Exodus 10: The Plagues of Locusts and Darkness

Chapter With Audio

The Eighth Plague: Locusts

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, ²and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”

³So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. ⁴For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, ⁵and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field, ⁶and they shall fill your houses and the houses of all your servants and of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.’” Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

⁷Then Pharaoh's servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” ⁸So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, “Go, serve the Lord your God. But which ones are to go?” ⁹Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the Lord.” ¹⁰But he said to them, “The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. ¹¹No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

¹²Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.” ¹³So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. ¹⁴The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. ¹⁵They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt. ¹⁶Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. ¹⁷Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.” ¹⁸So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord. ¹⁹And the Lord turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. ²⁰But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.

The Ninth Plague: Darkness

²¹Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” ²²So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. ²³They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. ²⁴Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.” ²⁵But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. ²⁶Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the Lord our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” ²⁷But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. ²⁸Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” ²⁹Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”

Chapter Analysis

Exodus 10: God Sent the Plagues of Locusts and Darkness

Overview

Exodus 10 records the eighth and ninth plagues upon Egypt: locusts and darkness. Before sending these judgments, God explained that He had hardened Pharaoh's heart so that His mighty acts would be remembered by future generations and that Israel would know that He is the Lord.

The locusts consumed everything that remained after the plague of hail, leaving Egypt devastated. Pharaoh briefly confessed his sin and asked Moses to pray, but once the plague ended, he hardened his heart again.

The ninth plague brought thick darkness over Egypt for three days, while the Israelites enjoyed light in their homes. Pharaoh again attempted to compromise, but Moses refused. The chapter ends with Pharaoh angrily dismissing Moses and warning him never to appear before him again.

I. Verses 1–6: God Announced the Plague of Locusts

The Lord told Moses that He had hardened Pharaoh's heart and the hearts of his servants.

God's purpose was to display His mighty signs so that future generations of Israel would remember His works and know that He alone is the Lord.

Moses and Aaron warned Pharaoh that if he refused to let Israel go, the Lord would send locusts unlike anything Egypt had ever experienced.

The locusts would cover the land and consume every plant and tree that remained after the hail.

After delivering God's warning, Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh's presence.

II. Verses 7–20: The Eighth Plague—Locusts

Pharaoh's officials pleaded with him to let Israel go.

They recognized that Egypt was being destroyed.

Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron back and asked who would be leaving.

Moses replied that everyone would go:

Young and old.
Sons and daughters.
Flocks and herds.

Pharaoh refused and accused them of evil intentions.

He offered to let only the men go.

Moses rejected the compromise because God had commanded that all His people worship Him.

God then instructed Moses to stretch out his hand over Egypt.

An east wind brought countless locusts that covered the land.

They devoured every remaining crop, tree, and plant.

Nothing green remained anywhere in Egypt.

Pharaoh hurriedly confessed:

"I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you."

He asked Moses to forgive him and pray for the plague to end.

The Lord answered Moses' prayer by sending a strong west wind that carried every locust into the Red Sea.

Yet once relief came, the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he refused to let Israel go.

III. Verses 21–29: The Ninth Plague—Darkness

God instructed Moses to stretch out his hand toward heaven.

A thick darkness covered Egypt for three days.

The darkness was so intense that people could not see one another or leave their homes.

However, the Israelites had light where they lived.

Again, God distinguished between His people and the Egyptians.

Pharaoh attempted another compromise.

He offered to let the people go but insisted that their flocks and herds remain behind.

Moses refused because the animals were needed for sacrifices, and they did not yet know exactly what the Lord would require.

The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart once more.

In anger, Pharaoh commanded Moses:

"Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more!"

He warned Moses that if he returned, he would die.

Moses replied that he would not see Pharaoh again.

Major Lessons in Exodus 10

God's Mighty Works Reveal His Glory

The plagues were designed so that Israel and future generations would know that the Lord alone is God.

God Requires Complete Obedience

Pharaoh repeatedly offered compromises, but God required full obedience. Moses refused every attempt to partially obey God's command.

God's Mercy Was Repeatedly Rejected

Although Pharaoh repeatedly experienced God's mercy after Moses prayed for him, he continually hardened his heart.

God Distinguishes Between His People and the World

The darkness covered Egypt, but Israel had light. God is fully able to protect His people while judging the wicked.

Persistent Rebellion Leads to Greater Judgment

Each rejection of God's command resulted in a more severe judgment, demonstrating the danger of continually resisting God's will.

Overall Summary

Exodus 10 records the eighth and ninth plagues upon Egypt: locusts and darkness. The locusts consumed every remaining crop, leaving Egypt in ruin, while the darkness covered the land for three days, except in the homes of the Israelites. Pharaoh repeatedly confessed his sin during times of distress but hardened his heart once relief came. His repeated attempts to compromise with God's commands were rejected by Moses, who insisted upon complete obedience. The chapter ends with Pharaoh's final rejection of Moses, setting the stage for the tenth and final plague that would bring about Israel's deliverance.

Exodus 10: The Plagues of Locusts and Darkness