Exodus 10:4

"Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me."

Key Reflection

In the context of Exodus 10:4, Moses and Aaron's demand for Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt was a direct challenge to his authority and a declaration of God’s sovereignty. The original audience would have understood this as a significant moment, highlighting the escalating nature of divine judgment against Pharaoh’s refusal to release the Israelites. This demand went beyond mere request; it was a confrontational statement intended to humiliate Pharaoh publicly by emphasizing God's power over him and His people’s liberation.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The locusts -The locust is less common in Egypt than in many eastern countries, yet it is well known, and dreaded as the most terrible of scourges. They come generally from the western deserts, but sometimes from the east and the southeast. No less than nine names are given to the locust in the Bible, of which the word used here is the most common (ארבה'arbeh); it signifies “multitudinous,” and whenever it occurs reference is made to its terrible devastations.

More from Exodus 10

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