CHAPTER X _Moses is again sent to Pharaoh, and expostulates with him on_ _his refusal to let the Hebrews go_, 1-3. _The_ eighth _plague, viz., of_ locusts, _is threatened_, 4. _The extent and oppressive nature of this plague_, 5, 6. _Pharaoh's servants counsel him to dismiss the Hebrews_, 7. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:2. _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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:3. _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 t... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE_ EIGHTH _PLAGUE - THE_ LOCUSTS Verse Exodus 10:4. _TO-MORROW WILL I BRING THE LOCUSTS_] The word ארבה _arbeh_, a _locust_, is probably from the root רבה _rabah_, he _multiplied, became great_, _mighty_, c. because of the immense swarms of these animals by which different countries, especially... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:5. _THEY SHALL COVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH_] They sometimes cover the whole ground to the depth of _six_ or _eight inches_. See the preceding accounts.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:6. _THEY SHALL FILL THY HOUSES_] Dr. Shaw mentions this circumstance; "they entered," says he, "Into our very houses and bed-chambers, like so many thieves." - Ibid. p. 187.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:7. _HOW LONG SHALL THIS MAN BE A SNARE UNTO US?_] As there is no noun in the text, the pronoun זה _zeh_ may either refer to the Israelites, to the plague by which they were then afflicted, or to Moses and Aaron, the instruments used by the Most High in their chastisement. The Vulgate... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:8. _WHO ARE THEY THAT SHALL GO?_] Though the Egyptians, about fourscore years before, wished to destroy the Hebrews, yet they found them now so profitable to the _state_ that they were unwilling to part with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:9. _WE WILL GO WITH OUR YOUNG AND WITH OUR OLD, C._] As a feast was to be celebrated to the honour of Jehovah, all who were partakers of his bounty and providential kindness must go and perform their part in the solemnity. The _men_ and the _women_ must make the feast, the _children... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:10. _LET THE LORD BE SO WITH YOU_] This is an obscure sentence. Some suppose that Pharaoh meant it as a curse, as if he had said, "May your God be as surely with you, as I shall let you go!" For as he purposed not to permit them to go, so he wished them as much of the Divine help as... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:13. _THE LORD BROUGHT AN EAST WIND_] As locusts abounded in those countries, and particularly in AEthiopia, and more especially at this time of the year, God had no need to create new swarms for this purpose; all that was requisite was to cause such a wind to blow as would bring thos... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:14. _BEFORE THEM THERE WERE NO SUCH LOCUSTS, C._] They exceeded all that went before, or were since, in _number_, and in the _devastations_ they produced. Probably both these things are intended in the passage. See Exodus 10:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:15. _THERE REMAINED NOT ANY GREEN THING_] Exodus 10:4, Exodus 10:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:17. _FORGIVE, I PRAY THEE, MY SIN ONLY THIS ONCE_] What a strange case! And what a series of softening and hardening, of sinning and repenting! Had he not now another opportunity of returning to God? But the love of gain, and the gratification of his own self-will and obstinacy, fina... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:19. _A MIGHTY STRONG WEST WIND_] רוח ים _ruach yam_, literally the _wind of the sea_; the wind that blew from the Mediterranean Sea, which lay north-west of Egypt, which had the Red Sea on the east. Here again God works by natural means; he brought the locusts by the east wind, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE_ NINTH _PLAGUE _- THICK DARKNESS Verse Exodus 10:21. _DARKNESS_ WHICH _MAY BE FELT._] Probably this was occasioned by a superabundance of aqueous vapours floating in the atmosphere, which were so thick as to prevent the rays of the sun from penetrating through them; an extraordinarily thick mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:23. _THEY SAW NOT ONE ANOTHER_] So deep was the obscurity, and probably such was its nature, that no artificial light could be procured; as the thick clammy vapours would prevent lamps, c., from burning, or if they even could be ignited, the light through the palpable obscurity, cou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:24. _ONLY LET YOUR FLOCKS AND YOUR HERDS BE STAYED_] Pharaoh cannot get all he wishes; and as he sees it impossible to contend with Jehovah, he now consents to give up the Israelites, their wives and their children, provided he may keep their _flocks_ and their _herds_. The _cruelty_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:26. _WE KNOW NOT WITH WHAT WE MUST SERVE THE LORD, C._] The law was not yet given the ordinances concerning the different kinds of sacrifices and offerings not known. What _kind_ and what _number_ of animals God should require to be sacrificed, even Moses himself could not as yet tel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:27. _THE LORD HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART_] He had yet another miracle to work for the complete conviction of the Egyptians and triumph of his people; and till that was wrought he permitted the natural obstinacy of Pharaoh's haughty heart to have its full sway, after each resistance of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:28. _SEE MY FACE NO MORE_] Hitherto Pharaoh had left the way open for negotiation; but now, in wrath against Jehovah, he dismisses his ambassador, and threatens him with death if he should attempt any more to come into his presence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 10:29. _I WILL SEE THY FACE AGAIN NO MORE._] It is very likely that this was the last interview that Moses had with Pharaoh, for what is related, Exodus 11:4-2, might have been spoken on this very occasion, as it is very possible that God gave Moses to understand his purpose to slay th... [ Continue Reading ]