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
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them, ​
2
and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.” ​
3
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told 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 worship Me. ​
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But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.
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They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields.
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They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence.
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Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?” ​
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So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the LORD your God,” he said. “But who exactly will be going?”
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“We will go with our young and old,” Moses replied. “We will go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.” ​
10
Then Pharaoh told them, “May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones. Clearly you are bent on evil.
11
No, only the men may go and worship the LORD, since that is what you have been requesting.” And Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.

The Plague of Locusts

12
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may swarm over it and devour every plant in the land—everything that the hail has left behind.”
13
So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and throughout that day and night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts.
14
The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. ​
15
They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.
16
Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.
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Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.” ​
18
So Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the LORD.
19
And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt.
20
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go. ​

The Plague of Darkness

21
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” ​
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So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days.
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No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings. ​
24
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.”
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But Moses replied, “You must also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God.
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Even our livestock must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind, for we will need some of them to worship the LORD our God, and we will not know how we are to worship the LORD until we arrive.” ​
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But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go.
28
“Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.” ​
29
“As you say,” Moses replied, “I will never see your face again.”

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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