Exodus 10:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt."

NIV: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt."

NASB: Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Reach out with your hand toward the sky, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.'

CSB: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt."

NLT: Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.'

KJV: And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

NKJV: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.”

This begins the description of the ninth plague on Egypt (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14). Earlier disasters challenged the idea that Egyptian idols had power over those aspects of the world. Deities such as Khnum, Heqet, Hapi, Wadjet, Hathor, Apis, Isis, Sunu, and Sekhmet were proven impotent when the God of the Hebrews controlled things like the Nile, animals, or disease. This plague strikes at one of Egypt's most important idols: Ra.

Ra was the Egyptian god of the sun. Egypt's kings, called pharaohs, were supposedly descendants and manifestations of this deity. Not only will the Lord bring darkness, but an extreme darkness: something so deep that it is poetically described as "felt." Days of continual, absolute darkness (Exodus 10:22) directly counter the claim that Ra controlled daylight. By extension, this also dismissed the idea that Pharaoh was somehow divine. To make the message especially clear, this darkness will not affect the lands where Hebrew slaves live (Exodus 10:23).

In Scripture, light is a metaphor for truth, wisdom, and God's goodness (Psalm 27:1; 119:105; Matthew 4:16). Darkness and blindness are often used in reference to spiritual separation (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 1:5) and divine judgment (Proverbs 4:19; Ezekiel 32:7–8; Revelation 16:10). Symbolically, this plague demonstrates that Egypt is in rebellion against God.

Exodus 10:21–29 explains the ninth plague. A supernatural darkness falls on Egypt. It seems that no light source could penetrate this darkness; the Egyptian people are forced to shelter in place for three days. Yet again, this trouble does not affect the Israelite slaves who live in Goshen. Pharaoh once again tries to negotiate, this time offering to let the people leave if they leave their livestock. Moses refuses, saying they must take everything. The Egyptian king dismisses Moses with a threat to kill him if they ever meet in person again. Moses seems to accept this without concern.

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.