Exodus 10:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind."

NIV: Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the Lord. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind."

NASB: Then Pharaoh called for Moses, and said, 'Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be left behind. Even your little ones may go with you.'

CSB: Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the Lord. Even your families may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind."

NLT: Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. 'Go and worship the Lord,' he said. 'But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.'

KJV: And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

NKJV: Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.”

After three days of intense darkness (Exodus 10:21–23), Egypt's king, Pharaoh, again calls Moses and Aaron for a discussion (Exodus 8:8, 25; 9:27–28; 10:8). Rather than obeying the Lord's clear command (Exodus 10:3), he attempts another negotiation (Exodus 10:7–11). The last offer was to let only the Israelite men leave. Now, Pharaoh offers to grant freedom to all the people, so long as they leave their livestock behind. Both offers are an attempt to ensure that the Hebrews will come back once their worship is complete. Pharaoh knows that if an enslaved people leave with all their resources, they will never return voluntarily.

As before (Exodus 10:9), Moses will give another clear refusal (Exodus 10:25). Livestock would be needed for spiritual offerings in the wilderness. Besides this, those animals would be needed for transportation and food.

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.