Exodus 10:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Pharaoh 's servants said to him, "How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?"

NIV: Pharaoh’s officials said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?"

NASB: Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, 'How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is destroyed?'

CSB: Pharaoh’s officials asked him, "How long must this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Don’t you realize yet that Egypt is devastated?"

NLT: Pharaoh’s officials now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. 'How long will you let this man hold us hostage? Let the men go to worship the Lord their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?'

KJV: And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

NKJV: Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?”

Seven plagues have battered Egypt (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24). Yet the king, the pharaoh, has stubbornly refused to release the Hebrew slaves as commanded by their God (Exodus 5:2; 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 35). Now, Moses has threatened a plague of locusts which will eat every crop and tree that recovered from the plague of hail (Exodus 10:1–6). When Moses and Aaron leave, Pharaoh's advisors and servants seem eager to beg him for sanity. They are starting to understand the futility of opposing the God of the Hebrews (Exodus 8:19; 11:3).

Despite Pharaoh's kingly status, his advisors come across as blunt: "do you not yet understand?" The nation has already experienced more catastrophe than the Israelite slaves are worth. Stubbornly keeping them is a "snare:" a tempting trap that leads to disaster. Despite all that, these counselors don't suggest agreeing to the Lord's demands. They tell their king to negotiate by offering release only the Hebrew men.

Pharaoh seems willing to do this (Exodus 10:8), but the offer will be entirely refused (Exodus 10:9). When God calls us toward a certain action, negotiation is not an option. The Lord desires our full obedience—and partial obedience is still disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22). His way is perfect. We are not called to debate the Lord, but to obey Him.

Exodus 10:1–11 sets up the eighth of ten plagues which God has sent to prove His power to all generations. Moses once again delivers the Lord's command that Egypt release the Hebrew slaves. But Pharaoh is even more stubborn than usual, as God's punishment for his constant disobedience. By now, even Pharaoh's advisors recognize the power they are facing. They encourage negotiation. Pharaoh agrees to let only the male Hebrews leave for worship—then sends Moses away when this is not accepted.

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.