But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart ,.... For as yet he had not brought all his judgments on him he designed to bring: so that he would not let the children of Israel go : though he had promised to do it, and that he would never offend more in this way. read more
The plague of locusts. Of the two principal terms used to denote "hardening," one means "to strengthen, or make firm," the other, "to make heavy, or obtuse." It is the latter of these (used also in Exodus 8:15 , Exodus 8:32 ; Exodus 9:7 ) which is used in Exodus 9:34 , and Exodus 10:1 . The growing obtuseness of Pharaoh's mind is very apparent from the narrative. He is losing the power of right judgment. He began by hardening himself (making his heart strong and firm) against... read more
The plague of locusts. I. GOD 'S JUDGMENT . 1 . Though restrained for a time, it will surely fall. It is no argument that the threatening is vain, because, while the servants of God try to persuade, there is no token of the coming judgment. 2 . When it does come, it is not less than was foretold (14, 15). God's deed is his comment on his Word, and reveals the terror whose shadow lay in it. The flood was not less than Noah's warnings painted it, nor Jerusalem's judgment than... read more
The agency of nature used by God both in inflicting and removing judgments. God's footsteps are not known. Since Eden was lost to us it has pleased him, for inscrutable reasons, to withdraw himself behind the screen of nature, and to work out his purposes—in the main, through natural agencies. He punishes idleness and imprudence by poverty and contempt; intemperance and uncleanness, by disease; inordinate ambition, by collapse of schemes, loss of battles, deposition, exile, early death.... read more
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart . The word used here is the intensive one, khazoq , instead of the milder kabod of Exodus 10:1 . Pharaoh's prolonged obstinacy and impenitence was receiving aggravation by the working of the just laws of God. (See the comment on Exodus 4:21 .) read more
The Ninth Plague-the darkness. I. CONSIDER THE PLAGUE ITSELF . As with the plagues of the gnats and of the boils and blains, so with this plague—there is no record of any formal intimation of its coming. If such an intimation was absent, we feel that there was good reason for the absence. Though Pharaoh had abased himself in great fear and consternation, so that he might get rid of the locusts, yet the moment they were gone all his stubbornness returned in full force. What use... read more
Nine plagues (7:14-10:29)The timing, intensity and extent of these plagues show clearly that they were sent by God. It also seems fairly clear that God used the physical characteristics of the Nile valley to produce them.When the first plague struck, it polluted all the water in the Nile and in the irrigation canals and reservoirs connected with it, resulting in all the fish dying. As the dead fish floated to the banks they would force the frogs out of the water, thereby producing the second... read more
the LORD hardened . Again this is stated. Compare Exodus 4:21 . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 10:12-20
Here is, I. The invasion of the land by the locusts?God's great army, Joel 2:11. God bids Moses stretch out his hand (Exod. 10:12), to beckon them, as it wee (for they came at a call), and he stretched forth his rod, Exod. 10:13. Compare Exod. 9:22, 23. Moses ascribes it to the stretching out, not of his own hand, but the rod of God, the instituted sign of God's presence with him. The locusts obey the summons, and fly upon the wings of the wind, the east wind, and caterpillars without number,... read more