The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-12-04
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 8.

-C1Olden Text, lisa. lxVl11., S-MeInory
Verses, 4.7-Commentary on the Days
Lesson.
Observation-Disclosures asked that they
might 90 three days journey into the vii.
derness, where they would be free from
all intrusion, and where the worship OF
God which had been neglected could be
revived. Many seem to think that this
proposition on the part of Moses was not
sincere, and that he intended to go and
not return. But there is no suggestion
They would have gone and worshipped
and returned, had they been permitted
to do so; and then God would have made
further demands upon Pharoah. 1t is
not necessary for Jehovah to resort to
trickery in order to accomplish His pur.
poses.
/. "The Lord said" Or, as some think,
the Lord had said, at some time in the
past. Verses l-3 are evidently thrown
in here in parenthesis, as verses 4.8 seem
to be continuation OF the interview
Moses was having with Pharaoh at the
close of the preceding chapter. Pharaoh
and threatened him with death if he saw
his face again .QO:2s, 29); and Moses said
he would see his face no more, but be-
fore he left Pharaoh he threatened him
with the death of the first born. 1t was
a terrible threat, but was carried out to
the letter soon after. 12:29-33. Zone
plague more" One more heavy blow. must
fall upon this hard hearted monarch and
his land, ere he will be compelled to let
60 the favored objects of Jehovah's SOW
ereign grace. The king Of Egypt had am.
pie warning of the terrible calamity that
was to come upon them, and If he had
repented and humbled himself it might
have been averted.
2. "Let every man borrow" etc. LET
them ask every man." etc. R. V. Bor-
row is wrong and misleading transla-
tion. God commanded the Israelites to
ask or demand certain recompense for
their past services, and He inclined the,
hearts of the Egyptians to give literally;
and this, far from being a matter OF op-
preston, wrong, or even charity, was no
more. than a very partial recompeense for
may say 100000 Ieraelites had rendered
to Egypt, during many years. There can
be no doubt that during their servitude
the profits of their labor went wholly to
the Egyptians. God has many ways of
balancing accounts, of righting the op-
pressed, and compelling those who have
done wrong to make restitution. Jew.
els" etc. The work translated "jewels"
may be translated PARTICLES" or goods"
''The Israelites received gold and silver,
probably both in coin and in plate of diff
ferent kinds"
8. every great" Because of the mira
cles he had wrought and the. plaques he
had brought upon the people. "This seems
to be mentioned as reason why no at
tempt had been made against his life"
T.. "About midnight" Gods judgments
come upon sinners when they least expect
it, and in their moments of fancied secur-
ity. The darkness can not hide from God;
we know not what will be in tine approach:
ing night. The wicked may awake to find
that the stern messenger .t, Of eternal justice;
has seized upon them. "Will go out.
In this last plague God is represented as
descending in person. This was designed
to impress Pharaoh with the terrible char
acter of the next judgment.
5. "The first born" 1t has been sug-
gested that this might not in every case
have meant the Oldest child in the family,
as that child might now have been dead or
absent; but, inasmuch as there was not
house where there was not one dead
~: 3O), the word in some cases must have
meant the "most eminent" or the best
beloved" In this sense the term is fre-
quently used. Behind the mill" The
poor captive slave employed in the hardest
labor. 1t was the custom then, as it IS
with the Arabs at present, to grind their
en- servants, who, for that purpose, stood
behind the mill.
6. "Great cry" The Egyptians were
excessive in their manifestations of grief.
,"..They whipped, beat and tore them
selves, and when relative died they ran
into the streets and howied in the most la
mentable and frantic manner" How
dreadful must have been the scene when
there was one dead in every house. No
such wall ever went up before or since.
7. "Shall not dog" etc. The Israel
ties were not only to be free from death,
but they were to depart without being mo.
Tested in any way: the, dogs would not even
bark At them Doth put ph;,;,. difference Se1nsss
frightened, dead. The Israelites were
quiet, peaceful, protected, blessed. So the
Lord always puts difference between His
people and His enemies. One has the
promise of this life and of that which is
to come; the other. has nothing to expect
but indignation and wrath from the hands
of an offended God.
8. Get thee out" See the fulflment
of this in Ex. l2: sl-36;, "In a great an
ger" "In hot anger."-R. V. "Moses
was not in an unholy passion; ne was
grieved at the peryersity Of wicked soul;
10. "The Lord hardened Pharaoh,'s
heart" God is sometimes said to do
what He merely permits to be done. be-
cause He can not wisely prevent it. But,
by studying the narrative it will be seen
that Pharoah hardened his own heart.
Harden" is used nineteen times in this
account. Eleven times God is said TO
harden Pharaoh's heart, five. times the
simple statement is made that it was
hardened, and three times it is said that
he hardened it himself. "In the narrative
of what actually took place, it IS not tlll
the Lord hardened his heart, and only
after the eighth plague is the agency ex-
cl11sivelx ascrihed to God"