Exodus — Chapter 10

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1And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

2And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.

3And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

4Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:

5And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:

6And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.

7And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

8And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?

9And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.

10And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.

11Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.

13And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

14And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

15For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

17Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

18And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD.

19And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

20But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

21And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

22And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

25And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.

26Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.

27But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

28And Pharaoh 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.

29And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

1And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs in the midst of them,

2and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son`s son, what things I have wrought upon Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know that I am Jehovah.

3And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

4Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to-morrow will I bring locusts into thy border:

5and they shall cover the face of the earth, so that one shall not be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:

6and thy houses shall be filled, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither thy fathers nor thy fathers` fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned, and went out from Pharaoh.

7And Pharaoh`s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve Jehovah their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

8And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve Jehovah your God; but who are they that shall go?

9And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto Jehovah.

10And he said unto them, So be Jehovah with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.

11Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve Jehovah; for that is what ye desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh`s presence.

12And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.

13And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and Jehovah brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all the night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

14And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt; very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

15For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against Jehovah your God, and against you.

17Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat Jehovah your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

18And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated Jehovah.

19And Jehovah turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the border of Egypt.

20But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh`s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.

21And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

22And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days;

23they saw not one another, neither rose any one from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve Jehovah; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

25And Moses said, Thou must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacrifice unto Jehovah our God.

26Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind: for thereof must we take to serve Jehovah our God; and we know not with what we must serve Jehovah, until we come thither.

27But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh`s heart, and he would not let them go.

28And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die.

29And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well. I will see thy face again no more.

1The Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order to display these signs of mine before him,

2and in order that in the hearing of your son and your grandson you may tell how I made fools of the Egyptians and about my signs that I displayed among them, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”

3So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has said: ‘How long do you refuse to humble yourself before me? Release my people so that they may serve me!

4But if you refuse to release my people, I am going to bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.

5They will cover the surface of the earth, so that you will be unable to see the ground. They will eat the remainder of what escaped—what is left over for you—from the hail, and they will eat every tree that grows for you from the field.

6They will fill your houses, the houses of your servants, and all the houses of Egypt, such as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since they have been in the land until this day!’” Then Moses turned and went out from Pharaoh.

7Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a menace to us? Release the people so that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed?”

8So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. Exactly who is going with you?”

9Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our sheep and our cattle we will go, because we are to hold a pilgrim feast for the Lord.”

10He said to them, “The Lord will need to be with you if I release you and your dependents! Watch out! Trouble is right in front of you.

11No! Go, you men only, and serve the Lord, for that is what you want.” Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.

12The Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up over the land of Egypt and eat everything that grows in the ground, everything that the hail has left.”

13So Moses extended his staff over the land of Egypt, and then the Lord brought an east wind on the land all that day and all night. The morning came, and the east wind had brought up the locusts!

14The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and settled down in all the territory of Egypt. It was very severe; there had been no locusts like them before, nor will there be such ever again.

15They covered the surface of all the ground so that the ground became dark with them, and they ate all the vegetation of the ground and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green remained on the trees or on anything that grew in the fields throughout the whole land of Egypt.

16Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you!

17So now, forgive my sin this time only, and pray to the Lord your God that he would only take this death away from me.”

18Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord,

19and the Lord turned a very strong west wind, and it picked up the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt.

20But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not release the Israelites.

21The Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness so thick it can be felt.”

22So Moses extended his hand toward heaven, and there was absolute darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.

23No one could see another person, and no one could rise from his place for three days. But the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

24Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord—only your flocks and herds will be detained. Even your families may go with you.”

25But Moses said, “Will you also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings that we may present them to the Lord our God?

26Our livestock must also go with us! Not a hoof is to be left behind! For we must take these animals to serve the Lord our God. Until we arrive there, we do not know what we must use to serve the Lord.”

27But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to release them.

28Pharaoh said to him, “Go from me! Watch out for yourself! Do not appear before me again, for when you see my face you will die!”

29Moses said, “As you wish! I will not see your face again.”

1Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them,

2and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh.”

3Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.

4Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,

5and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won’t be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field.

6Your houses shall be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’” He turned, and went out from Pharaoh.

7Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don’t you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”

8Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve Yahweh your God; but who are those who will go?”

9Moses said, “We will go with our young and with our old; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast to Yahweh.”

10He said to them, “Yahweh be with you if I will let you go with your little ones! See, evil is clearly before your faces.

11Not so! Go now you who are men, and serve Yahweh; for that is what you desire!” They were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.”

13Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh brought an east wind on the land all that day, and all night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

14The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt. They were very grievous. Before them there were no such locusts as they, nor will there ever be again.

15For they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained nothing green, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, “I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you.

17Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death.”

18He went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh.

19Yahweh turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the borders of Egypt.

20But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go.

21Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.”

22Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.

23They didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.”

25Moses said, “You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.

26Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there.”

27But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go.

28Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!”

29Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

The plagues of locusts and thick darkness cover Egypt; Pharaoh offers compromises but Moses insists all Israel must go with everything.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 10 records plagues eight and nine: locusts and darkness. The plagues reach their penultimate intensity. Pharaoh's own servants break ranks: "Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?" (v.7). Pharaoh offers more compromises — "go, but leave your children" (v.11), "go, but leave your livestock" (v.24) — each rejected by Moses. The ninth plague — three days of supernatural darkness — strikes at the heart of Egyptian religion: Ra, the sun god, is Egypt's supreme deity. Pharaoh is considered Ra's son. When God extinguishes the sun, He declares Ra powerless and Pharaoh a fraud. The chapter ends with Pharaoh's final threat: "See my face no more" (v.28) — and Moses agrees.
Eighth Plague: Locusts (vv.1-20): God states His purpose: "that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son" (v.2) — the plagues are for generational testimony. God asks: "How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me?" (v.3). Pharaoh's servants urge him to yield: "Egypt is destroyed" (v.7). Pharaoh offers a compromise: only the men may go (v.11). Moses refuses. Locusts come on an east wind — covering the land, eating everything the hail left (vv.13-15). "There remained not any green thing" (v.15). Pharaoh confesses again: "I have sinned" (v.16). God sends a west wind — locusts cast into the Red Sea (v.19). Pharaoh hardens again (v.20). Targets: Serapia (locust deity), Isis/Osiris (agriculture gods).
Ninth Plague: Darkness (vv.21-29): No warning — God strikes directly. "Darkness which may be felt" (v.21) — supernatural, tangible darkness for three days (v.22). Egyptians cannot see each other or move (v.23). "But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings" (v.23) — God's distinction continues. Pharaoh offers another compromise: go, but leave your livestock (v.24). Moses refuses: "there shall not an hoof be left behind" (v.26). God hardens Pharaoh (v.27). Pharaoh threatens death: "See my face no more" (v.28). Moses agrees: "I will see thy face again no more" (v.29). Target: Ra, the sun god — Egypt's supreme deity defeated.

Map & Geography

  • Egypt: Plagues 8-9 (locusts, darkness) devastate the land. Locusts cover "the face of the whole earth" (v.15).
  • Goshen (implied, v.23): "All the children of Israel had light in their dwellings" — darkness only covered Egyptian territory.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the darkness as a direct assault on Ra (Egypt's supreme god), Pharaoh's escalating compromises, and Moses' insistence on total consecration ("not a hoof left behind").
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Not a Hoof Left Behind" on v.26 (MTP Vol. 16, No. 916) "Not a hoof left behind — Moses will not negotiate. Not the men without the children. Not the people without the cattle. Not partial obedience. Not a compromise. EVERYTHING goes with God or nothing goes at all. This is the principle of consecration: you cannot serve God with half your life and give the other half to Egypt. Not a hoof — not a habit, not a relationship, not a dollar, not an hour — left behind in bondage. Total surrender. Complete consecration. Everything belongs to God."
  • Sermon: "Light in Darkness" on v.23 (MTP Vol. 29, No. 1712) "All the children of Israel had LIGHT in their dwellings — when Egypt was in midnight darkness, Israel had light. This is the believer's privilege: when the world sits in darkness and confusion, God's people have light. Not because we are better but because God gives it. The light is not ours — it is His, dwelling with us. And this light is Christ: 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:12)."

Reflection

  • 1. "How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me?" (v.3). God asks this of Pharaoh — and of us. Is there an area where you're refusing to humble yourself? How long will you resist?
  • 2. "That thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son" (v.2). God's mighty acts are meant to be told to the next generation. What stories of God's faithfulness are you passing down? Are your children hearing them?
  • 3. "Not a hoof left behind" (v.26). Complete consecration — nothing held back. Is there a "hoof" you're leaving in Egypt? A habit, a relationship, a possession you won't surrender to God? Everything must go.
  • 4. "All the children of Israel had light in their dwellings" (v.23). When the world is in darkness, God's people have light. Are you living in that light? Are you sharing it with those in darkness around you?
  • 5. Pharaoh's servants saw the truth before Pharaoh did (v.7). Sometimes the people around a stubborn person see reality more clearly. Are you listening to the wise counsel of others — or are you the last to see what everyone else already knows?