Exodus 10:12-20

12 And the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over Egypt so that locusts swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail.”

13 So Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt, and the LORD made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts;

14 they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again.

15 They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured all that was left after the hail—everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on 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.

17 Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me.”

18 Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.

19 And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea.^[a] Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt.

20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

Exodus 10:12-20 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

• 1. Exodus 7:19
• 2. ver 21-22; Exodus 4:17; Exodus 8:5,17; Exodus 9:23; Exodus 14:15-16,26-27; Exodus 17:5; Numbers 20:8
• 3. ver 4; 1 Kings 8:37; Psalms 78:46; Psalms 105:34; Amos 4:9; Nahum 3:16
• 4. Deuteronomy 28:38; Psalms 78:46; Isaiah 33:4; Joel 1:4; Joel 2:1-11,25; Amos 4:9
• 5. ver 5; Deuteronomy 28:38; Psalms 105:34-35; Joel 1:4; Amos 7:2; Malachi 3:11
• 6. S Exodus 8:25
• 7. S Exodus 9:27
• 8. 1 Samuel 15:25
• 9. S Exodus 8:8
• 10. S Exodus 8:30
• 11. S Exodus 4:21; Exodus 11:10

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "the Sea of Reeds"