Exodus Chapter 10 Verses 21-23

:21 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”   

We make the following observations from the above passage: 

1.  The darkness was a total darkness such that a person devoid of eyesight might experience. 

2.  The darkness was over the land of Egypt except for the land of Goshen, the dwelling place of the children of Israel.  God was making a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.   

3.  This darkness would have been frightening to those who experienced it, both because of its intensity and the length of time.   

Part of the eternal punishment for sin is described as darkness: 

1.  2 Pet. 2:17 “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.” 

2.  Jude 1:13 “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” 

When Christ suffered the wrath of God to satisfy God’s judgment of the sins of his elect family there was darkness over all the earth for three hours: Luke 23:44 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.” 

We can conclude that the Egyptians were getting a partial foretaste of God’s eternal wrath because of sin.    

Verses 24-27 

:24 “And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. 25 And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.”   

“And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.”  After all that happened to Egypt through the first nine plagues, the political pressure would have been great upon Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go.  However, Pharaoh, even if he agreed to let the children of Israel go, did not want to lose the material riches and cattle that they possessed.  Thus he wanted them to leave the herds and the flocks behind. 

“And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.”  Moses, knowing that the LORD had the upper hand over Pharaoh and that the LORD would be triumphant at last, was not willing to negotiate with Pharaoh, but simply told him how it would be that not only would all the people go, but also the flocks and herds would go also.  Moses punctuated this when he said, “not a hoof will be left behind.” 

Verses 28-29 

:28 “And Pharaoh said unto him, Get 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 said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.”   

“And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.”  Pharaoh thought he could scare Moses from his demands and from any more plagues by threatening his life.  This is the ultimate threat of tyrants.  Moses had no reason to fear, however, as the LORD had told him that he would lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.  The one who had to be afraid was Pharaoh.  He was the one who was marked out for death.  Thus, Moses said, “Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.”  There would be one more plague and then Pharaoh not only would let the children of Israel go, but he would drive them out of Egypt.