Exodus 10:1-11

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his slaves that I might show these my signs among them

2 and that thou may tell in the ears of thy sons and of thy son’s sons the things I did in Egypt and my signs which I gave among them and that ye may know that I am the LORD.

3 Then Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh and said unto him, Thus hath the LORD God of the Hebrews said, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? Let my people go that they may serve me.

4 For if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring the locusts into thy borders,

5 and they shall cover the face of the earth that one will not be able to see the earth, and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remains unto you from the hail and shall eat every tree which produces fruit for you out of the field:

6 And they shall fill thy houses and the houses of all thy slaves and the houses of all the Egyptians, which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers’ fathers have seen since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself and went out from Pharaoh.

7 Then Pharaoh’s slaves said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? Let the men go that they may serve the LORD their God; knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

8 And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh; and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God. Who are those that shall go?

9 And Moses replied, We must go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our sheep and with our cows we must go; for we have a solemn feast unto the LORD.

10 And he said unto them, Even if the LORD be with you, how can I let you go with your little ones; look at the malice which is before your face.

11 It shall not be so: go now ye that are men and serve the LORD; for that is what ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

Exodus 10:1-11 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.