Exodus 10:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So he went out from Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord.

NIV: Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.

NASB: Then he left Pharaoh and pleaded with the Lord.

CSB: Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and appealed to the Lord.

NLT: So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and pleaded with the Lord.

KJV: And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.

NKJV: So he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord.

This refers to Moses, who has just left Egypt's king. That king—the pharaoh—begged for an end to a catastrophic plague of locusts (Exodus 10:14–17). The catastrophe came because Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites (Exodus 10:3) who had been enslaved (Exodus 1:11–14). This is the fourth time the king has been forced to turn to Moses in humility, asking for relief (Exodus 8:8, 28; 9:28).

The overall emphasis of this series of events is the power of the Lord. His name, Yahweh (Exodus 3:15), is typically presented in English using small capitals as "Lord." That word appears fifteen times in connection to this plague, alone. God predicted the plague (Exodus 10:4–6), brought it (Exodus 10:13), and He alone could end it.

As with prior disasters, Pharaoh's mind will change (Exodus 8:15, 31–32; 9:34–35) as soon as the locusts are gone (Exodus 10:19–20). After so many choices to defy God, Pharaoh is now being used as an example of judgment (Exodus 4:21). The stubbornness now comes by God's choice, not Pharaoh's, and is meant to further prove the power of the God of Israel (Exodus 10:1–2).

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.