Exodus

Chapter 10

Summary

Exodus 10 details the eighth and ninth plagues: locusts and darkness. The locusts were so numerous they covered the ground and ate everything the hail had spared, leaving Egypt stripped of all vegetation and life-sustaining resources. This was followed by a thick, supernatural darkness that lasted for three days—a direct judgement against *Ra*, the sun god. While all of Egypt sat in total isolation and tangible fear, the Israelites continued to have light in their dwellings, signifying the LORD's presence and favour. Pharaoh’s final attempts to negotiate partial freedom were rejected by Moses, leading to the ultimate breaking point before the final plague.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh. [1] (I have hardened his heart) and the hearts of his officials so that I can perform these miraculous signs among them."

"I also want you to be able to tell your children and grandchildren about the powerful things I have done in Egypt and the signs I performed, so that you all may know that I am the LORD."

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "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.'"

"'If you refuse to let them go, tomorrow I will bring [2] (locusts) into your country.'"

"'They will cover the surface of the land so completely that you won't even be able to see the ground. They will eat every plant and tree that survived the hail, leaving nothing at all.'"

"'They will fill your palace, the houses of all your officials, and every home in Egypt. It will be something that neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have ever seen since the day they were born.'" After saying this, Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

Pharaoh’s officials said to him, "How much longer is this man going to be a trap for us? Let the people go so they can worship the LORD their God! Don't you realise yet that Egypt is already ruined?"

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. He said to them, "Go and worship the LORD your God. But tell me, who exactly is going?"

Moses replied, "We will all go, our young and our old, our sons and our daughters. We will take our flocks and our herds with us, because we must hold a festival to the LORD."

Pharaoh said, "the LORD will certainly need to be with you if I ever let you and your families go! It's clear you are planning something evil."

"No! Only the men can go and worship the LORD, since that is what you originally asked for." Then Moses and Aaron were chased out of Pharaoh's presence.

the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand over Egypt to bring the locusts. They will swarm over the land and eat every plant, everything the hail left behind."

Moses reached out his staff over Egypt, and the LORD caused an [3] (east wind) to blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning, the wind had brought the locusts.

The locusts swarmed over the entire land of Egypt and settled everywhere. There had never been a swarm like it before, and there will never be one like it again.

They covered the face of the whole land until the ground was black. They ate every plant and all the fruit on the trees that the hail hadn't destroyed. Not a single green leaf was left on any tree or plant in all of Egypt.

Pharaoh quickly sent for Moses and Aaron. He said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you."

"Please forgive my sin just this once and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me."

Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.

Then the LORD changed the wind into a very strong west wind, which blew the locusts away and tossed them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all of Egypt.

But the LORD allowed Pharaoh’s heart to be stubborn, and he still would not let the Israelites go.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand toward the sky so that a [4] (darkness) will cover Egypt, a darkness so thick it can [5] (actually be felt)."

Moses reached out his hand toward the sky, and a deep darkness covered all of Egypt for three days.

For three days, no one could see anyone else or even leave their place. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

Pharaoh called for Moses and said, "Go and worship the LORD. Your families may go with you, but you must leave your flocks and herds behind."

But Moses replied, "You must also allow us to take animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD our God."

"Our livestock must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind! We must use some of them to worship the LORD our God, and we won't know exactly which animals we will need until we get there."

But the LORD allowed Pharaoh’s heart to be stubborn, and he refused to let them leave.

Pharaoh shouted at Moses, "Get out of here! Make sure you never see my face again! The day you see my face, you will die!"

"As you wish," Moses replied. "I will never see your face again."

Notes

[1]Hebrew: הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת לִבּוֹ (Hikbadti et libbo). Literally 'I have made heavy his heart.' This term suggests a heart that is unresponsive and weighed down by its own pride, making it slow to obey.

[2]Hebrew: אַרְבֶּה (Arbeh). From a root meaning 'to increase' or 'multiply.' The locusts represented a total agricultural disaster, consuming everything the hail had spared.

[3]Hebrew: רוּחַ קָדִים (Ruach qadim). A scorching desert wind that brought the eighth plague.

[4]Hebrew: חֹשֶׁךְ (Choshek). The ninth plague strikes at Ra, the sun god of Egypt, demonstrating the LORD's power over the celestial bodies.

[5]Hebrew: וְיָמֵשׁ חֹשֶׁךְ (Veyamesh choshech). Literally 'and one shall feel darkness.' It suggests a supernatural, palpable, and terrifying absence of light.