Exodus 10:21-23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 10:21-29

Here is, I. The plague of darkness brought upon Egypt, and a most dreadful plague it was, and therefore is put first of the ten in Ps. 105:28; though it was one of the last; and in the destruction of the spiritual Egypt it is produced by the fifth vial, which is poured out upon the seat of the beast, Rev. 16:10. His kingdom was full of darkness. Observe particularly concerning this plague, 1. That it was a total darkness. We have reason to think, not only that the lights of heaven were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:21

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... About the eleventh day of the month Abib: stretch out thine hand toward heaven ; where the luminaries are, and from whence light comes: that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt ; that is, what caused it, the gross vapours and thick fogs; for otherwise darkness itself, being a privation of light, cannot be felt: Onkelos paraphrases it,"after that the darkness of the night is removed;'so Jonathan; that it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:22

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness over all the land of Egypt three days. The eleventh, twelveth, and thirteenth days of the month Abib; with this compare the fifth vial, Revelation 16:10 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:23

They saw not one another ,.... Not only the luminaries of heaven were covered and beclouded with the darkness, so that they were of no use to them; but the fogs and vapours which occasioned it were so damp and clammy that they put out their fires, lamps, and candles, so that they could receive no benefit from them: neither rose up any from his place for three days ; from the place of his habitation, not being able to find the way to the door, or however not able to do any business... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:21

Darkness which may be felt - Probably this was occasioned by a superabundance of aqueous vapors floating in the atmosphere, which were so thick as to prevent the rays of the sun from penetrating through them; an extraordinarily thick mist supernaturally, i.e., miraculously, brought on. An awful emblem of the darkened state of the Egyptians and their king. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:23

They saw not one another - So deep was the obscurity, and probably such was its nature, that no artificial light could be procured; as the thick clammy vapors would prevent lamps, etc., from burning, or if they even could be ignited, the light through the palpable obscurity, could diffuse itself to no distance from the burning body. The author of the book of The Wisdom of Solomon 17:2-19, gives a fearful description of this plague. He says, "The Egyptians were shut up in their houses, the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:21

Verse 21 21.And the Lord said unto Moses. God here inflicts the punishment without denouncing it; because Pharaoh had deceitfully broken his promise of being obedient to His word. Since, therefore, he had so wickedly abused God’s clemency, he must needs be suddenly overtaken by a new calamity, that he might in the darkness feel God’s avenging hand, which he had despised. Nor, indeed, would he have been alarmed by menaces; as it will directly appear, that, when he was warned of the death of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:22

Verse 22 22.And Moses stretched forth his hand. By this darkness God not only wished to reprove the blindness of Pharaoh’s mind, but in every way to convince him how senseless and mad he was in his resistance. There is no blessing which is more common to all men, from the very highest even to the lowest, than light, which is enjoyed not less by the humblest and most contemptible people than by the greatest kings. It was, then, a terrible judgment of God, that the whole world should be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 10:7-21

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 10:20-29

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 10:21-29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 10:7-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 10:20-29

Group of Brands