Êxodo 10

Êxodo 10

Garland comments on Revelation 16:10-11 on the throne of the beast Like the first bowl, the fifth bowl specifically targets those within the kingdom of the Beast. Unlike the first bowl which affects all men who took his mark, this bowl is designated for the throne of the Beast, and his kingdom becomes full of darkness. This may imply a focus upon the leadership of his kingdom—the Beast himself and those in the higher echelons of his realm. Or it could mean all those under his mark. His throne was obtained from Satan. See commentary on Revelation 13:2. He is both a ruler, the little horn (Da. 7:8) and Eighth Head (Rev. 17:11‣), and a kingdom, the Terrible Beast (Da. 7:7; Rev. 13:2‣). See Beasts, Heads, and Horns. “If the literal Babylon is to be rebuilt, it may already have become the place of the throne of Satan by the time that is in view here under the fifth bowl.”23 “The Beast is a man (Rev. 13:18‣); therefore his throne is in a definite place: rebuilt Babylon on the Euphrates, we believe,—Satan’s ancient capital, in the ‘land of Shinar,’ where ‘wickedness’ is to be set on its base in the end-time (Zec. 5:5-10).”24 his kingdom became full of darkness Now the kingdom of the Beast is struck with a plague reminiscent of that which struck Pharaoh at the hand of Moses: Ex 10:21-23 “The transition from the fourth to the fifth bowls is most striking. The one had been the fiery, scorching, blinding brightness of the sun; the next is an impenetrable darkness.”25 Although the throne of the Beast is empowered by Lucifer,26 the shining one, the son of the dawn (הֵילֵל בֶּן־שַׁחַר [hêlēl ben–šaḥar], Isa. 14:12), he is helpless to illumine the God-imposed darkness. they gnawed their tongues because of the pain Pain is πόνου [ponou] which includes “affliction, anguish.”27 The darkness with which they are afflicted is more than just lack of light as in the Egyptian plague, but also seems to involve other means of affliction which result in intense pain, perhaps similar to that experienced at the hand of the demonic locusts, although that judgment was broader than upon the Beast’s throne and kingdom (Rev. 9:5-6‣). “They meditate revenge and are unable to effect it; hence their frenzy [Grotius]. Those in anguish, mental and bodily, bite their lips and tongues.”28 “The people who suffer these plagues bit their tongues, chew them, gnaw them, as their best diversion from their misery. Their tongues have spoken blasphemies, and they themselves thus punish them.”29 They blasphemed the God of heaven Again they fail an opportunity to repent. With the same tongues they gnaw, they continue to blaspheme God. See commentary on Revelation 16:9. Because they are guilty of blasphemy, God will stone them. See commentary on Revelation 16:21. their pains and their sores The pains were inflicted by the fifth bowl (Rev. 16:10‣) and the sores by the first bowl (Rev. 16:2‣). did not repent of their deeds See commentary on Revelation 9:21. COMPARISON OF THE PLAGUES OF EXODUS AND REVELATION PLAGUE EGYPT TRIBULATION #1 - Water becomes blood. Ex. 7:20; Ps 105:29 Rev. 8:8-9‣; 11:6‣; 16:3-6‣ #2 - Frogs Ex 8:6 Ps 105:30 Rev. 16:13‣ (note) #3 - Lice Ex. 8:24; Ps. 105:31 Rev. 11:6‣? (note) #4 - Flies Ex. 9:6 Rev. 11:6‣? (note) #5 - Food source (livestock) destroyed Ex. 9:6 Rev. 8:9‣ (note) #6 - Boils Ex. 9:10 Rev. 16:2‣ #7 - Hail Ex. 9:23; Ps. 105:32 Rev. 8:7‣; 16:21 #8 - Locusts Ex. 10:13; Ps. 105:34 Rev. 9:3‣ #9 - Darkness Ex. 10:22; Ps. 105:32 Rev. 8:12‣; Rev 9:2‣; Rev 16:10‣ #10 - Death of Firstborn Ex. 12:29; Ps. 105:36 Exodus 10:23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. but all - Ex 8:22 Ex 9:4,26 Ex 14:20 Jos 24:7 Isa 42:16 60:1-3 65:13,14 Mal 3:18 Col 1:13 1Pe 2:9 TOTAL DARKNESS They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days - As noted above the implication is that even candles and lamps were unable to penetrate this darkness. And it was so dark all they could do was remain motionless. It was as if they were physically blinded, which ultimately depicts the spiritual darkness they were in. But all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings - Presumably candles or lamps which worked in Goshen. Once again this clear division (cf other divisions - Ex 8:22 Ex 9:4, Ex 9:26) indicates it was a miracle and not a natural phenomenon like an eclipse. Exodus 10:24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, "Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even your little ones may go with you." Go, serve - Ex 10:8,9 8:28 9:28 flocks - Ge 34:23 little ones - Ex 10:10 PHARAOH AGREES BUT NEGOTIATES Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, "Go, serve the LORD - In effect "Go, worship Jehovah." The plagues of darkness appears to open Pharaoh's eyes. He again acknowledges that the God of the Hebrews is Jehovah (cf Ex 5:2+). Only let your flocks and your herds be detained - Pharaoh likes the word "only" (cf Ex 8:28+ = "only you shall not go very far away."; Ex 10:17). Pharaoh is negotiating. "Where's the beef?" Pharaoh wants to keep it in his possession! Even your little ones may go with you - This allowance represents a change from his previous decree "if ever I let you and your little ones go" (Ex 10:10) NET on little ones - "The term is often translated “your little ones,” but as mentioned before (Ex 10:10), this expression in these passages takes in women and children and other dependents. Pharaoh will now let all the people go, but he intends to detain the cattle to secure their return." Exodus 10:25 But Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice them to the LORD our God. sacrifice - Ex 29:1-46 Ex 36:1-40:38 Lev 9:22 Lev 16:9 MOSES DOES NOT COMPROMISE But - Term of contrast. It indicates a change of direction so to speak. Pharaoh had specified "conditions" for their departure. Moses quickly objects. He no longer fears Pharaoh (or his potential malevolent response!) because he fears Jehovah. "The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted." (Pr 29:25). Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice them to the LORD our God - Moses demands their animals must go so they would have something to sacrifice to their God. NET - The point is that if Pharaoh told them to go and serve Yahweh, they had to have animals to sacrifice. If Pharaoh was holding the animals back, he would have to make some provision. Exodus 10:26 Therefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the LORD our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the LORD." our livestock- Ex 12:32 Isa 23:18 60:5-10 Ho 5:6 Zec 14:20 Ac 2:44,45 2Co 8:5 and we - Pr 3:9 Heb 11:8 MOSES' ANGRY FIRM REPLY Therefore - Term of conclusion. Based on their need for animals for sacrifices. NET - They were obliged to take the animals if they were going to sacrifice, but more than that, since they were not coming back, they had to take everything. Our livestock too shall go with us - Shall go is "the obligatory imperfect nuance. They were obliged to take the animals if they were going to sacrifice, but more than that, since they were not coming back, they had to take everything." (NET) Not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the LORD our God - Moses stands firm on the animals. Moses "makes it clear that he has no intention of leaving any pledge with Pharaoh. When they leave, they will take everything that belongs to them." (NET) And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the LORD - NET = "Until we arrive there, we do not know what we must use to serve the LORD." "Moses gives an angry but firm reply to Pharaoh’s attempt to control Israel; he makes it clear that he has no intention of leaving any pledge with Pharaoh. When they leave, they will take everything that belongs to them." Exodus 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go. Ex 10:1,20 4:21 14:4,8 Rev 9:20 16:10,11 LORD HARDENS HEART OF PHARAOH But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart - (See summary of hardening of Pharaoh's heart) Hardened is chazaq and Greek skleruno (to make hare) meaning that Jehovah made his heart "thick" so that he would stubborn refuse to change his mind or attitude toward Israel. BDAG says skleruno means to "cause to be unyielding in resisting information." God steps in and sovereignly hardens Pharaoh's heart so he would not be tempted to give in to Moses' demand. And he was not willing to let them go - The result of his hardened heart was that he was absolutely not willing to let Israel go. Why? One reason was that they were "free labor" and responsible for fueling Egypt's mighty financial engine, the greatest in the world at that time. Exodus 10:28 Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!" Get away from me - Ex 10:11 for in that - 2Ch 16:10 25:16 Am 7:13 STRONG WARNINGS INCLUDING DEATH THREAT Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! - Depart from me "meaning from being a trouble or a burden to me." (NET) Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die- Clearly Pharaoh is fed up! Shortly before in Ex 10:11 in the NLT we read "Pharaoh threw them out of the palace." His fuse is shortening! Exodus 10:29 Moses said, "You are right; I shall never see your face again. I shall never see your face again. - Ex 11:4-8 Ex 12:30,31 Heb 11:27 NO MORE FACE TIME IN THIS BOOK! Moses said, "You are right I shall never see your face again - The last plague will come on Egypt with no warning to Pharaoh. Moses' statement is interesting in light of what occurred on the night of the Passover as recorded in Exodus 12 - "Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.” (Ex 12:30-32) Currid resolves the issue writing that "The Hebrew prophet will not see Pharaoh’s face because it is hidden in darkness, and the Hebrews will soon leave Egypt."