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
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
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
The children of darkness have darkness, and the children of light have light as their portion. From the beginning of the creation God "divided the light from the darkness" ( Genesis 1:4 ); and ever since the two have been antagonistic the one to the other. Angels as well as men are divided into two classes—bright and glorious spirits that dwell in the light of God's presence, and are called" angels of light" ( 2 Corinthians 11:14 ); and gloomy spirits of evil, whom God has reserved in... read more
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
The plague of darkness. This was the third of the great plagues, and it came, as in certain previous instances, unannounced. I. THE LAST OF THE ADMONITORY PLAGUES ( Exodus 10:21-24 ). The plagues, viewed as trials of Pharaoh's character, end with this one. The death of the first-born was a judgment, and gave Pharaoh no further space for repentance. We may view this last of the nine plagues: 1 . As awful in itself. Whatever its natural basis, the preternatural... read more
A thick darkness .—Literally, "An obscurity of darkness." The phrase is intensitive. 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
PLAGUE IX"And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days; they saw not one another, neither rose any one from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve Jehovah; only let your flocks... read more
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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