Exodus Chapter 10

“And the Lord said unto Moses, go in unto Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, etc.] Or, as some render it, “though I have hardened his heart” f265; or otherwise it would seem rather to be a reason he should not go, than why he should; at least it would be discouraging, and he might object to what purpose should he go, it would be in vain, no end would be answered by it; though there was an end God had in view, and which was answered by hardening his heart, and the heart of his servants; whose hearts also were hardened until now; until the plague of the locusts was threatened, and then they relent; which end…”

“PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS. (Exo. 10:1-20) show these my signs, &c.--Sinners even of the worst description are to be admonished even though there may be little hope of amendment, and hence those striking miracles that carried so clear and conclusive demonstration of the being and character of the true God were performed in lengthened series before Pharaoh to leave him without excuse when judgment should be finally executed.”

“The locusts - The locust is less common in Egypt than in many eastern countries, yet it is well known, and dreaded as the most terrible of scourges. They come generally from the western deserts, but sometimes from the east and the southeast. No less than nine names are given to the locust in the Bible, of which the word used here is the most common (ארבה 'arbeh); it signifies “multitudinous,” and whenever it occurs reference is made to its terrible devastations. return to 'Top of Page'”

“These plagues are standing monuments of the greatness of God, the happiness of the church, and the sinfulness of sin; and standing monitors to the children of men in all ages, not to provoke the Lord to jealousy, nor to strive with their Maker. The benefit of these instructions to the world doth sufficiently balance the expence. Exodus 10:3”

“10:1-20 The eighth plague was the plague of locusts (10:4). Evidently enough time had elapsed between this plague and the previous one that the wheat and emmer wheat had sprouted (see 9:32). The Egyptian god Osiris was especially revered as the god who descended into the underworld and brought plant life back in the spring. This second, climactic attack on the plant life demonstrated that even Osiris was helpless before the Lord. There is no eternal life in sprouting plants.”

“I have hardened: Exo 4:21, Exo 7:13, Exo 7:14, Exo 9:27, Exo 9:34, Exo 9:35; Psa 7:11 that I: Exo 3:20, Exo 7:4, Exo 9:16, Exo 14:17, Exo 14:18, Exo 15:14, Exo 15:15; Jos 2:9, Jos 2:10, Jos 4:23, Jos 4:24; Sa1 4:8; Rom 9:17 Exodus 10:2”

“The eighth plague; the Locusts. - Exo 10:1-6. As Pharaoh's pride still refused to bend to the will of God, Moses was directed to announce another, and in some respects a more fearful, plague. At the same time God strengthened Moses' faith, by telling him that the hardening of Pharaoh and his servants was decreed by Him, that these signs might be done among them, and that Israel might perceive by this to all generations that He was Jehovah (cf. Exo 7:3-5). We may learn from Ps 78 and 105 in what manner the Israelites narrated these signs to their children and children's children. אתת שׁית, to set or prepare signs…”