with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it be came a nation. V. 25. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast: and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field. V: 26. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. V. 27. And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time V. 31. And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. V. 32. But the wheat and the rye were not smitten: for they were not grown up. V. 34. And when Pharaoh saw, that the rain, and the hail, and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, &c. He stifled the dictates of conscience, and acted against conviction. In the foregoing instances I have endeavoured to shew the aptness of each judgment in respect to the people upon whom it was brought. This likewise, of which I am go ing to treat, will be found equally significant and proper. It was foretold to Pharaoh by Moses, that upon the very next morning there should be a grievous rain, attended with hail, and thunder. This must have been a circumstance of all others the most incredible to an Egyptian. For in Egypt there fell no rain: the want of which was supplied by dews; and by the overflowing of the Nile. Hence Tibullus, speaking of the blessings accruing from that river, says, Te propter nullos tellus tua postulat imbres, ever say, Mela likewise calls the country---terra expers imbrium. 1. 1. c. 9. Modern travellers howthat this is not precisely true. Hasselquist and other writers mention, that upon the sea-coast below, near Damiata, and Alexandria, showers are not uncommon: and that even as high up as Cairo a few drops will sometimes fall from a chance cloud, which over. Pocock goes so far as to say, that at Faiume, which is in the ancient nome of Arsinoe, it both rained, and hailed, for the greater part of a morning. But Faiume is, I believe, a day's journey from any portion of 2 passes over. I L. 1. Eleg. 7. v. 25. 2 Hasselquist, p. 453. 3 P. 59. Delta, or Egypt Proper, and borders upon the high lands of Libya. This is certain, that no country upon earth, to which we have access, has so little rain as Egypt: and particularly the upper part of it. No moisture of the air, says here condensed into showers. 3 2 Ουκ ομβριον ύδωρ. assures us, that the air and seasons of this country are always the same. He acknowledges, that at one time there was an instance of rain in Upper 3 Egypt. It was at Thebes, and in the reign of Psammenitus: but he stiles it ανάρσιον πρηγμα, something unnatural, and alarming; and adds, that it never happened before nor after. A person, who had resided some time in these parts, told * Aristides, that he never saw a cloud in summer. even at Alexandria, where there is rain, it seems to be never of long duration. Hence Marcellinus, in his account of this city, tells us --- nullo pæne die, incolentes hancce civitatem solem serenum non vident---the inhabitants hardly ever see the sun obscured by a cloud. But this serenity was more apparent in the upper And Hasselquist, p. 49. * De Facie in Orbe Lunæ, p. 939. ◆ Tom. 3. p. 569. 3 L. 3. c. 10. p. 198. parts whence Claudian very truly stiles the country---' Ægyptus sine nube ferax---Egypt is fruitful without any cloud to afford rain. Farther Propriety in these Judgments. The Egyptians therefore must have perceived themselves particularly aimed at in these fearful events; which were so contrary to all experience. For they were witnesses to not only deluges of rain, but hail mingled with rain; and these attended with thunder and fire, to their great amazement.---For the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground. -Again-Hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. Now the Egyptians were superstitious above all people upon earth. We learn from Herodotus that they were particularly addicted to the observance of portentous appearances. Every uncommon circumstance was esteemed of this class. But as these were imaginary portents, which arose merely from a superstitious dread, it pleased God to punish their blind credulity by bring ing upon them some real prodigies; some preternatural evils, to which they had never been witness. Such was the rain, and hail; and the fire, which ran on the ground, to their great amazement and ruin. Its coming was determinately foretold: nor could all the deities of Egypt prevent its fearful effects. Those of the people, who took warning, were preserved: but all who neglected the caution, and who did not shelter themselves, were, both man and beast, destroyed. There seems farther a great fitness and propriety in the Egyptians being punished by fire, and by water; as they were guilty of gross. idolatry towards these elements; and adored them, as deities. Porphyry intimates that this. was a very ancient worship, and adds,---1 T και νυν εν τη ανοιξει το άγιο Σεραπίδος ἡ θρησκεια δια πυρος και ύδατος γινεται. Even at this day, when they open the temple of Serapis, the worship commences by fire and water. And he gives a reason---* údwe ὕδωρ και πυς και πυρ σεβοντες μάλιςα των σοιχείων. It seems, that of all elements they Eusebius also says-idwę xαι avg ciuri. Prep. Evan. 1. 3. p. 95. πυρ -Aquam, quam colis. Jul. Firmicus, p. 5. |