1. It is now in place to show that these plagues were really _supernatural_――miraculous inflictions from the hand of the Almighty. (1.) Note, they were wrought in response to Pharaoh’s challenge to Moses and Aaron to “show a miracle for themselves” (Ex. 7: 9). The Lord accepted this challenge. Of course the achievements wrought can be nothing less than miracles. Given on the side of the Lord honesty and power; then nothing less than miracles can follow. His purpose in these terrible inflictions God announces to Pharaoh in these words: “By this shalt thou know that I am the Lord” (Ex. 7: 19 and 9: 14). Events in the common course of nature do not suffice for this purpose upon such a heart as Pharaoh’s. The case demands real miracles――things done outside and apart from the ordinary laws of nature. (2.) The plagues came and went at the behest of Moses acting under God; in some cases, at a definite time previously indicated. (9: 5, 18, 29, 33 and 10: 4); while some were removed at a time which Pharaoh himself for his more full satisfaction was allowed to fix (8: 9, 10). So I construe the somewhat disputed words (v. 8); “Moses said to Pharaoh――Glory over me: When shall I entreat for thee,” etc. Moses would say――I yield to you the honor of fixing the time: say when; and I meet your time.――――Some critics translate simply――Explain; declare yourself (Gesenius); or utter plainly, definitely (Fuerst); but the usual sense of the verb, coupled with the preposition (“over”) which follows, strongly favors the construction above given. (3.) Most of these plagues if not all discriminated sharply between the Hebrews in Goshen, and the Egyptians elsewhere in Egypt――_e. g._ flies (8: 22, 23) and murrain (9: 4–7), etc. This discrimination assumes that the plagues followed no general law of nature, but were altogether special, _i. e._ were truly miraculous. (4.) They surpassed and even totally eclipsed the achievements of the magicians; in fact, routed them utterly from the field and showed before all Egypt that the Almighty God was there!――――The case of the magicians will be considered more fully below. (5.) The conviction was forced upon Pharaoh and the confession extorted from his lips (utterly against his will), that God’s hand wrought these achievements; that these calamities came at his command, and could be removed by his power and not otherwise. Hence over and over he begs Moses to pray to his God for their removal. See this in the case of the frogs (8: 8); of the flies (8: 28, 29); of the hail (9: 27–29); and the locusts (10: 16–18). It is not easy to see how stronger testimony to the reality of miracles can ever exist.