Exodus10

The LORD instructs Moses to warn Pharaoh of a locust plague, explaining He has hardened Pharaoh's heart to display His power. After the devastating locusts cover Egypt, Pharaoh briefly repents but is again hardened by the LORD. Moses then brings a thick, palpable darkness upon Egypt for three days, yet Pharaoh remains obstinate, ultimately threatening Moses's life for further demands.
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The Purpose of the Plagues and the Locust Warning

1
And 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, ​
2
and 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. ​
3
And 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. ​
4
Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to-morrow will I bring locusts into thy border:
5
and 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:
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and 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.
7
And 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? ​
8
And 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?
9
And 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. ​
10
And 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.
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Not 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.

The Plague of Locusts

12
And 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.
13
And 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.
14
And 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. ​
15
For 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.
16
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against Jehovah your God, and against you.
17
Now 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. ​
18
And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated Jehovah.
19
And 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.
20
But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go. ​

The Plague of Darkness

21
And 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. ​
22
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days;
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they 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. ​
24
And 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.
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And Moses said, Thou must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacrifice unto Jehovah our God.
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Our 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. ​
27
But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
28
And 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. ​
29
And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well; I will see thy face again no more.

Study Notes for Exodus 10

Verse 1

God explicitly states the purpose of the ongoing resistance: to demonstrate divine power (signs) and ensure that future generations of Israel know who the LORD is.

Verse 2

This verse emphasizes the didactic purpose of the plagues. The events are not just about liberation, but about establishing an enduring testimony of God's sovereignty for Israel's descendants.

Verse 3

Moses challenges Pharaoh's pride. In biblical thought, humbling oneself is necessary for submission and obedience to God’s will, a concept Pharaoh repeatedly resists.

Verse 7

This shows the political and economic pressure mounting on Pharaoh. His own court recognizes that Egypt is already ruined ('destroyed') and advises him to concede before total catastrophe.

Verse 9

Moses rejects any partial compliance. The requirement to bring 'all' (young, old, flocks, herds) signifies that the devotion and service required by the LORD is comprehensive, leaving nothing behind in Egypt.

Verse 14

The description of the locust plague as unprecedented ('before them there were no such locusts... neither after them shall be such') highlights the extraordinary nature of God's judgment, surpassing natural ecological disasters.

Verse 17

Pharaoh's confession of sin (v. 16) and his plea here is motivated by fear of the immediate consequence ('this death'), not genuine spiritual repentance, making his request conditional and temporary.

Verse 20

This verse reiterates the theme of divine hardening, confirming that Pharaoh's temporary repentance was not lasting, serving God's ultimate purpose of demonstrating power through the final judgments.

Verse 21

The ninth plague, darkness that 'may be felt,' was likely a severe sandstorm (khamsin) intensified by divine power, targeting Ra, the Egyptian sun god, demonstrating the LORD's supremacy over the Egyptian pantheon.

Verse 23

The distinction between the dark land of Egypt and the light in Goshen emphasizes the selective nature of God's judgment, protecting His people even while judgment falls around them.

Verse 26

Moses insists that the livestock must go because they do not yet know the exact sacrifices required by the LORD. This ensures Israel remains fully detached from Egypt and dependent solely on God for future instruction.

Verse 28

Pharaoh’s final command marks the end of all negotiation. His threat of execution sets the stage for the final, decisive plague (the death of the firstborn) detailed in the next chapter.

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