showed at these signs； God exhorted him to be of good courage；
and to be assured that he would be the greatest support to him；
and bid him make use of those signs； in order to obtain belief
among all men； that 〃thou art sent by me； and dost all things
according to my commands。 Accordingly I enjoin thee to make no
more delays； but to make haste to Egypt； and to travel night and
day； and not to draw out the time； and so make the slavery of the
Hebrews and their sufferings to last the longer。〃
4。 Moses having now seen and heard these wonders that assured him
of the truth of these promises of God； had no room left him to
disbelieve them： he entreated him to grant him that power when he
should be in Egypt； and besought him to vouchsafe him the
knowledge of his own name； and since he had heard and seen him；
that he would also tell him his name； that when he offered
sacrifice he might invoke him by such his name in his oblations。
Whereupon God declared to him his holy name； which had never been
discovered to men before； concerning which it is not lawful for
me to say any more （24） Now these signs accompanied Moses； not
then only； but always when he prayed for them： of all which signs
he attributed the firmest assent to the fire in the bush； and
believing that God would be a gracious supporter to him； he hoped
he should be able to deliver his own nation； and bring calamities
on the Egyptians。
CHAPTER 13。
How Moses And Aaron Returned Into Egypt To Pharaoh。
1。 So Moses； when he understood that the Pharaoh； in whose reign
he fled away； was dead； asked leave of Raguel to go to Egypt； for
the benefit of his own people。 And he took with him Zipporah； the
daughter of Raguel； whom he had married； and the children he had
by her； Gersom and Eleazer； and made haste into Egypt。 Now the
former of those names； Gersom； in the Hebrew tongue； signifies
that he was in a strange land； and Eleazer； that； by the
assistance of the God of his fathers； he had escaped from the
Egyptians。 Now when they were near the borders； Aaron his
brother； by the command of God； met him； to whom he declared what
had befallen him at the mountain； and the commands that God had
given him。 But as they were going forward； the chief men among
the Hebrews； having learned that they were coming； met them： to
whom Moses declared the signs he had seen； and while they could
not believe them； he made them see them； So they took courage at
these surprising and unexpected sights； and hoped well of their
entire deliverance； as believing now that God took care of their
preservation。
2。 Since then Moses found that the Hebrews would be obedient to
whatsoever he should direct； as they promised to be； and were in
love with liberty； he came to the king； who had indeed but lately
received the government； and told him how much he had done for
the good of the Egyptians； when they were despised by the
Ethiopians； and their country laid waste by them； and how he had
been the commander of their forces； and had labored for them； as
if they had been his own people and he informed him in what
danger he had been during that expedition； without having any
proper returns made him as he had deserved。 He also informed him
distinctly what things happened to him at Mount Sinai； and what
God said to him； and the signs that were done by God； in order to
assure him of the authority of those commands which he had given
him。 He also exhorted him not to disbelieve what he told him； nor
to oppose the will of God。
3。 But when the king derided Moses； he made him in earnest see
the signs that were done at Mount Sinai。 Yet was the king very
angry with him and called him an ill man； who had formerly run
away from his Egyptian slavery； and came now back with deceitful
tricks； and wonders； and magical arts； to astonish him。 And when
he had said this； he commanded the priests to let him see the
same wonderful sights； as knowing that the Egyptians were
skillful in this kind of learning； and that he was not the only
person who knew them； and pretended them to be divine； as also he
told him； that when he brought such wonderful sights before him；
he would only be believed by the unlearned。 Now when the priests
threw down their rods； they became serpents。 But Moses was not
daunted at it； and said； 〃O king； I do not myself despise the
wisdom of the Egyptians； but I say that what I do is so much
superior to what these do by magic arts and tricks； as Divine
power exceeds the power of man： but I will demonstrate that what
I do is not done by craft； or counterfeiting what is not really
true； but that they appear by the providence and power of God。〃
And when he had said this； he cast his rod down upon the ground；
and commanded it to turn itself into a serpent。 It obeyed him；
and went all round； and devoured the rods of the Egyptians； which
seemed to be dragons； until it had consumed them all。 It then
returned to its own form； and Moses took it into his hand again。
4。 However； the king was no more moved when was done than before；
and being very angry； he said that he should gain nothing by this
his cunning and shrewdness against the Egyptians； … and he
commanded him that was the chief taskmaster over the Hebrews； to
give them no relaxation from their labors； but to compel them to
submit to greater oppressions than before； and though he allowed
them chaff before for making their bricks； he would allow it them
no longer； but he made them to work hard at brick…making in the
day…time； and to gather chaff in the night。 Now when their labor
was thus doubled upon them； they laid the blame upon Moses；
because their labor and their misery were on his account become
more severe to them。 But Moses did not let his courage sink for
the king's threatenings； nor did he abate of his zeal on account
of the Hebrews' complaints； but he supported himself； and set his
soul resolutely against them both； and used his own utmost
diligence to procure liberty to his countrymen。 So he went to the
king； and persuaded him to let the Hebrews go to Mount Sinai； and
there to sacrifice to God； because God had enjoined them so to
do。 He persuaded him also not to counterwork the designs of God；
but to esteem his favor above all things； and to permit them to
depart； lest； before he be aware； he lay an obstruction in the
way of the Divine commands； and so occasion his own suffering
such punishments as it was probable any one that counterworked
the Divine commands should undergo； since the severest
afflictions arise from every object to those that provoke the
Divine wrath against them； for such as these have neither the
earth nor the air for their friends； nor are the fruits of the
womb according to nature； but every thing is unfriendly and
adverse towards them。 He said further； that the Egyptians should
know this by sad experience； and that besides； the Hebrew people
should go out of their country without their consent。
CHAPTER 14。
Concerning The Ten Plagues Which Came Upon The Egyptians。
1。 But when the king despised the words of Moses； and had no
regard at all to them； grievous plagues seized the Egyptians；
every one of which I will describe； both because no such plagues
did ever happen to any other nation as the Egyptians now felt；
and because I would demonstrate that Moses did not fail in any
one thing that he foretold them； and because it is for the good
of mankind； that they may learn this caution … Not to do anything
that may displease God； lest he be provoked to wrath； and avenge
their iniquities upon them。 For the Egyptian river ran with
bloody water at the command of God； insomuch that it could not be
drunk； and they had no other spring of water neither； for the
water was not only of the color of blood； but it brought upon
those that ventured to drink of it； great pains and bitter
torment。 Such was the river to the Egyptians； but it was sweet
and fit for drinking to the Hebrews； and no way different from
what it naturally used to be。 As the king therefore knew not what
to do in these surprising circumstances； and was in fear for the
Egyptians； he gave the Hebrews leave to go away； but when the
plague ceased； he changed his mind again； end would not suffer
them to go。
2。 But when God saw that he was ungrateful； and upon the ceasing
of this calamity would not grow wiser； he sent another plague
upon the Egyptians： … An innumerable multitude of frogs consumed
the fruit of the ground； the river was also full of them；
insomuch that those who drew water had it spoiled by the blood of
these animals； as they died in； and were destroyed by； the water；
and the country was full of filthy slime； as they were born； and
as they died： they also spoiled their vessels in their houses
which they used； and were found among what they eat and what they
drank； and came in great numbers upon their beds。 There was also
an ungrateful smell； and a stink arose from them； as they were
born； and as they died therein。 Now； when the Egyptians were
under the oppression of these miseries； the king ordered Moses to
take the Hebrews with him； and be gone。 Upon which the whole
multitude of the frogs vanished away； and both the land and the
river returned to their former natures。 But as soon as Pharaoh
saw the land freed from this plague； he forgot the cause of it；
and retained the Hebrews； and； as though he had a mind to try the
nature of more such judgments； he would not yet suffer Moses and
his people to depart； having granted that liberty rather out of
fear than out of any good consideration。 （35）
3。 Accordingly； God punished his falseness with another plague；
added to the former； for there arose out of the bodies of the
Egyptians an innumerable quantity of lice； by which； wicked as
they were； they miserably perished； as not able to destroy this
sort of vermin either with washes or with ointments。 At which
terrible judgment the king of Egypt was in disorder； upon the
fear into which he reasoned himself； lest his people should be
destroyed； and that the manner of this death was also
reproachful； so that he was forced in part to recover himself
from his wicked temper to a sounder mind； for he gave leave for
the Hebrews themselve