The Torah · Old Testament
Exodus 10
Locusts, darkness and disputed terms of departure
General context
The Lord tells Moses that he has hardened Pharaoh's heart and his servants' hearts, and that the signs are to be told to children and grandchildren. Moses and Aaron warn Pharaoh of locusts that will consume what the hail left. Pharaoh's servants urge him to let the men go because Egypt is being ruined. Moses insists that young and old, sons and daughters, flocks and herds must go to hold a feast to the Lord. Pharaoh offers to release only the men and drives Moses and Aaron out. An east wind brings locusts, which cover the land and consume its remaining greenery. Pharaoh confesses sin and asks for forgiveness and prayer. Moses prays, and a strong west wind carries the locusts into the sea. The Lord hardens Pharaoh's heart, and he does not release Israel. Darkness then covers Egypt for three days, while Israel has light in their dwellings. Pharaoh offers to let the children go but requires the livestock to remain. Moses refuses to leave the animals needed for service and sacrifice. The Lord again hardens Pharaoh's heart. Pharaoh threatens Moses with death if he sees his face again, and Moses answers that he will not see it again.
Cited passages: Exodus 10:1, Exodus 10:2, Exodus 10:3, Exodus 10:4, Exodus 10:5, Exodus 10:6, Exodus 10:7, Exodus 10:8, Exodus 10:9, Exodus 10:10, Exodus 10:11, Exodus 10:12, Exodus 10:13, Exodus 10:14, Exodus 10:15, Exodus 10:16, Exodus 10:17, Exodus 10:18, Exodus 10:19, Exodus 10:20, Exodus 10:21, Exodus 10:22, Exodus 10:23, Exodus 10:24, Exodus 10:25, Exodus 10:26, Exodus 10:27, Exodus 10:28, Exodus 10:29
Exodus 10 (KJV)
1And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:
2And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord.
3And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
4Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
5And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:
6And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, 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.
7And Pharaoh’s servants 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?
8And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God: but who are they that shall go?
9And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.
10And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.
11Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.
12And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.
13And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
14And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
15For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
16Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.
17Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
18And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.
19And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.
20But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
21And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
22And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.
25And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God.
26Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither.
27But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
28And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
29And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.
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Historical context
The negotiations specify who and what may leave: Pharaoh first limits permission to men, then later permits the children while withholding flocks and herds. Moses explains that the animals are needed for sacrifice and that they do not yet know what service will require until they arrive. The account names an east wind bringing the locusts and a strong west wind removing them. It describes the locusts' severity in emphatic terms, without supplying a modern natural-history comparison. The subsequent darkness lasts three days; Israel's light is specifically located in their dwellings. No eclipse, dust storm or other physical explanation is given. Pharaoh's final threat and Moses' answer are reported as their closing words here.
Cited passages: Exodus 10:4, Exodus 10:5, Exodus 10:6, Exodus 10:7, Exodus 10:8, Exodus 10:9, Exodus 10:10, Exodus 10:11, Exodus 10:13, Exodus 10:14, Exodus 10:15, Exodus 10:19, Exodus 10:21, Exodus 10:22, Exodus 10:23, Exodus 10:24, Exodus 10:25, Exodus 10:26, Exodus 10:28, Exodus 10:29
Literary context
The opening instruction frames the signs as events to recount across generations. Within the confrontation, Pharaoh's servants acknowledge Egypt's ruin, but the king continues to restrict the proposed departure. The locust episode joins confession and a plea for relief to another refusal after relief arrives. The later darkness brings a revised offer, which Moses rejects because it withholds the animals. The two negotiations make the scope of departure central to the chapter. Its final exchange moves from contested permission to a threat against Moses, leaving Israel's release unresolved.
Cited passages: Exodus 10:1, Exodus 10:2, Exodus 10:3, Exodus 10:7, Exodus 10:8, Exodus 10:9, Exodus 10:10, Exodus 10:11, Exodus 10:16, Exodus 10:17, Exodus 10:18, Exodus 10:19, Exodus 10:20, Exodus 10:21, Exodus 10:22, Exodus 10:23, Exodus 10:24, Exodus 10:25, Exodus 10:26, Exodus 10:27, Exodus 10:28, Exodus 10:29
Key moments
- The signs are to be told to later generations (Exodus 10:2). The Lord instructs Moses to recount the acts in Egypt and the signs to his son and grandson.
- Moses names who and what must go (Exodus 10:9). Moses includes young and old, sons and daughters, flocks and herds in the requested departure.
- Israel has light in their dwellings (Exodus 10:23). During the three days of darkness, the Israelites have light where they live.
- Moses refuses to leave the livestock (Exodus 10:26). Moses says their cattle must go because they are needed to serve the Lord.
For reflection
What do the two negotiations reveal about the difference between Pharaoh's offers and the departure Moses requests?