The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

SECTION XV.

The Plague of darkness, Exod. 10. Why first named, Psal. 105. 28.

AS the men of the old world, of Sodom and the Jews at the death of Christ were struck with darkness, before they entred into utter darkness; so it is with the Egyptians here.

This Plague lay upon them three days, namely, the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth days of the month Nisan. For upon the conclusion of the darkness, Moses being sent for to Pharaoh giveth him such distast that he chargeth him never to come into his presence again, which Moses saith he will not do, I will see thy face again no more: but before he goeth out of the presence, he giveth him warning concerning the slaughter of the first born to be that night, Chap. II. Vers. 4. by which it is clear that the darkness ended on the Passover day in the morning.

Quest. Why then seeing it was the ninth plague in number hath Psal. 105. set it first?

Answ. Because it was the most terrible of all the Plagues that came upon them. For those that had gone before had plagued only their land, or cattle, or bodies; that that came after, light not upon all, but only on the first born, but this is a Plague even to the very mind and conscience, and universally so to them all.

It was not their sitting in darkness and not stirring about their business for three days together, that plagued them so much, for this had been no great torment, but their tor∣ture was, that in this darkness they saw fearful apparitions of Fiends and Devils, and hor∣rible visions, which so hideously affrighted and even distracted them, that they were as it were in Hell already. For observe that Pharaoh that had been nothing at all moved in a manner with all the Plagues that went before, is so stirred with this, that he sends for Moses as soon as ever the darkness is over, and permits him to depart, Exod. 10. 24. which mear sitting in darkness could not have wrought him to, but those terrors which he saw in the dark.

Hence it is that Psal. 78. 49. nameth not the Plague of darkness by its name▪ but in the place where it should come, he mentioneth that which was the very quintessence of it. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation and trouble, by sending evil Angels among them.