Exodus 10-11: Yet Three more Plagues: Locusts, Darkness, and the Death of the Firstborn

In Exodus chapters 10–11, three more horrible plagues from God affect Egypt. Pharaoh hardens his heart twice, and finally relents only after the death of the firstborn.

These are the last three plagues, and the most severe. Many readers note that the plagues mirror Egyptian gods, demonstrating that the God of the Israelites had power over the gods of Egypt. Did you know that?

Exodus Chapters 10-11 Summary

In Exodus chapters 10 and 11, there are three more plagues put upon Egypt. These are certainly the most horrific of the plagues. We see the Pharaoh harden his heart and refuse to free the Jewish people twice, and he finally relents after the death of the firstborn. Each of the plagues had meanings. Did you know that?

The first plague was a swarm of locusts that descended on Egypt. They ate everything that was left after the hail. They came on an east wind, and there were too many of them to count. They came, they ate, and on a west wind, they left. That is what it says in the book of Exodus.

The second plague was the descent of darkness on Egypt. The darkness lasted for three days and was so dark that Egyptians could not see each other. As the Egyptians celebrated the sun and the light—symbols of life and vitality—this plague directly countered that.

The third and final plague described before the Exodus is the death of the firstborn. This was a horrible plague that resulted in the Pharaoh finally, reluctantly freeing the Jewish slaves. Even Pharaoh had a son who died. This event is still celebrated today and referred to as the Passover. While the Passover is the subject of Exodus chapter 12, it is possible to say some things about it here.

Correction for accuracy: Scripture does not describe a mist killing the firstborn. The Bible says the LORD would pass through Egypt and strike down the firstborn (Exodus 11–12). The Jewish people painted blood on their doorframes, and the LORD passed over their homes.

The Passover is a major Jewish celebration. The Pharaoh finally relents and decides, reluctantly, to let the Jewish people go. An entire chapter of Exodus is dedicated to the Passover.

The Passover is not the only meaningful thing in this chapter, though it is still celebrated. Now that we are done with the plagues, we can look back and discern their meaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

The passage in chapters 10 and 11 of the book of Exodus is one of the most meaningful passages in the entire Bible; each of the ten plagues spoke directly to an existing Egyptian God. Here we go:

Hapi- Egyptian God of the Nile, so when the Nile turned blood red, this was related to Hapi.

Heket- Egyptian Goddess of Fertility, Water, Renewal. She was often pictured as a frog, so the plague of frogs was related to her.

Geb- Egyptian God of the Earth, so the plague of lice, which came from dust, relates to him.

Khepri- Egyptian God of creation, movement of the Sun, rebirth was often pictured with the head of a beetle, so the plague of flies was related to him.

Ra- The Sun God, so the plague of darkness was related to him.

There are many more, ten in fact, but the reader probably gets the picture.

In Chapters 10 and 11 of the book of Exodus, three more plagues are described. They are probably the most horrific plagues that affected the Egyptians. The plagues were a swarm of locusts, the descent of darkness, and the death of the firstborn sons of Egypt. All ten of the plagues relate directly to God the Egyptians worshipped, and the Passover has great contemporary meaning.

Disclaimer: This article contains a summary of Exodus as well as interpretive insights from the author. Interpretations of biblical texts can differ, and this piece represents one approach to understanding the passage.