Exodus 10:1-8

The Plague of Locusts

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for 1I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them,
2 and 2that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how * I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, 3that you may know that I am the LORD."
3 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, 'How long * will you refuse to 4humble yourself before * Me? 5Let 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 territory.
5 'They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. 6They will also eat the rest of what has escaped -what is left to you from the hail -and they will eat every tree which sprouts for you out of the field.
6 'Then 7your houses shall be filled and the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians, something which neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day that they came upon the earth until this day.' " And he turned and went out from Pharaoh.
7 8Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long * will this man be 9a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?"
8 So Moses and Aaron 10were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "11Go, serve the LORD your God! Who are the ones that are going?"

Exodus 10:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 10

This chapter is introduced with giving the reasons why the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, Ex 10:1,2. Moses and Aaron go in to him, and once more demanded in the name of the Lord the dismission of the people of Israel, and in case of refusal, threatened him with locusts being sent into his country, which should make terrible havoc in all his coasts, Ex 10:3-6, the servants of Pharaoh entreat him to let them go, upon which Moses and Aaron are brought in again, and treated with about the terms of their departure; but they, insisting upon taking all with them, men, women, and children, and flocks and herds, and Pharaoh not willing that any but men should go, they are drove from his presence in wrath, Ex 10:7-11 wherefore the locusts were brought on all the land, which made sad devastation in it, Ex 10:12-15, and this wrought on Pharaoh so far as to acknowledge his sin, pray for forgiveness, and to desire Moses and Aaron to entreat the Lord to remove the plague, which they did, and it was removed accordingly, but still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, Ex 10:16-20 then followed the plague of thick darkness over all the land for three days, which brought Pharaoh to yield that all should go with them excepting their flocks and herds; but Moses not only insisted that not a hoof should be left behind, but that Pharaoh should give them sacrifices and burnt offerings, Ex 10:21-26. Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he refused to comply, and Moses was bid to be gone, and take care never to see his face any more, and which Moses agreed to, Ex 10:27-29.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:13; Joshua 11:20; John 12:40; Romans 9:18
  • 2. Exodus 12:26, 27; Exodus 13:8, 14, 15; Deuteronomy 4:9; Psalms 44:1; Psalms 78:5; Joel 1:3
  • 3. Exodus 7:5, 17
  • 4. 1 Kings 21:29; 2 Chronicles 34:27; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6
  • 5. Exodus 4:23
  • 6. Joel 1:4; Joel 2:25
  • 7. Exodus 8:3, 21
  • 8. Exodus 7:5; Exodus 8:19; Exodus 12:33
  • 9. Exodus 23:33; Joshua 23:13; 1 Samuel 18:21; Ecclesiastes 7:26
  • 10. Exodus 8:8
  • 11. Exodus 8:25

Footnotes 8

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.