him, 'Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for ' in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.' And Moses said, 'Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again

no more.'

And Moses said, 'Thus saith the LORD, "About mid'night will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the

'first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first'born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto 'the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill ; ' and all the first-born of beasts. And there shall be a

'great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there

6

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was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.

But

against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast that ye may 'know how that the LORD doth put a difference between 'the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants 'shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves ' unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee and after that I will go out." And he

:

'went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying—

• This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: ' it shall be the first month of the year to you.

'Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In 'the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every 'man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a ' lamb for an house: and if the household be too little for 'the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house 'take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

• Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first 'year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of 'the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

'And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the 'two side posts, and on the upper door-post of the houses, 'wherein they shall eat it.

'And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with

'fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they 'shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with 'water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and ⚫ with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of ' it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth ' of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus 'shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in 'haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, ' and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both 'man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will 'execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be 'to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and ' when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the ⚫ land of Egypt.

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye 'shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your genera'tions; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

'Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first 'day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for who'soever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the 'seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in 'the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the 'seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no 'manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And · ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this 'selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land ' of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your ' generations by an ordinance for ever.'

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, 'Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye 'shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood 'that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two

• side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when HE seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as HE hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it 'shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, "What mean ye by this service?" that ye shall say, "It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when 'HE smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses."' And the people bowed the head and worshipped. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, 'Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both 'ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.'

And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, 'We be all dead men.'

And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for GOD said—

'Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, ' and they return to Egypt.'

But GOD led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him : for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, 'GOD will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.'

And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to