Exodus · chapter 10 of 40
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Exodus 10 tells of the plagues of locusts and darkness. Pharaoh's servants urge him to let the people go, and the king tries to allow only the men to leave. A cloud of locusts devours what was left of the crops, and then three days of darkness cover Egypt while the Israelites have light. Pharaoh again refuses and drives Moses from his presence.
Exodus 10 carries the plagues almost to their end. The ruin from the hail has already left Egypt wounded, and Pharaoh's own servants begin to give way. The chapter dwells on the king's bargaining, as he tries to control which part of the people may leave, and shows that God does not accept half-freedom: all Israel must be able to worship.
The Lord told Moses to go to Pharaoh, for he had hardened his heart to display his signs and so that Israel could tell their children and grandchildren what he did in Egypt, and know that he is the Lord. Moses and Aaron warned Pharaoh that, if he refused to humble himself, locusts would come that would cover the land and eat what the hail had left. Pharaoh's servants asked how long this man would be a snare to them and urged him to let the men go, because Egypt was already ruined.
Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron back and asked who would go. Moses answered that young and old would go, sons and daughters, flocks and herds, because it was a feast to the Lord. Pharaoh said that only the men would go, and drove them from his presence.
The Lord made an east wind blow all that day and night, and by morning it had brought the locusts. They covered the land, there had never been such a swarm before and never would be again, and they ate all the plants and the fruit of the trees, leaving nothing green in Egypt. Pharaoh hurriedly called Moses and Aaron, said he had sinned and asked forgiveness just this once. Moses prayed, and the Lord sent a strong west wind that swept the locusts into the Red Sea, not one left. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let Israel go.
Then Moses stretched his hand toward heaven, and thick darkness covered Egypt for three days. No one saw anyone else or moved from his place, but all the Israelites had light in their dwellings. Pharaoh called Moses and allowed the people to go, but without their flocks and herds. Moses answered that not a hoof would be left behind, because they needed the animals to serve the Lord. The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he drove Moses out and told him never to see his face again, for the day he did he would die. Moses answered that he had spoken well and would not see his face again.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
God wants Israel to tell their children and grandchildren what he did in Egypt and the signs he performed, so they will know that he is the Lord. The plagues become a story passed from generation to generation.
Pharaoh's servants ask how long this man will be a snare to them and urge him to let the Israelites go, for Egypt is ruined. Even the king's advisers see what Pharaoh refuses to see.
No one saw anyone else for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Darkness falls on Egypt, which worshiped the sun, while God's people keep the light.
Moses says all the livestock will go, not a hoof left behind, because they will not know how they will serve the Lord until they arrive. He rejects half-freedom: all of Israel's life belongs to God.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: To display his signs and so that Israel could tell their children and grandchildren what he did in Egypt. — Exodus 10:1-2
Answer: To let the men go to serve the Lord, because Egypt was ruined. — Exodus 10:7
Answer: Young and old, sons and daughters, flocks and herds. — Exodus 10:9
Answer: An east wind brought them, and a west wind swept them into the Red Sea. — Exodus 10:13-19
Answer: Three days, and all the people of Israel had light where they lived. — Exodus 10:22-23
Answer: Their flocks and herds. — Exodus 10:24
Exodus 10 reminds us that God does not accept half-measures. Pharaoh offers to give up a part, the men, or everything but the animals, but the Lord claims that his whole people serve him. It invites us to ask which areas of life we tend to keep for ourselves.
The chapter also speaks of passing on the faith. God did the signs so they would be told to children and grandchildren. In a class or small group you can think about how to share with the next generation what God has done for us, with concrete stories and not just ideas.
Exodus 10 ends with the complete break between Pharaoh and Moses: the king promises death to Moses if he sees him again. But Exodus 11 announces the last plague, the gravest, which will force Pharaoh to let Israel go.
The Hebrew name can be translated Sea of Reeds or Red Sea. Here it names the sea into which the wind sweeps the locusts, and it is the same expression used later in the crossing of the sea. Its exact location is still debated.
The text speaks of a thick darkness that kept people from seeing or moving for three days. Some link it to a sandstorm and others see it as a miracle with no natural explanation. What is clear is that it struck Egypt and not the homes of Israel.
It is a threat from a king who can no longer tolerate the truth Moses brings him. Moses' answer confirms he will not see him again on those terms, and in the next chapter he will announce the last plague.