Exodus 10:14-24

14 ¹The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled in all the territory of Egypt; they were very numerous. There had never been so many locusts, nor would there be so many again.

15 For they covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was darkened; and they ²ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Thus nothing * green was left on tree or plant of the field through all the land of Egypt.

16 Then Pharaoh hurriedly ³called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, "⁴I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.

17 "Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and ⁵make supplication to the LORD your God, that He would only remove this death from me."

18 ⁶He went out from Pharaoh and made supplication to the LORD.

19 So the LORD shifted the wind to a very strong west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red * Sea; not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt.

20 But ⁷the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.

Darkness over the Land

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "⁸Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness ⁹which may be felt."

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was ¹⁰thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.

23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, ¹¹but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24 Then Pharaoh ¹²called to Moses, and said, "Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even ¹³your little ones may go with you."

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Exodus 10:14-24 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 13

1. Deuteronomy 28:38; Psalms 78:46; Psalms 105:34; Joel 1:4, 7; Joel 2:1-11; Revelation 9:3
2. Exodus 10:5; Psalms 105:34
3. Exodus 8:8
4. Exodus 9:27
5. Exodus 8:8, 28; Exodus 9:28; 1 Kings 13:6
6. Exodus 8:30
7. Exodus 4:21; Exodus 11:10
8. Exodus 9:22
9. Deuteronomy 28:29
10. Psalms 105:28; Revelation 16:10
11. Exodus 8:22
12. Exodus 8:8, 25
13. Exodus 10:10

Footnotes 5

[a]. Lit "heavy"
[b]. Lit "locusts like them before them"
[c]. Lit "after them"
[d]. Lit "Sea of Reeds"
[e]. Lit "made strong"