Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 10:12. It’s a really important and frightening passage about a massive locust plague. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is telling Moses to encourage the locusts to come to Egypt. He wants them to swarm across Egypt, consuming everything – plants, crops, and even things like hail. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And the LORD said unto Moses…” : This tells us this is a direct command from God. It’s not just an observation; God is actively instructing Moses. “…Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt…” : Moses is saying, “I want you to reach out and encourage them.” He wants to give them space to move and spread. “…that they may come up upon the land of Egypt…” : This means locusts – giant swarms of locusts – are going to travel across Egypt. “…and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.” : This is the scary part! The locusts will devour everything in Egypt. This includes: “every herb of the land”: This means they’ll eat all the plants – grains, vegetables, fruits, everything. “all that the hail hath left”: This refers to the devastating hail storms that frequently hit Egypt during this time. The locusts will feast on the ruined crops and fields. In short, God is essentially telling Moses to give the locusts a massive opportunity to wreak havoc and destroy everything in Egypt. Why is this important? This story is considered one of the most significant in the Bible because it foreshadowed a devastating period of famine and devastation that would occur in ancient Egypt. It's often seen as a sign of God’s judgment and a warning about the consequences of disobedience. Important Note: This verse speaks to a very specific, dramatic situation – a massive locust plague. It's not meant to be taken lightly or interpreted literally today. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this passage? Discuss the historical context surrounding this event? Talk about the symbolism behind it?