1 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Yet will I bring H935 one H259 plague H5061 more upon Pharaoh, H6547 and upon Egypt; H4714 afterwards H310 he will let you go H7971 hence: when he shall let you go, H7971 he shall surely H1644 thrust you out H1644 hence altogether. H3617
2 Speak H1696 now in the ears H241 of the people, H5971 and let every man H376 borrow H7592 of his neighbour, H7453 and every woman H802 of her neighbour, H7468 jewels H3627 of silver, H3701 and jewels H3627 of gold. H2091
3 And the LORD H3068 gave H5414 the people H5971 favour H2580 in the sight H5869 of the Egyptians. H4714 Moreover the man H376 Moses H4872 was very H3966 great H1419 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 in the sight H5869 of Pharaoh's H6547 servants, H5650 and in the sight H5869 of the people. H5971
4 And Moses H4872 said, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 About midnight H3915 H2676 will I go out H3318 into the midst H8432 of Egypt: H4714
5 And all the firstborn H1060 in the land H776 of Egypt H4714 shall die, H4191 from the firstborn H1060 of Pharaoh H6547 that sitteth H3427 upon his throne, H3678 even unto the firstborn H1060 of the maidservant H8198 that is behind H310 the mill; H7347 and all the firstborn H1060 of beasts. H929
6 And there shall be H1961 a great H1419 cry H6818 throughout all the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 such as there was none H3808 like it, nor H3808 shall be like it any more. H3254
7 But against any of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall not a dog H3611 move H2782 his tongue, H3956 against man H376 or beast: H929 that ye may know H3045 how that the LORD H3068 doth put a difference H6395 between the Egyptians H4714 and Israel. H3478
8 And all these thy servants H5650 shall come down H3381 unto me, and bow down H7812 themselves unto me, saying, H559 Get thee out, H3318 and all the people H5971 that follow H7272 thee: and after H310 that I will go out. H3318 And he went out H3318 from Pharaoh H6547 in a great H2750 anger. H639
9 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Pharaoh H6547 shall not hearken H8085 unto you; that my wonders H4159 may be multiplied H7235 in the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
10 And Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 did H6213 all these wonders H4159 before H6440 Pharaoh: H6547 and the LORD H3068 hardened H2388 Pharaoh's H6547 heart, H3820 so that he would not let the children H1121 of Israel H3478 go out H7971 of his land. H776
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 11
Commentary on Exodus 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Ex 11:1-10. Death of the First-born Threatened.
1. the Lord said—rather, "had said unto Moses." It may be inferred, therefore, that he had been apprised that the crisis had now arrived, that the next plague would so effectually humble and alarm the mind of Pharaoh, that he would "thrust them out thence altogether"; and thus the word of Moses (Ex 10:29), must be regarded as a prediction.
2, 3. Speak now in the ears of the people—These verses, describing the communication which had been made in private to Moses, are inserted here as a parenthesis, and will be considered (Ex 12:35).
4. Thus saith the Lord, About midnight—Here is recorded the announcement of the last plague made in the most solemn manner to the king, on whose hardened heart all his painful experience had hitherto produced no softening, at least no permanently good effect.
will I go out into the midst of Egypt—language used after the manner of men.
5. And all the first-born in the land … shall die—The time, the suddenness, the dreadful severity of this coming calamity, and the peculiar description of victims, among both men and beasts, on whom it was to fall, would all contribute to aggravate its character.
the maid-servant that is behind the mill—The grinding of the meal for daily use in every household is commonly done by female slaves and is considered the lowest employment. Two portable millstones are used for the purpose, of which the uppermost is turned by a small wooden handle, and during the operation the maid sits behind the mill.
6. shall be a great cry throughout all the land—In the case of a death, people in the East set up loud wailings, and imagination may conceive what "a great cry" would be raised when death would invade every family in the kingdom.
7. against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue—No town or village in Egypt or in the East generally is free from the nuisance of dogs, who prowl about the streets and make the most hideous noise at any passers-by at night. What an emphatic significance does the knowledge of this circumstance give to this fact in the sacred record, that on the awful night that was coming, when the air should be rent with the piercing shrieks of mourners, so great and universal would be the panic inspired by the hand of God, that not a dog would move his tongue against the children of Israel!
8. all these thy servants shall … bow down themselves unto me—This would be the effect of the universal terror; the hearts of the proudest would be humbled and do reverential homage to God, in the person of His representative.
went out … in a great anger—Holy and righteous indignation at the duplicity, repeated falsehood, and hardened impenitence of the king; and this strong emotion was stirred in the bosom of Moses, not at the ill reception given to himself, but the dishonor done to God (Mt 19:8; Eph 4:26).