What is the meaning of Exodus 10?
Introduction to Exodus 10
Exodus 10 presents the devastating eighth and ninth plagues that יהוה unleashed upon Egypt: locusts and darkness. These plagues struck at the heart of Egyptian society and religion, specifically targeting Egypt’s agricultural economy and their sun god Ra. The chapter masterfully demonstrates יהוה’s absolute sovereignty over creation and His power to use nature itself as an instrument of both judgment and revelation. Through these plagues, we witness how יהוה systematically dismantled Egypt’s resistance while simultaneously strengthening the faith of His people Israel.
The narrative serves as a powerful testimony to divine justice and mercy, showing how יהוה gives multiple opportunities for repentance while progressively increasing the severity of consequences for continued rebellion. This pattern of divine warning followed by judgment remains relevant for believers today, teaching crucial lessons about God’s patience and the serious consequences of hardening one’s heart against Him.
Context of Exodus 10
Within the immediate context of the book of Exodus, chapter 10 falls in the middle of the ten plagues narrative (Exodus 7-12). It follows the plague of hail, which had already devastated Egypt’s crops, and precedes the death of the firstborn, which would finally break Pharaoh’s resistance. The locusts and darkness serve as the penultimate acts in יהוה’s systematic demonstration of His superiority over Egypt’s pantheon of gods and His absolute control over every aspect of creation.
In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter plays a crucial role in establishing יהוה’s reputation among the nations. As expressed in Exodus 9:16, these events were designed to show יהוה’s power and cause His name to be proclaimed throughout the earth. The plagues of Exodus became a defining moment in Israel’s national memory, frequently referenced throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Psalm 78:43-51, Psalm 105:28-35) and the New Testament as evidence of God’s mighty acts of redemption.
Moreover, this chapter contributes to the larger exodus motif that runs throughout Scripture, prefiguring the greater exodus that would come through the Messiah. The darkness that covered Egypt foreshadows the cosmic darkness at the crucifixion, while the preservation of Israel amid divine judgment points to salvation through the blood of the Lamb.
Ancient Key Word Study
- Arbeh (ארבה) – “Locusts”: The Hebrew word represents not just any locusts but specifically a swarming locust in its adult stage. The term carries military connotations, often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe invading armies. The root relates to multiplication or increase, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of this plague.
- Choshek (חשך) – “Darkness”: This term denotes more than mere absence of light; it represents tangible darkness that could be “felt.” The word appears in Genesis 1:2 describing primordial darkness, suggesting יהוה’s power to reverse creation itself. It carries strong theological implications of divine judgment and spiritual blindness.
- Gevul (גבול) – “Territory/Border”: This word emphasizes the sovereignty aspects of the plague narrative. The locusts respect the boundaries set by יהוה, demonstrating His precise control over creation and establishing territorial distinctions between Egypt and Goshen.
- Kabed (כבד) – “Heavy/Hardened”: Used to describe both Pharaoh’s heart and the severity of the plagues. The word plays on the Egyptian concept of the heart being “weighed” in judgment, ironically showing how Pharaoh’s stubborness leads to his own condemnation.
- Ya’ar (יער) – “Warned/Testified”: The root implies formal legal warning, suggesting these plagues weren’t merely punitive but served as divine litigation, giving Pharaoh legitimate opportunity to repent.
- Mush (משׁ) – “Feel/Touch”: Used uniquely in describing the darkness, this word suggests physical substance to the darkness, emphasizing its supernatural quality beyond natural phenomena.
- Sha’ar (שאר) – “Remain/Left”: The word emphasizes total destruction, used repeatedly to describe how nothing green remained after the locusts, highlighting the comprehensive nature of divine judgment.
- Ra’ah (ראה) – “See”: Ironically used in the context of darkness, this word carries theological significance about spiritual perception versus physical sight, as the Egyptians could not “see” while Israel had light.
- Abad (עבד) – “Serve/Worship”: A key theological term throughout Exodus, highlighting the central conflict over who will be served – יהוה or Pharaoh. The word plays on the dual meaning of service and worship.
Compare & Contrast
- Verse 1’s “hardened his heart” (הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת-לִבּוֹ) uses the causative form rather than the simple form, emphasizing יהוה’s active role in the hardening process. This choice highlights divine sovereignty while maintaining Pharaoh’s responsibility through previous self-hardening.
- The phrase “they will tell” (תְּסַפֵּר) in verse 2 specifically uses a word related to scribal activity rather than simple verbal relating, suggesting these events were meant to be formally recorded and transmitted through generations.
- The description of the locusts covering the “eye of the land” (עין הארץ) in verse 5 employs a unique Hebrew idiom that could have been expressed as “surface” but was chosen to emphasize visual impact and complete coverage.
- The darkness described as one that “may be felt” (וְיָמֵשׁ חֹשֶׁךְ) in verse 21 uses a rare verb form suggesting physical substance, chosen over simpler terms for darkness to emphasize its supernatural quality.
- The phrase “not a locust remained” (לֹא נִשְׁאַר אַרְבֶּה אֶחָד) in verse 19 uses emphatic singular “one” rather than the typical “none,” stressing absolute totality of removal.
- The three days of darkness (verse 22) mirrors the creation account’s separation of light and darkness, but inverts it, showing יהוה’s power to reverse creation order.
- The contrast between “thick darkness” (חֲשֵׁכָה-אֲפֵלָה) and “light” (אוֹר) for the Israelites employs specific terms that echo Genesis 1, connecting this judgment to creation themes.
Exodus 10 Unique Insights
The rabbinical tradition provides fascinating insights into the supernatural aspects of these plagues. The Midrash Rabbah suggests that the locusts possessed unusual characteristics – they were said to be unusually large and possessed a venomous bite, unlike natural locusts. This interpretation stems from the unique Hebrew phrasing used to describe them as something that “neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen” (verse 6).
The darkness described in this chapter is understood in Jewish tradition as being of a unique quality. The Mechilta of Rabbi Ishmael teaches that this darkness was compound – first a darkness that extinguished all artificial light, followed by a tangible darkness that physically restricted movement. This interpretation arises from the unusual double expression “darkness of darkness” (חשך אפלה) and the statement that it could be “felt.”
Early Church Father Origen saw in these plagues a spiritual parallel to the soul’s journey from bondage to freedom. He particularly noted how the darkness plague represented spiritual blindness that precedes enlightenment, drawing parallels to Paul’s temporary blindness before his conversion in Acts 9.
The plague of darkness also carried profound theological significance in its timing. Egyptian religious life centered around the sun god Ra, and this plague demonstrated יהוה’s absolute power over what Egypt considered their supreme deity. The fact that this occurred for three days may have been particularly significant, as three-day periods often denote divine activity in Scripture.
Exodus 10 Connections to Yeshua
The plagues of Exodus 10 powerfully foreshadow aspects of the Messiah’s redemptive work. The supernatural darkness that covered Egypt prefigures the darkness that covered the land during Yeshua’s crucifixion (Matthew 27:45). In both cases, the darkness served as a sign of divine judgment and the cosmic significance of the moment. Just as Israel had light in their dwellings while Egypt was in darkness, believers in Messiah are called “children of light” (1 Thessalonians 5:5) while those who reject Him remain in spiritual darkness.
The complete destruction brought by the locusts points to the final judgment that will come through the Messiah. This connection is particularly evident in the book of Revelation, where locusts again serve as agents of divine judgment (Revelation 9:3). The pattern of warning before judgment seen in this chapter reflects Yeshua’s patient calling of sinners to repentance before the final day of judgment. Furthermore, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart serves as a warning about rejecting divine truth, parallel to those who “loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19) when Messiah came.
Exodus 10 Scriptural Echoes
The plagues of Exodus 10 resonate throughout Scripture, forming connections that enrich our understanding of God’s redemptive plan. The prophet Joel uses locust imagery to describe God’s judgment army (Joel 1:4), drawing directly from the Exodus account. This imagery is later picked up in Revelation’s apocalyptic descriptions (Revelation 9).
The theme of darkness as divine judgment appears repeatedly in Scripture, from Amos’s prophecy of darkness at noon (Amos 8:9) to the darkness at the crucifixion. The distinction between light for God’s people and darkness for their opponents becomes a major biblical metaphor, appearing in Isaiah’s prophecies (Isaiah 60:2) and the New Testament’s theology of spiritual illumination (2 Corinthians 4:6).
The concept of hardening hearts appears throughout Scripture, notably in Romans 9, where Paul uses Pharaoh as an example of God’s sovereignty. The pattern of progressive judgment with opportunities for repentance is seen in prophetic books like Amos and Revelation, showing God’s consistent character in dealing with human rebellion.
Exodus 10 Devotional
This chapter challenges us to examine our own hearts’ response to God’s word and warning. Like Pharaoh, we can become progressively hardened to divine truth if we repeatedly reject it. The question isn’t whether God is speaking, but whether we’re listening and responding with humility rather than pride.
The contrast between light and darkness for the Israelites and Egyptians reminds us that our spiritual condition determines our perception of God’s work. Those who walk in obedience often experience God’s presence as light and guidance, while those in rebellion may experience His activity as judgment and confusion.
Consider how God may be working in your life through circumstances you’d rather avoid. Are there areas where, like Pharaoh’s servants, you recognize God’s hand but struggle to fully submit? Remember that God’s judgments often aim to bring repentance rather than mere punishment.
Did You Know
- The Hebrew word for locusts (arbeh) shares its root with words meaning “many” or “multiply,” reflecting how locust swarms could number in the billions and consume their own weight in vegetation daily.
- Ancient Egyptian texts actually record a period of unusual darkness during the New Kingdom period, though scholars debate its connection to the biblical account.
- The plague of darkness specifically targeted Ra, the sun god who was considered the supreme deity of Egypt and father of the Pharaoh.
- Archaeological evidence shows that locust invasions could be so severe in ancient times that they were recorded as natural disasters in official court records.
- The Jewish sages teach that the darkness was so thick that it extinguished all flames and prevented people from changing positions – if sitting, they couldn’t stand; if standing, they couldn’t sit.
- The separation between light and darkness for Israelites and Egyptians respectively occurred within the same households where Egyptians employed Hebrew servants, demonstrating God’s supernatural discrimination.
- Ancient Egyptian religious texts speak of a fear of cosmic darkness overcoming the sun god Ra, making this plague particularly terrifying in their worldview.
- The locust plague would have been especially devastating because it followed the hail plague, destroying whatever crops had managed to survive the previous judgment.
- The Hebrew phrase for “thick darkness” (חשכת-אפלה) appears only here and in Deuteronomy’s covenant curses, linking these events to broader covenant themes.
- Some scholars suggest the darkness may have been caused by a massive sandstorm known as hamsin, though the supernatural aspects of the account (like light for Israel) transcend natural explanations.
