Exodus10
New American Standard
1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, so that I may perform these signs of Mine among them,
2and that you may tell in the presence of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”
3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.
4For if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.
5And they will cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They will also eat the rest of what has survived—what is left to you from the hail—and they will eat every tree of yours which grows in the field.
6Then your houses will be filled with them, together with the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians, something which neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day that they came upon the earth until this day.’” And he turned and left Pharaoh.
7Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is destroyed?”
8So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God! Who specifically are the ones who are going?”
9Moses said, “We shall go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we shall go, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.”
10Then he said to them, “So may the Lord be with you, when I let you and your little ones go! Watch out, for evil is on your mind!
11Not so! Go now, but only the men among you, and serve the Lord, since that is what you desire.” So they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out with your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come up on the land of Egypt and eat every plant of the land, everything that the hail has left.”
13So Moses reached out with his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
14The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled in all the territory of Egypt; they were very numerous. There had never been so many locusts, nor would there be so many again.
15For they covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Therefore nothing green was left on tree or plant of the field throughout the land of Egypt.
16Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you.
17So now, please forgive my sin only this once, and plead with the Lord your God, that He would only remove this death from me.”
18Then he left Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord.
19So the Lord shifted the wind to a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt.
20But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.
21Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out with your hand toward the sky, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.”
22So Moses reached out with his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
23They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24Then Pharaoh called for Moses, and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be left behind. Even your little ones may go with you.”
25But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we may sacrifice them to the Lord our God.
26Therefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the Lord our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the Lord.”
27But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.
28Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful, do not see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you shall die!”
29Moses said, “You have spoken correctly; I shall never see your face again!”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The plague of locusts threatened, Pharaoh, moved by his servants, inclines to let the Israelites go. (1–11). The plague of locusts. (12–20). The plague of thick darkness. (21–29).
vv1-11
The plagues of Egypt show the sinfulness of sin. They warn the children of men not to strive with their Maker. Pharaoh had pretended to humble himself; but no account was made of it, for he was not sincere therein. The plague of locusts is threatened. This should be much worse than any of that kind which had ever been known. Pharaoh's attendants persuade him to come to terms with Moses. Hereupon Pharaoh will allow the men to go, falsely pretending that this was all they desired. He swears that they shall not remove their little ones. Satan does all he can to hinder those that serve God themselves, from bringing their children to serve him. He is a sworn enemy to early piety. Whatever would put us from engaging our children in God's service, we have reason to suspect Satan in it. Nor should the young forget that the Lord's counsel is, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth; but Satan's counsel is, to keep children in a state of slavery to sin and to the world. Mark that the great foe of man wishes to retain him by the ties of affection, as Pharaoh would have taken hostages from the Israelites for their return, by holding their wives and children in captivity. Satan is willing to share our duty and our service with the Saviour, because the Saviour will not accept those terms.
vv12-20
God bids Moses stretch out his hand; locusts came at the call. An army might more easily have been resisted than this host of insects. Who then is able to stand before the great God? They covered the face of the earth, and ate up the fruit of it. Herbs grow for the service of man; yet when God pleases, insects shall plunder him, and eat the bread out of his mouth. Let our labour be, not for the habitation and meat thus exposed, but for those which endure to eternal life. Pharaoh employs Moses and Aaron to pray for him. There are those, who, in distress, seek the help of other people's prayers, but have no mind to pray for themselves. They show thereby that they have no true love to God, nor any delight in communion with him. Pharaoh desires only that this death might be taken away, not this sin. He wishes to get rid of the plague of locusts, not the plague of a hard heart, which was more dangerous. An east wind brought the locusts, a west wind carries them off. Whatever point the wind is in, it is fulfilling God's word, and turns by his counsel. The wind bloweth where it listeth, as to us; but not so as it respects God. It was also an argument for their repentance; for by this it appeared that God is ready to forgive, and swift to show mercy. If he does this upon the outward tokens of humiliation, what will he do if we are sincere! Oh that this goodness of God might lead us to repentance! Pharaoh returned to his resolution again, not to let the people go. Those who have often baffled their convictions, are justly given up to the lusts of their hearts.
vv21-29
The plague of darkness brought upon Egypt was a dreadful plague. It was darkness which might be felt, so thick were the fogs. It astonished and terrified. It continued three days; six nights in one; so long the most lightsome palaces were dungeons. Now Pharaoh had time to consider, if he would have improved it. Spiritual darkness is spiritual bondage; while Satan blinds men's eyes that they see not, he binds their hands and feet, that they work not for God, nor move toward heaven. They sit in darkness. It was righteous with God thus to punish. The blindness of their minds brought upon them this darkness of the air; never was mind so blinded as Pharaoh's, never was air so darkened as Egypt. Let us dread the consequences of sin; if three days of darkness were so dreadful, what will everlasting darkness be? The children of Israel, at the same time, had light in their dwellings. We must not think we share in common mercies as a matter of course, and therefore that we owe no thanks to God for them. It shows the particular favour he bears to his people. Wherever there is an Israelite indeed, though in this dark world, there is light, there is a child of light. When God made this difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians, who would not have preferred the poor cottage of an Israelite to the fine palace of an Egyptian? There is a real difference between the house of the wicked, which is under a curse, and the habitation of the just, which is blessed. Pharaoh renewed the treaty with Moses and Aaron, and consented they should take their little ones, but would have their cattle left. It is common for sinners to bargain with God Almighty; thus they try to mock him, but they deceive themselves. The terms of reconciliation with God are so fixed, that though men dispute them ever so long, they cannot possibly alter them, or bring them lower. We must come to the demand of God's will; we cannot expect he should condescend to the terms our lusts would make. With ourselves and our children, we must devote all our worldly possessions to the service of God; we know not what use he will make of any part of what we have. Pharaoh broke off the conference abruptly, and resolved to treat no more. Had he forgotten how often he had sent for Moses to ease him of his plagues? and must he now be bid to come no more? Vain malice! to threaten him with death, who was armed with such power! What will not hardness of heart, and contempt of God's word and commandments, bring men to! After this, Moses came no more till he was sent for. When men drive God's word from them, he justly gives them up to their own delusions.
Key Words
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
פַּרְעֹה: Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
כָּבַד: to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses)
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
עֶבֶד: a servant
מִיכָא: Mica, the name of two Israelites
שִׁית: to place (in a very wide application)
אוֹת: a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.
Cross References
Exodus 10Joel describes an unprecedented locust plague in terms directly matching the severity and uniqueness of Exodus 10.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, having seen his face for the last time.
Paul's central theological commentary on God hardening Pharaoh's heart to show His power.
Supported by John Calvin
Pharaoh's servants call Moses a snare; Exodus 23 warns that false worship/compromise becomes a snare.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the sovereign use of the east wind as a divine instrument of judgment and deliverance.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct historical summary of God sending darkness upon Egypt and they rebelled not against his word.
The fifth vial poured out on the seat of the beast, making his kingdom full of darkness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God's explicit command to tell sons about the redemption from Egypt to foster perpetual remembrance.
Supported by John Calvin
Historical poetic summary of God speaking, causing the locusts to come upon Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel use of a divinely directed east wind from Arabia, here bringing quail rather than locusts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Repeats the immediate preceding instance of God hardening Pharaoh's heart after the plague of locusts.
Supported by John Calvin
Summary statement of Moses and Aaron doing these wonders, and God hardening Pharaoh's heart.
The final warning and announcement of the death of the firstborn delivered during this same final audience.
Prophetic parallel of total vegetation stripping by relentless, successive waves of destructive insects.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Pharaoh's superficial, repeated confession of sin under the immediate terror of judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Repeated pattern of Pharaoh begging for intercession under pressure without a change of heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The dramatic removal of the locust army, cast away into the sea by divine command.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the pattern of God severing the land of Goshen, where His people dwell, from plagues.
Supported by JFB
Parallel protection where only in the land of Goshen was there no hail.
Supported by JFB
The pillar of cloud was darkness to the Egyptians but gave light by night to Israel.
Matches the 'unprecedented, never-seen-before' nature of the plagues, later repeated for the firstborn.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Fulfillment of Moses' total demand; Pharaoh eventually lets everyone go, including children and herds.
Supported by JFB
A parallel description of locusts turning a land like Eden into a desolate wilderness.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic typology of darkness covering the earth while the Lord's glory rises and shines upon His people.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Pharaoh's previous compromise attempt, demanding they not go very far away, now restricting their flocks.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Pharaoh finally surrenders fully, letting both the people and their flocks go as Moses demanded.
Verbal echo of 'this death only' in reference to agricultural/physical threat of famine and poison.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses previously insisted they must go three days' journey to sacrifice as God commands.
A rebellious king silencing God's prophet with threats of violence, sealing his own destruction.