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
And he called H7121 for Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 by night, H3915 and said, H559 Rise up, H6965 and get you forth H3318 from among H8432 my people, H5971 both ye and the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 and go, H3212 serve H5647 the LORD, H3068 as ye have said. H1696 Also take H3947 your flocks H6629 and your herds, H1241 as ye have said, H1696 and be gone; H3212 and bless H1288 me also. And the Egyptians H4714 were urgent H2388 upon the people, H5971 that they might send H7971 them out of the land H776 in haste; H4116 for they said, H559 We be all dead H4191 men. And the people H5971 took H5375 their dough H1217 before it was leavened, H2556 their kneadingtroughs H4863 being bound up H6887 in their clothes H8071 upon their shoulders. H7926 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 according to the word H1697 of Moses; H4872 and they borrowed H7592 of the Egyptians H4714 jewels H3627 of silver, H3701 and jewels H3627 of gold, H2091 and raiment: H8071 And the LORD H3068 gave H5414 the people H5971 favour H2580 in the sight H5869 of the Egyptians, H4714 so that they lent H7592 unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled H5337 the Egyptians. H4714 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 journeyed H5265 from Rameses H7486 to Succoth, H5523 about six H8337 hundred H3967 thousand H505 on foot H7273 that were men, H1397 beside H905 children. H2945 And a mixed H6154 multitude H7227 went up H5927 also with them; and flocks, H6629 and herds, H1241 even very H3966 much H3515 cattle. H4735 And they baked H644 unleavened H4682 cakes H5692 of the dough H1217 which they brought forth H3318 out of Egypt, H4714 for it was not leavened; H2556 because they were thrust out H1644 of Egypt, H4714 and could H3201 not tarry, H4102 neither had they prepared H6213 for themselves any victual. H6720
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).