Exodus 10 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Exodus 10

The Eighth Plague: Locusts

10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”

3 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4 For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, 5 and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field, 6 and they shall fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” 8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your God. But which ones are to go?” 9 Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.” 10 But he said to them, “The LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind.¹ 11 No! Go, the men among you, and serve the LORD, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.” 13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. 15 They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. 17 Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the LORD your God only to remove this death from me.” 18 So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the LORD. 19 And the LORD turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.” 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29 Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

Footnotes

[1] 10:10 Hebrew before your face

Commentary

v1-2: The testimony of the plagues for the children of Israel. The people would see the grace and power of God. The command to all of us is"humble yourself" (see v3), that we might know the Lord, and do His will.

v3: The phrase "the Lord God of the Hebrews" occurs several times, indicating God's identification with the people, that they are His chosen people, and that He is unique.

v4: Another opportunity to repent,"if you refuse to let them go", or 'if you let them go'. The expectation remained, that Pharaoh would not let the people go yet.

v5-6: The locusts would cover everything, and eat everything. The land of Egypt was becoming devastated."They ate up every green thing in their land" (Ps 105.35.) In Isaiah, we read,"I gave Egypt for your ransom" (Is 43.3). As in 9.18, this plague was severe, and without comparison

v7: The officials of Pharaoh began to see reason. They realised that the plagues would continue as long as Pharaoh maintained his stubborn attitude. Was he unconcerned that"Egypt is ruined"? Some are so hardened that they do not see the folly of their ways. They saw too that Moses' words were constantly being fulfilled.

v8: Another lie from Pharaoh. See also v16-17. He used the 'correct' words, but without honest intention.

v9: A feast to the Lord; a time of spiritual sustenance and abundance, worshipping and serving the Lord together. We must never forget the real benefit of simply meeting with God.

v10-11: Pharaoh lost his temper, driving Moses and Aaron away, accusing them of evil intentions.

v13-16: The eighth plague, of locusts. Again, the plague arrives at Moses' command. The plague was the worst ever experienced (v14; compare 9.24). There will not be such a plague again, for this was the hand of God.

v16-17: Pharaoh was increasingly panicking, demanding Moses and Aaron come to see him. This plague, he said, was"deadly". He was beginning to see the awful impact of God's hand upon his nation.

v18-19: Not one locust was left in the land. This was no natural plague, as a few locusts would have been left; see also 8.31. Here again is proof that this was the finger of God.

v20: But again, the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart; he would not let the people go.

v21-23: Without introduction, the ninth plague, of darkness;"darkness that can be felt"; something very fearful, lasting a full three days and nights. There is no doubt that such darkness would have brought great fear.

v24: After this plague, Pharaoh invited Moses back. He tried to bargain with him. But Moses' position was firm; no bargaining with the enemy. He simply declared God's word.

v25-26: The Lord had asked for animal sacrifices, although there were not yet any details about this.

v27-29: Pharaoh, having his offer rejected, drove Moses out from his presence again. Again, his heart is hardened. But this time, Moses declares confidently that"i will never appear before you again," for deliverance is just around the corner.