The assertion offends many, 112.—Was he a free agent? When hardened. A.V. incorrect, 113.—He resists five plagues spontaneously. The last five are penal, 114.—Not “hardened” in wickedness, but in nerve. A.V. confuses three words: His heart is (_a_) “hardened,” 115.—(_b_) it is made “strong” (_c_) “heavy,” 116.—Other examples of these words, 117.—The warning implied, 117–19.—Moses returns with the signs, 119.—The functions of miracle, 120. THE PLAGUES, vii. 14. Their vast range, 121.—Their relation to Pantheism, Idolatry, Philosophy, 122.—And to the gods of Egypt. Their retributive fitness, 123.—Their arrangement, 124.—Like our Lord’s, not creative, 125.—God in common things, 126.—Some we inflict upon ourselves. Yet rationalistic analogies fail, 127.—Duration of the conflict, 128. THE FIRST PLAGUE, vii, 14–25. The probable scene, 129.—Extent of the plague. The magicians. Its duration, 131.—Was Israel exempt? Contrast with first miracle of Jesus, 132. CHAPTER VIII. THE SECOND PLAGUE, viii. 1–15. Submission demanded. Severity of plague, 133.—Pharaoh humbles himself, 134.—“Glory over me.” Pharaoh breaks faith, 135. THE THIRD PLAGUE, viii. 16–19. Various theories. A surprise. Magicians baffled, 136.—What they confess, 137. THE FOURTH PLAGUE, viii. 20–32. “Rising up early,” 137.—Bodily pain. Beetles or flies? “A mixture,” 138—Goshen exempt. Pharaoh suffers. He surrenders, 139.—Respite and treachery. Would Moses have returned? 140. CHAPTER IX. THE FIFTH PLAGUE, ix. 1–7. First attack on life. Animals share our fortunes, 141. The new summons. Murrain, 142.—Pharaoh’s curiosity, 143. THE SIXTH PLAGUE, ix. 8–12. No warning, yet Author manifest. Ashes of the furnace, 144.—-Suffering in the flesh. The magicians again. Pharaoh’s heart “made strong,” 145.—Dares not retaliate, 146. THE SEVENTH PLAGUE, ix. 13–35. Expostulation not mockery, 146–7.—God is wronged by slavery, 147.—Civil liberty is indebted to religion. “Plagues upon thine heart,” 148.—A mis-rendering: why he was not crushed, 149.—An opportunity of escape. The storm, 150.—Ruskin upon terrors of thunderstorm, 151.—Pharaoh confesses sin, 152.—Moses intercedes. The weather in history. Job’s assertion, 153. CHAPTER X. THE EIGHTH PLAGUE, x. 1–20. Moses encouraged, 154.—Deliverances should be remembered. A sterner rebuke. Locusts in Egypt, 155.—Their effect. The court interferes. Yet “their hearts hardened” also, 156—Infatuation of Pharaoh. Parallel of Napoleon, 157.—Women and little ones did share in festivals, 158.—A gentle wind. Locusts. Another surrender, 159.—Relief. Our broken vows, 160. THE NINTH PLAGUE, x. 21–29. Menephtah’s sun-worship, 161.—Suddenness of the plague. Concentrated narrative, 162.—Darkness represents death, 163.—The Book of Wisdom upon this plague, 164–5.—Isaiah’s allusions. The Pharaoh’s character, 165.—Altercation with Moses, 166. CHAPTER XI. THE LAST PLAGUE ANNOUNCED, xi. 1–10.