Exodus 11:4

And Moses said,.... To Pharaoh before he left him, when he had told him he should see his face no more; for the three preceding verses are to be read in a parenthesis, being placed here by the

And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: Thus saith the Lord, About midnight - i:e., not midnight of that day, but of the day referred to in the divine communication.

Moses said this to Pharaoh before his departure, as appears by comparing with . And therefore the three first verses of this chapter come in by way of parenthesis; and now he returns to the story, and sets down the last words which Moses spake to Pharaoh for a final parting: God is said to go out, or go forth, or come down, &c., by way of condescension to the custom and capacity of men, when he doth any eminent act of power either in way of justice or mercy.

Exodus 11:4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:Ver. 4. And Moses said,.] sc., Before he went out of Pharaoh’ s presence: for afterwards he saw his face no more.

(4) And Moses said.—In continuation of the speech recorded in Exodus 10:29, face to face with Pharaoh, Moses makes his last appeal—utters his last threats. The Pharaoh has bidden him “see his face no more” (Exodus 10:28), and he has accepted the warning, and declared “I will see thy face again no more” (Exodus 10:29). It is the last interview—the last interchange of speech. Moses had to deliver himself of a message. Hardened as his heart is, Pharaoh is yet to be allowed “a place for repentance” God announces to him, by the mouth of Moses, the coming destruction of the firstborn—emphasizes the terrible nature of the impending calamity by the announcement that through all Egypt there would be “a great cry”—contrasts with their despair the absolute immunity of the Israelites—and finally warns the Pharaoh that he and his people will shortly urge the departure which they now refuse to permit. If Pharaoh had even now relented, it was not too late—the great blows might have been escaped, the death of the firstborn and the destruction of the armed force in the Red Sea. But he had “hardened himself,” and then “been hardened,” until, practically, the time for relenting was gone by. He remained obdurate, and “would not let the children of Israel go out of his land” (Exodus 11:10). About midnight.—The particular night was not specified; and the torment of suspense was thus added to the pain of an unintermittent fear. But the dreadful visitation was to come at the dreadest hour of the twenty-four—midnight. Thus much was placed beyond doubt.

Verse 4. About midnight will I go out] Whether God did this by the ministry of a good or of an evil angel is a matter of little importance, though some commentators have greatly magnified it. Both kinds of angels are under his power and jurisdiction, and he may employ them as he pleases. Such a work of destruction as the slaying of the first-born is supposed to be more proper for a bad than for a good angel. But the works of God's justice are not less holy and pure than the works of his mercy; and the highest archangel may, with the utmost propriety, be employed in either.

4. And Moses said] viz., as v. 8b shews, to the Pharaoh.

And Moses said - The following words must be read in immediate connection with the last verse of the preceding chapter. About midnight - This marks the hour, but not the day, on which the visitation would take place.

4. And Moses said — Unto Pharaoh, not unto Israel. The speech of Exo 10:25-26, interrupted by the parenthesis of Exo 11:1-3, is here resumed.