Exodus11
New Living Translation
1Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave.
2Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”
3(Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)
4Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt.
5All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die.
6Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again.
7But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.
8All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.
9Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.”
10Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave the country.
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