Exodus 10:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me."

NIV: Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the Lord your God to take this deadly plague away from me."

NASB: So now, please forgive my sin only this once, and plead with the Lord your God, that He would only remove this death from me.'

CSB: Please forgive my sin once more and make an appeal to the Lord your God, so that he will just take this death away from me."

NLT: Forgive my sin, just this once, and plead with the Lord your God to take away this death from me.'

KJV: Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

NKJV: Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that He may take away from me this death only.”

After admitting his sin (Exodus 10:16), Pharaoh asks for forgiveness. His comment about being forgiven "only this once" is probably meant as an appeal for sympathy. Though he has rarely admitted being wrong (Exodus 9:27), this expression seems to mean that this is all he dares ask for. He phrases this as a special favor. As with the other plagues (Exodus 8:15, 31–32; 9:34–35), he is insincere. As soon as the danger has faded, he will break his promises and keep the Israelites in slavery (Exodus 10:3–4, 19–20). This is the result of both his own stubbornness (Exodus 5:2; 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 35) and God's divine judgment (Exodus 4:21).

Pharaoh does not attempt to speak with God himself. He asks for Moses and Aaron to approach God on his behalf. This makes sense within the Egyptian concept of religion. Most people assumed that only priests or special messengers could speak with a deity. God has always been open to sincere prayers (Psalm 14:2; Galatians 3:28). This was true even when His laws for the nation of Israel included the use of official priests (Leviticus 5:8; 6:6; Numbers 6:10).

It's also to be expected that Pharaoh refers to God as the God of Moses and Aaron. He uses the name spoken earlier by Moses (Exodus 3:15; 10:3) and even by his own servants (Exodus 10:7). This word is Yahweh, usually translated into English as "Lord." Pharaoh had used that name as a snide remark before this plague (Exodus 10:10). Now, he's forced to speak the name of the God of Israel again, but in humility.

Exodus 10:12–20 describes the eighth plague, an unimaginable cloud of locusts. These are grasshoppers which respond to weather patterns by spawning a generation of aggressive, hungry, fertile, insects who travel in close-packed swarms. This event is beyond anything ever seen before or since. Locusts completely cover the ground and eat every leaf, stem, and fruit which survived the plague of hail (Exodus 9:31–32). Pharaoh again begs for mercy, obtains it, and then goes back on his word to release the Israelites.

Moses warns Pharaoh that an eighth plague will come if the Hebrew slaves are not set free. This will be the worst locust invasion the nation will ever see. Pharaoh's advisors beg him to negotiate. He offers to release only Israelite men, which Moses rejects. The locust plague eradicates everything that survived the earlier hailstorm. Pharaoh pleads for relief, only to break his promise once again when the danger has passed. Next come three days of intense darkness. Pharaoh once again tries to arrange a partial release. When Moses refuses, Pharaoh threatens to kill him if he ever comes back.

Seven times, God has sent supernatural judgment against the nation of Egypt (Exodus 7—9). Each time, Pharaoh has refused to obey God's command to release the Israelite slaves. As a result, God will no longer give Pharaoh the ability to repent (Proverbs 29:1). Despite an epic, devastating locust invasion and three days of darkness, Pharaoh still refuses to submit. Rather, he threatens Moses with death. This will lead Moses to predict the last and worst of the ten plagues (Exodus 11). The tragic death of Egypt's firstborn during the Passover (Exodus 12) will finally lead to Israelite freedom.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.