Exodus 10:15
They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The devastating extent of this plague isn't just about the quantity of locusts, but their thoroughness. Notice it says they ate all the plants and all the fruit the hail had left, leaving not a green thing—this emphasizes a complete, utter annihilation, leaving nothing for the land or its people to recover from.
Following the devastating hail that destroyed much of Egypt's crops, the next plague, locusts, arrived to consume what little remained. This invasion was catastrophic, stripping the land bare of all vegetation and fruit, leaving Egypt in utter ruin. Pharaoh, witnessing the complete destruction and remembering his previous pleas to Moses, again confessed his sin and begged for the plague to be removed.
Imagine a land utterly stripped bare, not a speck of green left. This plague of locusts was more than just an inconvenience; it was an economic and ecological catastrophe.
The tenth plague, locusts, brought about a complete and utter destruction of Egypt's vegetation. This wasn't a partial loss; the text emphasizes the totality of the devastation.
A Land Turned Dark
The locusts covered the 'face of the whole earth,' so much so that 'the land was darkened.' This visual imagery highlights the sheer density of the swarm, obscuring the sun and turning daylight into a grim twilight. It’s a powerful metaphor for how overwhelming problems can eclipse hope and joy.
Every Green Thing Consumed
What the devastating hail had left, the locusts devoured. Every herb, every fruit on the trees – gone. Not a single green thing remained. This speaks to the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, leaving no refuge or resource untouched for Pharaoh and his people.
The locusts weren't just a natural disaster; they were a divine message. Discover how this plague exposed the futility of Pharaoh's resistance and God's ultimate authority.
This plague of locusts served as a stark demonstration of God's absolute power over creation and the complete impotence of Pharaoh's authority.
A Divine Command
The locusts didn't just appear; they were sent by God. Moses, acting under divine command, stretched out his hand, and an east wind brought the swarm. This wasn't a random act of nature, but a meticulously orchestrated event by the Creator Himself.
Pharaoh's Broken Promises
Faced with this overwhelming destruction, Pharaoh, for a moment, 'sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.' He pleads with Moses to 'entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.' Yet, even this confession was shallow. As soon as the locusts were removed by a west wind, 'the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart,' and he refused to let Israel go. This highlights the profound difference between experiencing God's judgment and truly repenting. Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened, showing the limits of his power and will against God's sovereign decree.
The utter devastation of the locust plague, following the hail, highlights the complete destruction of Egypt's agricultural wealth, emphasizing God's power to strip away even what seemed spared. This comprehensive ruin serves as a dire warning and a catalyst for Pharaoh's temporary, yet ultimately fruitless, repentance.
c. 1446 BC
Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron, having been commissioned by God, repeatedly confront Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites from slavery. Pharaoh consistently refuses, leading to a series of escalating plagues.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Hail
The seventh plague, a devastating hailstorm, strikes Egypt, destroying livestock and crops. While it leaves some green things and fruit trees intact, the damage is severe.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Plague of Locusts
The eighth plague descends upon Egypt: a massive swarm of locusts that devours every remaining green plant and fruit on the trees, leaving the land barren and darkened.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Partial Repentance
Overwhelmed by the locust plague, Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron, confesses his sin, and begs them to pray for the removal of the locusts. He briefly relents, but his heart is soon hardened again.
This Psalm directly recounts the plagues of Egypt, mentioning that God spoke, and locusts came, and hosts of them without number, eating every plant in their land and devouring the fruit of their ground. It echoes the complete destruction described in Exodus 10:15.
Joel 1:4The prophet Joel uses a devastating locust plague as a metaphor for God's judgment, describing how 'what the locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the hopper has eaten; and what the hopper left, the destroyer has eaten.' This mirrors the thoroughness of the destruction in Egypt where nothing green was left.
Revelation 9:3This passage describes a future plague of locusts released from the abyss, noting that they 'had power like scorpions of the earth, and they were told not to damage the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only to those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.' While the command is different, the immense power and destructive potential of a locust swarm are paralleled.
Jeremiah 50:17In a prophecy against Babylon, Jeremiah states, 'Israel is a scattered sheep that the lions have driven away. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has gnawed his bones.' The imagery of a scattered people being devoured, though by lions, evokes a sense of complete devastation and consumption similar to what the locusts did to Egypt's vegetation.
clarkeExodus 10:15: "For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt."
There remained not any green thing - See Clarke's note on Exodus 10:4 .
calvinExodus 10:12-20: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left."
And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.
Tunc dixit Jehova Mosi, Extende manum tuam super terram AEgyp…
The devastating extent of this plague isn't just about the quantity of locusts, but their thoroughness. Notice it says they ate all the plants and all the fruit the hail had left, leaving not a green thing—this emphasizes a complete, utter annihilation, leaving nothing for the land or its people to recover from.
Following the devastating hail that destroyed much of Egypt's crops, the next plague, locusts, arrived to consume what little remained. This invasion was catastrophic, stripping the land bare of all vegetation and fruit, leaving Egypt in utter ruin. Pharaoh, witnessing the complete destruction and remembering his previous pleas to Moses, again confessed his sin and begged for the plague to be removed.
Following the devastating hail that destroyed much of Egypt's crops, the next plague, locusts, arrived to consume what little remained. This invasion was catastrophic, stripping the land bare of all vegetation and fruit, leaving Egypt in utter ruin. Pharaoh, witnessing the complete destruction and remembering his previous pleas to Moses, again confessed his sin and begged for the plague to be removed.
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The Contrast for Israel
While Egypt was plunged into darkness and devastation, the text implies (and later explicitly states in the following plague) that God protected His people. This plague wasn't just about punishing Egypt, but also about distinguishing His people and demonstrating His faithfulness amidst judgment.
c. 1446 BC
Plague of Darkness
The ninth plague is a thick, palpable darkness that covers the land of Egypt for three days, while the Israelites in Goshen have light. This plague intensifies Pharaoh's suffering and resistance.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Final Refusal
Despite the oppressive darkness and the devastating plagues, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened by God. He again refuses to let the Israelites go, leading to the final, devastating plague.
"They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through…" — The devastating extent of this plague isn't just about the quantity of locusts, but their thoroughness. Notice it says they ate all the plants and all the fruit the hail had left, leaving *no…
