Exodus 10:24-26

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 10:24

And Pharaoh called unto Moses ,.... After the three days, as the Targum of Jonathan, when the darkness was over, or at least much diminished, fearing that still worse evils would befall him: and said, go ye, serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds be stayed ; stopped or remained behind, as a pledge and security of their return; and these the rather he was desirous of retaining, because of the great loss of cattle he had sustained by the murrain and boils upon them, and by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:25

And Moses said, thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings ,.... Sheep, rams, and goats for sacrifices, and oxen for burnt offerings; and that of his own, as Jarchi interprets it; but rather the meaning is, that besides having their little ones with them, they must be allowed also to take their cattle for sacrifices and burnt offerings: that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God ; might have wherewith to offer up in sacrifice to him as he shall require. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 10:26

Our cattle also shall go with us ,.... Of every kind, of the flocks and of the herds: there shall not an hoof be left behind ; not a single creature that has an hoof: it is a proverbial expression, signifying that they should carry all that belonged to them with them: for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God ; something of every kind and sort, all they had being devoted to his service, and to be yielded to him upon demand: and we know not with what we must serve the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:24

Only let your flocks and your herds be stayed - Pharaoh cannot get all he wishes; and as he sees it impossible to contend with Jehovah, he now consents to give up the Israelites, their wives and their children, provided he may keep their flocks and their herds. The cruelty of this demand is not more evident than its avarice. Had six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, gone three days' journey into the wilderness without their cattle, they must have inevitably perished, being... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:26

We know not with what we must serve the Lord, etc. - The law was not yet given; the ordinances concerning the different kinds of sacrifices and offerings not known. What kind and what number of animals God should require to be sacrificed, even Moses himself could not as yet tell. He therefore very properly insists on taking the whole of their herds with them, and not leaving even one hoof behind. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:24

Verse 24 24.And Pharaoh called unto Moses. We gather that he was greatly alarmed by this infliction; because of his own accord he again calls to him (as before) the men who were so troublesome to him, and the authors of such sore calamities, that he may treat with them of their departure. But it is asked how, if no one rose from his place for three days, Pharaoh could send for Moses and Aaron? If we were to answer that the messengers were sent after the darkness had been dispersed, this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 10:25

Verse 25 25.And Moses said. Moses no less severely repudiates all exceptions, than as if he authoritatively demanded of the king what God had enjoined. And assuredly, by this austere (128) and abrupt manner of speaking he evidenced his courage, whereby he might humble the arrogance and audacity of the impious king. His pretext indeed was, that they had need of victims, and in this way he avoids the tyrant’s greater displeasure; but, at the same time, by directly excluding all conditions, and by... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 10:21-29

1 . In its extent, covering as it did "all the land d Egypt;" 2 . In its intensity—"they saw not one another" ( Exodus 10:23 )—"darkness which may be felt" ( Exodus 10:21 ); 3 . In its circumscription, extending, as it did, to all Egypt except only the land of Goshen ( Exodus 10:23 ). These circumstances made Pharaoh at once recognise its heaven-sent character, and request its removal of Moses, whom he sought to persuade by conceding the departure of the Israelites with... read more

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