Exodus 10 Study Notes

10:1-2 This prologue to the plague of locusts introduces the topic of provisions for remembering and recording what the Lord had done for them (12:14-27,42-49; 13:1-16; 16:33-34; 17:14-16). The hardening of Egyptian hearts was the occasion for miraculous signs that the Israelites should recount to succeeding generations so they would know who the Lord is (Ps 111:4-6).

10:3-7 This is the first time Moses and Aaron deliver the plague announcement and then leave, showing the Lord’s control of events and revealing to readers what will happen.

10:3 The correct answer to Moses’s and Aaron’s question should have been, “No longer.” Pharaoh was refusing to humble himself. Would he like to avoid plagues? Yes. Humble himself? No.

10:4 Locusts are still dreaded in Africa. The eighth plague would bring the worst visitation of locusts ever in Egypt.

10:7 Pharaoh’s officials blamed Moses for the problem. Their second rhetorical question drew attention to what Pharaoh did not “know,” that is, to recognize and respond appropriately. Realize translates the word usually rendered “know” (1:8; 5:2). The officials were convinced that more trouble was coming.

10:8-11 In an attempt to forestall the plague of locusts, Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, who immediately began an argument over who should go. Moses’s list included everyone and everything they owned, since the entire nation belonged to the Lord. You’re heading for trouble translates a terse phrase with no verb, literally, “evil [is] opposite your face.” The word translated “trouble” often refers to calamity or disaster; so it may be that Pharaoh referred to the trouble that the Israelites would experience if they continued to annoy him with talk of leaving—“Look out, you are about to be in trouble from me; it’s right in front of you!” Or he may have been saying that what they were contemplating was bad, evil from his point of view.

10:12-15 Again, this plague of locusts was the worst in Egypt’s long history.

10:16-20 Monarchs cultivate the image of serenity and control. Pharaoh’s hurry to call Moses and Aaron back, his longer confession, and his request for relief from the plague show its impact on him. Unlike before, in the aftermath of this plague, Moses said nothing to Pharaoh.

10:19 The Hebrew name for the Red Sea, yam suph, is used here for the first time. It is also applied to what is now called the Gulf of Aqaba or Gulf of Eilat, the branch of the Red Sea that extends east of the Sinai Peninsula and west of the Arabian Peninsula (1Kg 9:26). The translation “Reed Sea” or “Sea of Reeds” that is sometimes suggested recognizes that the word suph means “reed” or “reeds,” as in Ex 2:3,5 and Is 19:6. The name “Red Sea” reflects ancient Greek usage, which included the Gulf of Suez, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf under the Greek equivalent of “Red Sea” (eruthra thalassey).

10:21-23 Darkness seems appropriate as an attack on the Egyptian king, since Pharaoh was believed to be the son of Egypt’s chief god, the sun-god Re. It is also part of later judgment pronounced against Egypt (Ezk 32:7-8). Pharaoh had refused to allow a three-day journey for the Israelites, and now, ironically, Pharaoh’s people were surrounded by darkness and unable to go anywhere for three days, while the Lord’s people had light for their activities. An unusually severe sandstorm could have been the plague that the Lord used to impose darkness on Egypt.

10:24 Pharaoh’s restriction of the movement of the flocks and herds of the Israelites showed that he was still unwilling to submit to the Lord.

10:25-27 Sacrifices and burnt offerings were practiced before the Mosaic law (Gn 8:20). The word for worship is ‘abad, which also means “serve.” Moses would much rather serve the Lord than Pharaoh.

10:28-29 Make sure you never see my face again has to do with initiating a formal appearance before Pharaoh, not a casual sighting (cp. 23:17; 34:23; 2Sm 14:23-33). Moses did see Pharaoh again secretly (Ex 12:31). Moses’s words in v. 29 may also mean “I will not keep seeing you” rather than I will never see your face again. The words Moses delivered to Pharaoh in 11:4-8 may have been uttered during the encounter in 10:24-29 (translating the speech verb in 11:1 as “had said”). The angry exchange between Pharaoh and Moses shows that they agreed on one thing—that Moses’s series of announcements and demands was finished. There would be no more bargaining. For Pharaoh to threaten to kill the messenger of the Lord shows that he still disrespected them both.