I will see thy face again no more— That is, no more in the way of a messenger from God, or of an adviser to thee to do that which is right. And it does not appear that Moses ever came again before Pharaoh: for, as to what follows in the next chapter, Exodus 10:4; Exodus 10:8 that was most probably delivered now before he left Pharaoh's presence. And, with respect to Exodus 12:31 it by no means follows from thence, that Moses appeared again before Pharaoh: for, alarmed by the terrible circumstances of his people, Pharaoh arose in the night, and called for, or sent by messengers to Moses and Aaron, ordering them forthwith to rise up and get out of the country.
REFLECTIONS.—When sin is not repented of, God's wrath, is not turned away; and though there may be intervals of respite, yet his hand is stretched out still.
1. A more dismal plague overtakes them; total darkness, so dark as to be felt; and made more frightful from the terrors of conscience, which now must seize them; as well as perhaps from fiends of darkness, who, as tradition reports, with horrid yells tormented and haunted those miserable souls. Note; Hell is the place of darkness and of torment. They who choose the darkness of sin, are doomed to this outer darkness, where is weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. If three days so spent were dreadful, what must it be to spend eternity thus?
2. Israel had light in their dwellings. How much better the lightsome tent of a Hebrew servant, than the darkened palaces of proud Pharaoh? Note; The soul in a cottage, enjoying the light of God's countenance, is unspeakably more happy than the greatest monarch that walks in the darkness of sin.
3. Pharaoh again sounds a parley, advances a little farther. Moses is peremptory; a hoof shall not be left behind. Note; False repentance is always partial, and some secret sin is reserved: true repentance is universal, in renouncing every known evil. Allowedly, not a hoof must be left behind.
4. Mad with rage, Pharaoh thrusts him out, and threatens him with death, if he dare ever appear in his presence again. Impotent threats! The ungodly gnash with their teeth, and pine away. Moses consents to his commands, and leaves him quickly with juster indignation. That soul, that people, that place, who thrust out God's ministers from them, and have the dust of their feet shaken off for a testimony against them, are then, most probably, past recovery.