Exodus11
New American Standard
1Now the Lord said to Moses, “One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will assuredly drive you out from here completely.
2Speak now so that the people hear, that each man is to ask of his neighbor, and each woman of her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.”
3And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
4Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,
5and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well.
6So there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again.
7But not even a dog will threaten any of the sons of Israel, nor anything from person to animal, so that you may learn how the Lord distinguishes between Egypt and Israel.’
8And all these servants of yours will come down to me and bow themselves before me, saying, ‘Go out, you and all the people who follow you,’ and after that I will go out.” And he left Pharaoh in the heat of anger.
9Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
10So Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 11.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's last instructions to Moses respecting Pharaoh and the Egyptians. (1–3). The death of the first-born threatened. (4–10).
vv1-3
A secret revelation was made to Moses while in the presence of Pharaoh, that he might give warning of the last dreadful judgment, before he went out. This was the last day of the servitude of Israel; they were about to go away. Their masters, who had abused them in their work, would have sent them away empty; but God provided that the labourers should not lose their hire, and ordered them to demand it now, at their departure, and it was given to them. God will right the injured, who in humble silence commit their cause to him; and none are losers at last by patient suffering. The Lord gave them favour in the sight of the Egyptians, by making it appear how much he favoured them. He also changed the spirit of the Egyptians toward them, and made them to be pitied of their oppressors. Those that honour God, he will honour.
vv4-10
The death of all the first-born in Egypt at once: this plague had been the first threatened, but is last executed. See how slow God is to wrath. The plague is foretold, the time is fixed; all their first-born should sleep the sleep of death, not silently, but so as to rouse the families at midnight. The prince was not too high to be reached by it, nor the slaves at the mill too low to be noticed. While angels slew the Egyptians, not so much as a dog should bark at any of the children of Israel. It is an earnest of the difference there shall be in the great day, between God's people and his enemies. Did men know what a difference God puts, and will put to eternity, between those that serve him and those that serve him not, religion would not seem to them an indifferent thing; nor would they act in it with so much carelessness as they do. When Moses had thus delivered his message, he went out from Pharaoh in great anger at his obstinacy; though he was the meekest of the men of the earth. The Scripture has foretold the unbelief of many who hear the gospel, that it might not be a surprise or stumbling-block to us, Ro 10:16. Let us never think the worse of the gospel of Christ for the slights men put upon it. Pharaoh was hardened, yet he was compelled to abate his stern and haughty demands, till the Israelites got full freedom. In like manner the people of God will find that every struggle against their spiritual adversary, made in the might of Jesus Christ, every attempt to overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and every desire to attain increasing likeness and love to that Lamb, will be rewarded by increasing freedom from the enemy of souls.
Key Words
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
אֶחָד: properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
נֶגַע: a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or dress)
עַד: as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פַּרְעֹה: Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings
מִצְרַיִם: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
Cross References
Exodus 11The exact execution of the threat: all firstborn die, from Pharaoh to the captive in the dungeon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The direct execution of God's command for the Israelites to borrow jewels from the Egyptians.
Supported by JFB
Connects Moses' final words here to his declaration that he would not see Pharaoh's face again.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Fulfillment of God's promise that He would give the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates the lowliness of grinding at the mill, the daily task of female domestic slaves.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Moses' righteous anger with Christ's holy anger at the hardness of hearts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament parallel regarding righteous anger without sin, matching Moses' departure in great anger.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The fulfillment of Pharaoh and the Egyptians urgently thrusting the Israelites out altogether.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Illustrates grinding at the mill as a menial task assigned to captives and slaves.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes the servitude of grinding at the mill as the lowest form of hard labor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Idiomatic parallel where 'none moved his tongue' indicates complete safety and absolute tranquility for Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The initial command and prediction that the Israelites would spoil Egypt of gold and silver.
Supported by John Calvin
The physical fulfillment of the great cry in Egypt when the firstborn were struck dead.
Supported by JFB
An earlier instance of God putting a clear difference between Goshen and the rest of Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The first mention that God would harden Pharaoh's heart so he would not let Israel go.
Supported by Matthew Henry