Short answer: Exodus 10 records the eighth and ninth plagues: a devastating locust swarm that consumes everything left by the hail and three days of thick darkness that can be felt. Pharaoh attempts to negotiate partial release but refuses full obedience. The chapter ends with a broken relationship between Pharaoh and Moses, setting the stage for the final plague.
Introduction
Exodus 10 is a foundational chapter in the book of Exodus, situated within the larger narrative of God's redemption of Israel from Egypt and His establishment of the covenant at Sinai. This study guide provides a thorough examination of the chapter's content, themes, and theological significance, drawing exclusively from the World English Bible (WEB) translation.
The Plague of Locusts (10:1-20)
God tells Moses that He has hardened Pharaoh's heart so that His signs may be told to future generations. Pharaoh's servants urge him to release the people. Pharaoh offers to let the men go but not the families. Moses refuses. An east wind brings locusts that cover the land and consume every green thing. Pharaoh confesses sin and asks for prayer, but when the locusts are removed, God hardens his heart.
The Plague of Darkness (10:21-29)
Without warning, Moses stretches out his hand, and thick darkness covers Egypt for three days — a darkness that can be felt. The Israelites have light in their dwellings. Pharaoh summons Moses and offers another compromise: the people may go, but the livestock must stay. Moses refuses: 'Not a hoof shall be left behind.' Pharaoh warns Moses never to see his face again on pain of death.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them; and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh.” Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won’t be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field. Your houses shall be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians, as neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’ ” He turned, and went out from Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don’t you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?” Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve Yahweh your God; but who are those who will go?” Moses said, “We will go with our young and with our old. We will go with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds; for we must hold a feast to Yahweh.” He said to them, “Yahweh be with you if I let you go with your little ones! See, evil is clearly before your faces. Not so! Go now you who are men, and serve Yahweh; for that is what you desire!” Then they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.” Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh brought an east wind on the land all that day, and all night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt. They were very grievous. Before them there were no such locusts as they, nor will there ever be again. For they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained nothing green, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, “I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you. Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death.” Moses went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh. Yahweh sent an exceedingly strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the borders of Egypt. But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go.
Exodus 10:1-20 (World English Bible)
Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.” Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. They didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.” Moses said, “You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God. Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there.” But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go. Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!” Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.”
Exodus 10:21-29 (World English Bible)
Gospel connection
The darkness that could be felt in Egypt while Israel had light in Goshen anticipates the final separation between those who belong to Christ and those who do not. Moses' insistence that 'not a hoof be left behind' foreshadows the complete redemption Christ accomplishes — nothing of His people remains in bondage. The light in Goshen points to Jesus, the light of the world, who shines in the darkness.
Application
This chapter confronts us with the temptation to partial obedience. Pharaoh's compromises — let the men go, but not the families; let the people go, but not the livestock — mirror our tendency to hold back parts of our lives from God. True obedience means 'not a hoof left behind.' Every area of life belongs to God, and we cannot negotiate which parts we will surrender.
Biblical fidelity check
This study guide is based solely on the text of Exodus 10 as rendered in the World English Bible (WEB). All scripture quotations are from the WEB translation. The analysis focuses on what the text actually says, without importing theological assumptions that are not present in the passage. Where the text is silent on a question, this guide does not speculate. Readers are encouraged to read the chapter in its full context and to compare other translations for additional insight.
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Frequently asked questions
Why did Pharaoh keep offering compromises?
Pharaoh's compromises reveal his heart: he wanted to appear to yield without actually obeying. He offered to let the men go (keeping families as hostages) and later to let the people go (keeping livestock as collateral). Partial obedience is a form of disobedience.
What was the significance of the darkness?
The darkness was a direct attack on the Egyptian sun god Ra, showing Yahweh's supremacy. It was also a sign of judgment, anticipating the final darkness of the tenth plague. The light in Goshen demonstrated God's ability to distinguish His people.
Why did Moses refuse to leave the livestock?
Moses insisted that not a hoof be left behind because they needed animals for sacrifices and offerings. He also refused to leave anything in Pharaoh's control. Complete obedience means leaving nothing behind.
