Exodus 10

V 1–20: MIRACULOUS PLAGUES: PLAGUE EIGHT—LOCUSTS Moses is reminded that he must relate God’s dealings with Egypt on behalf of the Israelites to future generations. Moses and Aaron tell Pharaoh of the plague of locusts that will eat everything, and fill the houses of all Egyptians. Pharaoh’s servants plead with Pharaoh to let the Israelites go before Egypt is destroyed. Pharaoh has another audience with them and tells them to go, provided that only the men go. Moses and Aaron have made it quite clear that all the Israelites, including women and children, are to go. Pharaoh drives them out. Moses obeys God’s command to stretch out his rod over Egypt and an enormous number of locusts produce great devastation in the land and cloud the sky. This time, Pharaoh calls Moses and Aaron in haste, confesses that he has sinned against God and against them, asks for forgiveness, and asks that God may take this plague and death away. As Moses entreats God, a very strong west wind takes the locusts away into the Red Sea, and not one locust remains. But Pharaoh’s already hardened heart is hardened even further and he will not let the children of Israel go. V 21–29: MIRACULOUS PLAGUES: PLAGUE NINE—DARKNESS Without warning to Pharaoh, God instructs Moses to stretch out his hand, and great darkness extends over the whole land of Egypt for three days. The children of Israel, however, are never without light. Pharaoh seeks to negotiate the Israelites’ going into the wilderness by stating that their flocks and herds must be kept back, even though their children may go. Moses insists that not a hoof shall be left behind. Hardened Pharaoh refuses to let them go and ejects them from his presence, claiming that if they see him again, they shall die. Moses impetuously says it is true that he will never see his face again. (In fact he will see his face again but only when Pharaoh finally concedes defeat.)