Self-interpreting Bible

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Exodus 10

1God threateneth to send locusts. 7Pharaoh at the urgent entreaty of his servants is inclined to let the Israelites go, but at length refuseth. 12The plague of locusts. 16Pharaoh again entreateth Moses, getteth them removed, and is hardened. 21The plague of darkness. 24Pharaoh entreateth Moses again, 27but still is hardened.


1 AND the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: afor I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

2 And that thou bmayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things cI have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye dmay know how that I am the LORD.

3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, eHow long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? flet my people go, that they may serve me.

4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the glocusts into thy *coast:

5 And they shall cover the 1face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the hresidue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:

6 And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; iwhich neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.

7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a jsnare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is kdestroyed?

8 And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but 2who are they that shall go?

  • 2: Heb. who and who.

9 And Moses said, lWe will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.

10 And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: mlook to it; for evil is before you.

11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. nAnd they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

12 ¶And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.

    13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an oeast wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the plocusts.

    14 And qthe locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the *coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; rbefore them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

    15 For sthey covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

    16 ¶Then Pharaoh 3called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, tI have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

    17 Now therefore uforgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this vdeath only.

    18 And he went out from Pharaoh, and wintreated the LORD.

    19 And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and 4cast them into the xRed sea; there remained not one locust in all the *coasts of Egypt.

    20 But ythe LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

    21 ¶And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be zdarkness over the land of Egypt, 5even darkness which may be felt.

    22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a athick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

    23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for bthree days: cbut all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

    24 ¶And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and dsaid, Go ye, serve the LORD; only elet your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your flittle ones also go with you.

    25 And Moses said, Thou must give 6us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.

    • 6: Heb. into our hands.

    26 Our gcattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; hand we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.

    27 ¶But the LORD ihardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.

    28 And Pharaoh said unto him, jGet thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.

    29 And Moses ksaid, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.