Exo 10:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | Moses is again sent to Pharaoh, and expostulates with him on his refusal to let the Hebrews go, . The eighth plague, viz., of locusts, is threatened, . The extent and oppressive nature of this plague, , . Pharaoh's servants counsel him to dismiss the Hebrews, . He calls for Moses and Aaron, and inquires who they are of the Hebrews who wish to go, . Moses having answered that the whole people, with their flocks and herds must go and hold a feast to the Lord, , Pharaoh is enraged, and having granted permission only to the men, drives Moses and Aaron from his presence, , . Moses is commanded to stretch out his hand and bring the locusts, . He does so, and an east wind is sent, which, blowing all that day and night, brings the locusts the next morning, . The devastation occasioned by these insects, , . Pharaoh is humbled, acknowledges his sin, and begs Moses to intercede with Jehovah for him, , . Moses does so, and at his request a strong west wind is sent, which carries all the locusts to the Red Sea, , . Pharaoh's heart is again hardened, . Moses is commanded to bring the ninth plague of extraordinary darkness over all the land of Egypt, . The nature, duration, and effects of this, , . Pharaoh, again humbled, consents to let the people go, provided they leave their cattle behind, . Moses insists on having all their cattle, because of the sacrifices which they must make to the Lord, , . Pharaoh, again hardened, refuses, . Orders Moses from his presence, and threatens him with death should he ever return, . Moses departs with the promise of returning no more, . Verse 1 Hardened his heart - God suffered his natural obstinacy to prevail, that he might have farther opportunities of showing forth his eternal power and Godhead.

Exodus 10:1-3

Introduction

Moses is again sent to Pharaoh, and expostulates with him on his refusal to let the Hebrews go, Exo 10:1-3. The eighth plague, viz., of locusts, is threatened, Exo 10:4. The extent and oppressive nature of this plague, Exo 10:5, Exo 10:6. Pharaoh's servants counsel him to dismiss the Hebrews, Exo 10:7. He calls for Moses and Aaron, and inquires who they are of the Hebrews who wish to go, Exo 10:8. Moses having answered that the whole people, with their flocks and herds must go and hold a feast to the Lord, Exo 10:9, Pharaoh is enraged, and having granted permission only to the men, drives Moses and Aaron from his presence, Exo 10:10, Exo 10:11. Moses is commanded to stretch out his hand and bring the locusts, Exo 10:12. He does so, and an east wind is sent, which, blowing all that day and night, brings the locusts the next morning, Exo 10:13. The devastation occasioned by these insects, Exo 10:14, Exo 10:15. Pharaoh is humbled, acknowledges his sin, and begs Moses to intercede with Jehovah for him, Exo 10:16, Exo 10:17. Moses does so, and at his request a strong west wind is sent, which carries all the locusts to the Red Sea, Exo 10:18, Exo 10:19. Pharaoh's heart is again hardened, Exo 10:20. Moses is commanded to bring the ninth plague of extraordinary darkness over all the land of Egypt, Exo 10:21. The nature, duration, and effects of this, Exo 10:22, Exo 10:23. Pharaoh, again humbled, consents to let the people go, provided they leave their cattle behind, Exo 10:24. Moses insists on having all their cattle, because of the sacrifices which they must make to the Lord, Exo 10:25, Exo 10:26. Pharaoh, again hardened, refuses, Exo 10:27. Orders Moses from his presence, and threatens him with death should he ever return, Exo 10:28. Moses departs with the promise of returning no more, Exo 10:29.

Verse 1

Hardened his heart - God suffered his natural obstinacy to prevail, that he might have farther opportunities of showing forth his eternal power and Godhead. Verse 2

That thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son - That the miracles wrought at this time might be a record for the instruction of the latest posterity, that Jehovah alone, the God of the Hebrews, was the sole Maker, Governor, and Supporter of the heavens and the earth. Thus we find God so did his marvelous works, that they might be had in everlasting remembrance. It was not to crush the poor worm, Pharaoh, that he wrought such mighty wonders, but to convince his enemies, to the end of the world, that no cunning or power can prevail against him; and to show his followers that whosoever trusted in him should never be confounded. Verse 3

How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself - Had it been impossible for Pharaoh, in all the preceding plagues, to have humbled himself and repented can we suppose that God could have addressed him in such language as the preceding? We may rest assured that there was always a time in which he might have relented, and that it was because he hardened his heart at such times that God is said to harden him, i.e., to give him up to his own stubborn and obstinate heart; in consequence of which he refused to let the people go, so that God had a fresh opportunity to work another miracle, for the very gracious purposes mentioned in Exo 10:2. Had Pharaoh relented before, the same gracious ends would have been accomplished by other means.