Exodus11
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Yahweh said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether.
2Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.”
3Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
4Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt,
5and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of livestock.
6There will be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor will be any more.
7But against any of the children of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal, that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.
8All these servants of yours will come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, “Get out, with all the people who follow you;” and after that I will go out.’” He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
9Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
10Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children 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