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Chamsin or south-west wind sometimes brings in early spring, only far moresevere,
intense, and long. Let us try to realize the scene. Suddenly and without warning would
theChamsin rise, The air, charged with electricity, draws up the fine dust and the
coarser particles ofsand till the light of the sun is hid, the heavens are covered as with
a thick veil, and darkness deepensinto such night that even artificial light is of no
avail. And the floating dust and sand enter everyapartment, pervade every pore, find
their way even through closed windows and doors. Men andbeasts make for any kind
of shelter, seek refuge in cellars and out-of-the-way places from theterrible plague.
And so, in utter darkness and suffering, three weary nights and long days pass, noone
venturing to stir from his hiding. Once more, Pharaoh now summoned Moses. This
time hewould let all the people go, if only they would leave their flocks behind as
pledge of their return. Andwhen Moses refused the condition, the king
"said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself; see my face no more; for in
that day thou seest my face thou shalt die" (10:28).
It was a challenge which sounded not strange in Moses' ears, for before this interview
God hadinformed him what would happen, and directed that Israel should prepare to
leave. And Mosesnow took up the kings challenge, and foretold how after those
terrible three days darkness "atmidnight," Jehovah Himself would "go out into the
midst of Egypt," and smite every firstborn of manand beast. Then would rise through
the night a great lamentation over the land, from the chamber ofthe palace, where
Pharaoh's only son lay a-dying, to that of the hut where the lowliestmaidservant
watched the ebbing tide of her child's life.
But in Goshen all these three days was light and festive joy. For while thick darkness
lay upon Egypt,the children of Israel, as directed by God, had already on the tenth of
the month - four days beforethe great night of woe - selected their Paschal lambs, and
were in waiting for their deliverance. Andalike the darkness and the light were of
Jehovah - the one symbolical of His judgments, the other ofHis favor.
(^)