exodus - amazon web serviceslogosdocs.s3.amazonaws.com/...exodus/006...part-2.pdf · the(plagues!...

Exodus!!

Lesson*#6*“Gunfight*at*the*OK*Corral,*Plagues*6;10”*

(Exodus(9:(8(–(12:(36)((

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In(Lesson(#5(God(unleashed(the(first(five(of(ten(plagues(on(Egypt.((

With(each(plague(Pharaoh(became(everMmore(stubborn(and(

recalcitrant.((The(first(plague,(turning(the(waters(of(the(Nile(into(

blood,(devastated(Egypt,(and(it(was(a(direct(frontal(aQack(on(the(

EgypSan(god,(Osiris,(one(of(the(primary(gods(in(the(EgypSan(

pantheon.((

In(plagues(two,(three(and(four—the(frogs,(gnats(and(flies—God(

seemingly(toyed(with(the(EgypSans(and(their(gods,(subjecSng(them(

to(maddening(afflicSons(and(discomfort:((a(sort(of(divine(gloaSng(

before(dropping(the(hammer.((

With(plague(five(God(got(serious,(killing(all(the(livestock(in(Egypt(with(

a(virulent(pesSlence,(perhaps(anthrax(or(murrain,(seYng(an(ominous(

tone(for(a(series(of(five(everMmore(lethal(plagues,(culminaSng(in(the(

slaughter(of(all(the(firstborn(children(in(Egypt.((

(

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In(Lesson(#6(the(plagues(intensify,(finally(crippling(Egypt(and(

bringing(Pharaoh(to(his(knees.((Hearing(the(cries(and(moans(of(his(

people(as(the(angel(of(death(stalks(the(night,(while(holding(the(cold,(

lifeless(body(of(his(own(firstMborn(son,(Pharaoh(commands(Moses:((

“Leave(my(people(at(once,(you(and(the(Israelites!”((Exodus(12:(32).((

Convinced(that(if(they(don’t(“get(out(of(Dodge”(fast(the(EgypSans(

would(slaughter(them(all,(the(Israelites(plunder(and(loot(their(

EgypSan(neighbors,(pull(up(stakes(and(leave(en*masse.(((

!!(

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((( (( (((The(Plagues!

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Prologue((7:(8M13)(

1st(Plague,(Water(Turned(to(Blood((7:(14M24)(

2nd(Plague,(Frogs((7:(25(–(8:(11)(

3rd(Plague,(Gnats((8:(12M15)(

4th(Plague,(Flies((8:(16M28)(

5th(Plague,(PesSlence((9:(1M7)(

6th(Plague,(Boils((9:(8M12)(

7th(Plague,(Hail(&(Fire((9:(13M35)(

8th(Plague,(Locusts((10:(1M20)(

9th(Plague,(Darkness((10:(21M29)(

10th(Plague,(Death(of(the(Firstborn((11:(1M10)(

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Golden*Haggadah*(MS(27210),(c.(1320.((BriSsh(Library,(London.(

One*of*the*finest*surviving*Haggadahs*of*medieval*Spain*containing*sumptuous*illuminaGons*against*gold;tooled*backgrounds.**Produced*near*Barcelona*in*French*Gothic*style.*

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Scooping(up(a(handful(of(soot(from(a(kiln(and(casSng(it(skyward(has(

the(ominous(look(and(feel(of(magic.((As(the(soot(disperses(in(the(

wind,(it(spreads(mysteriously(throughout(Egypt,(infecSng(man(and(

beast(alike(with(repulsive(epidermal(boils.((

The(Hebrew(shehin*(“boils”),(from(the(root(that(means(“to(be(hot,”(refers(to(

a(variety(of(painful,(burning(skin(diseases.((That(the(soot(is(taken(from(a(hot(

kiln(reinforces(the(imagery(of(the(burning(heat(of(“boils.”(

(

• In(LeviScus(13:(18,(a(person(who(has(such(a(“boil”(must(present(himself(to(a(

priest,(who(will(determine(if(the(condiSon(is(infecSous.((

• In(Deuteronomy(28:(35,(such(“boils”(are(a(punishment(from(God:((“The*Lord*will*strike*you*with*malignant*boils*of*which*you*cannot*be*cured,*on*your*knees*and*legs,*and*from*the*soles*of*your*feet*to*the*crown*of*your*head.”**

• (In(2(Kings(20:(1M7,(King(Hezekiah(suffers(from(a(such(terminal(condiSon(and(

is(miraculously(healed(when(Isaiah(brings(him(a(“poulSce(of(figs”(to(apply(to(

the(boil.(

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An*EgypGan*priest*performs*the*“Opening*of*the*Mouth”*ceremony,*part*of*the*burial*rites*for*a*dead*Pharaoh.*

An(EgypSan(priest(with(an(

infecSous(skin(disease(could(

not(serve(the(gods;(he(must(

be(pure.((

“Because*of*the*boils*the*magicians*could*not*stand*in*Moses’*presence,*for*there*were*boils*on*the*magicians*as*well*as*on*the*rest*of*the*EgypGans”*(9:(11).((

Plague*#6*deprives*all*the*EgypGan*gods*of*service*from*their*priests.*

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In(addiSon,(the(solar(goddess(

Sekhmet,(daughter(of(Ra(and(

the(warriorMprotector(of(

Pharaoh,(was(believed(to(

have(the(power(of(both(

creaSng(epidemics(and(

ending(them.((Sekhmet(is(

unable(to(protect(Pharaoh(as(

the(plague(rages(on,(affecSng(

even(her(own(group(of(

priests(called(the(Sunu.((

Relief*of*the*warrior;goddess*Sekhmet,*Kom*Ombo*Temple,*Egypt.*


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Prologue((7:(8M13)(


2nd(Plague,(Frogs((7:(25(–(8:(11)(









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John(MarSn.((The*Seventh*Plague*(oil(on(canvas),(1823.(((Museum(of(Fine(Arts,(Boston.(

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The(plague(of(hail(and(fire(outpaces(all(

the(other(plagues(combined.((In(a(

thunderous,(pyrotechnic(display(of(

God’s(power,(the(hail(and(fire(devastate(

what(remains(of(the(EgypSan(economy,(

splintering(the(crops(and(seYng(the(

fields(ablaze(as(lightning(races(across(

the(ground.((((

Instead(of(disaster(welling(up(from(the(

Nile(or(mysteriously(permeaSng(the(air,(

in(the(hail(and(fire(God(launches(a(

violent(assault(from(above.((

Nut,*goddess*of*the*sky,*and*her*husband*Geb,*god*of*the*earth.*

Nut,(the(goddess(of(the(sky((and(mother(of(Osiris)(who(brings(the(blessing(of(

the(the(sun(and(the(crops,(is(powerless.((One(can(only(imagine(the(anguish(

and(desperaSon(as(thousands(of(people(lio(their(voices(in(prayer(to(Nut,(and(

the(prayers(go(unanswered.((

(( ((( (((!(

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“Thus*says*the*Lord,*the*God*of*the*Hebrews:**Let*my*people*go*to*serve*me,*for*this*Gme*I*will*unleash*all*my*blows*upon*you*and*your*servants*and*your*people,*so*that*you*may*know*that*there*is*none*like*me*anywhere*on*earth*.*.*.*this*is*why*I*have*let*you*survive:**to*show*you*my*power*and*to*make*my*name*resound*throughout*the*earth!”**(9:(13M14;(16).((

• “I*am*going*to*rain*down*such*fierce*hail*as*there*has*never*been*in*Egypt*from*the*day*it*was*founded*up*to*the*present”((9:(18)(

• “.*.*.*the*hail*was*so*fierce*that*nothing*like*it*had*been*seen*in*Egypt*since*it*became*a*naGon”((9:(24)(• “[Locusts]*will*cover*the*surface*of*the*earth,*so*that*the*earth*will*not*be*visible*.*.*.*something*your*parents*and*your*grandparents*have*not*seen*from*the*day*they*appeared*on*this*soil*unGl*today”*(10:(5M6).(

This(rhetorical(drum(roll(makes(the(unambiguous(statement(.(.(.(

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“And*you*will*know*that*I*am*YHWH!”*

Michelangelo,(“CreaSon(of(the(Sun(and(the(Moon,”(detail((fresco),(1512.(((

SisSne(Chapel,(VaScan(City.(


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Koberger’s(Bible.((Plague*of*Locusts*(handMcolored(woodcut),(1483.(Bridwell(Library,(Southern(Methodist(University,(Dallas,(Texas.(

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!Listen*to*this,*you*elders!**Pay*a\enGon,*all*who*live*in*the*land.**Has*anything*like*this*ever*happened*in*your*lifeGme*or*in*the*lifeGme*of*your*ancestors?**Report*it*to*your*children,*and*their*children*to*the*next*generaGon.**What*the*cu\er*le^,*the*swarming*locust*has*devoured;*what*the*swarming*locust*le^,*the*hopper*has*devoured;*what*the*hopper*has*le^,*the*consuming*locust*has*devoured.*(

( ( ( ((Joel(1:2M4)((

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Locusts(were(the(scourge(of(the(ancient(world.((Long(aoer(the(

Exodus(the(prophet(Joel(says:((

Recently,(a(swarm(of(1(million(locusts(crossed(

from(Egypt(into(Israel((Reported(in(the(Jewish*Daily*Forward,(March(5,(2013).(

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The(devastaSon(brought(by(locusts(is(hard(to(imagine.((

One(square(mile(of(a(swarm(contains(from(100,000,000(

to(200,000,000(locusts,(and(swarms(typically(cover(as(

much(as(400(square(miles.((Each(locust(eats(its(own(body(

weight(daily,(and(they(strip(a(country(bare,(leaving(

millions(of(people(in(famine(for(years.(((

The(cumulaSve(force(of(the(plagues(has(had(a(

devastaSng(effect(on(Egypt,(its(people(and(its(economy:((

the(land(lies(buried(beneath(a(putrid(mass(of(decaying(

fish(and(frogs;(the(livestock(have(been(felled(by(anthrax;(

the(crops(have(been(destroyed(by(hail(and(fire;(disease(

and(infecSons(have(ravaged(the(people—and(now(Egypt(

faces(an(onslaught(of(locusts.(((

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Could(it(possibly(get(any(worse?((

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2nd(Plague,(Frogs((7:(25(–(8:(11)(









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Darkness(so(thick(it(can(be(felt(.(.(.((

((( (( ((((

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“Then*the*Lord*said*to*Moses:**Stretch*out*your*hand*toward*the*sky,*that*over*the*land*of*Egypt*there*may*be*such*darkness*that*one*can*feel*it”((10:(21).((

• The(contrast(between(light(in(the(land(of(Goshen(and(absolute(darkness(in(the(rest(of(Egypt(sets(the(stage(for(the(contrast(

between(life(for(the(Hebrews(and(death(for(the(EgypSans(in(the(

climaSc(tenth(plague.(

(

• The(plague(of(darkness(is(a(direct(frontal(aQack(on(the(primary(god(

of(the(EgypSan(pantheon,(Ra(the(sun(god.(

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This(is(the(final(

squaring(off(between(

God(and(Pharaoh.(((

NegoSaSons(are(over.(

The(stage(is(set(for(

unleashing(the(terrible(

last(plague—the(

slaughter(of(the(firstM

born(children(of(Egypt.(

“Pharaoh*said*to*Moses,*‘Leave*me,*and*see*to*it*that*you*do*not*see*my*face*again!**For*the*day*you*see*my*face*you*will*die!’**Moses*replied,*‘You*are*right!**I*will*never*see*your*face*again!’”((10:(28M29).(

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Charles(Sprague(Pearce.((LamentaGons*over*the*Death*of*the*First;Born*of*Egypt*(oil(on(canvas),(1877.(((

Smithsonian(American(Art(Museum,(Washington,(D.C.(

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Francisco(de(Zurbarán.((Angus*Dei*(oil(on(canvas),(c.(1635.(((Prado(Museum,(Madrid.((

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As(every(firstborn(person(or(

animal(is(dedicated(to(God,(so(

every(firstborn(person(or(

animal(had(been(dedicated(to(

the(EgypSan(gods.((By(killing(

the(firstborn(children(and(

animals(of(the(EgypSans,(God(

deprives(every*god(in(the(EgypSan(pantheon(of(what(

righvully(belongs(to(them.((

As*the*Israelites*plunder*the*EgypGans,*so*does*God*plunder*the*EgypGan*gods.*

“The*Lord*spoke*to*Moses*and*said:**Consecrate*to*me*every*firstborn;*whatever*opens*the*womb*among*the*IsraeliGes,*whether*human*being*or*beast,*belongs*to*me”*(Exodus(13:(1).(

( ( ( ( ( ((

Arthur(Hacker.((And*There*Was*a*Great*Cry*in*Egypt*(oil(on(canvas),(1897.((Private(collecSon,(

anonymous((sold*at*aucGon*at*ChrisGe’s,*London,*June*27,*1988,*Lot*703).*

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David(Roberts.((The*Israelites*Leaving*Egypt*(oil(on(canvas),(c.(1830.(((Birmingham(Museum(and(Art(Gallery,(Birmingham,(England.(

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QuesSons(for(discussion(and(thought(**

1.   What(is(the(primary(purpose(of(the(plague(of(“boils”?(((

2.   The(plague(of(hail(and(fire(begins(a(sequence(of(plagues(that(culminates(in(the(death(of(the(firstborn.((How(does(each(plague(build,(one(upon(the(other?(

3.   In(Exodus(10:(7(Pharaoh’s(servants(say:((“Do(you(not(yet(realize(that(Egypt(is(being(destroyed?”((Of(course,(Pharaoh(knows—so(why(does(he(conSnue(the(deadly(game?(

4.   Aoer(the(plague(of(locusts(comes(darkness.((If(you(were(an(EgypSan(having(experienced(the(first(eight(plagues,(what(would(you(think(as(you(sit(in(the(dark?((What(would(you(feel?(

5.   How(can(one(morally(jusSfy(God(slaughtering(all(the(firstborn(children(and(animals(of(Egypt?((

(

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Copyright(©(2014(by(William(C.(Creasy(

( All( rights( reserved.( No( part( of( this( course—audio,( video,(

photography,( maps,( Smelines( or( other( media—may( be(

reproduced(or(transmiQed(in(any(form(by(any(means,(electronic(

or( mechanical,( including( photocopying,( recording( or( by( any(

informaSon( storage( or( retrieval( devices( without( permission( in(

wriSng(or(a(licensing(agreement(from(the(copyright(holder.(

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