Exodus 11

Chap. XI. Ver. 1—10. God’s message to the Israelites.—It had been foretold to them, ‘‘Ye shall not go out gt, ((Genesis 15:14).) Preparatory, therefore, to the last plague, which was to procure their deliverance, they are directed to ask tnot borrow, see (Exodus 3:22).) of the Egyptians, jewels and such other articles, as they might be disposed to give. We have already seen that they were much alarmed, and anxious for their departure, and would themselves be gladly rid of them on any terms. Besides this, the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians; so that, partly from pity, on account of their ill-treatment and partly from fear of offending the God of Israel, they acted very liberally towards them.

Moses, also, though threatened by Pharaoh, was “very great in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.” Prepared for ever: this message, therefore, must probably have been sent in to Pharaoh by some of his servants, while Moses waited at the door, from which he “came out in great anger,” no attention being paid to his message from Jehovah. But as a reason for this, it is added, ‘‘The Lord [had] said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” When it is threatened “all the first-born shall die,” we are not, perhaps, to confine it to the literal sense exactly; but where there were not children, to include the next of kin, or heir.

Thus the author of the Book of Wisdom explains it—((Exodus 18:11-12).) “In one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed.” So that it was literally true, as we are told, ((Exodus 10:13)) “There was not a house where there was not one dead.” In reference to this it had been said, “there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt.” For this the Egyptians were remarkable. All the relations, of both sexes, when a death occurred, quitted the house and ran wild about the streets, the women with their hair loose and their bosoms bare, beating themselves, shrieking and howling as they passed along. It is easy, therefore, to conceive, that great and terrible indeed must have been the confusion, when “Pharaoh and all his servants, and all the Egyptians, rose up in the night,”

to wail and to lament. But from both the mortality and the lamentation were the children of Israel exempted; insomuch that not even a dog moved his tongue, either to bark or to howl. But here again we may remark a just retribution upon Pharaoh, with even a balance of mercy in his favour. The Lord [had] smitten one half the rising population. But fourscore years back, and Rachel was heard “weeping for her children,” on the banks of the Nile, “and would not be comforted:” now Jehovah hath arisen to plead her cause; Egypt weeps, and there is none to comfort her!

Notes on the verses

Chap. XI. Ver. 3. Egyptians, &c.—[The Samaritan Text has here an important addition: “* So that they shall give them what they ask. Ver. 4. For about in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sitteth upon his throne unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and even unto the first-born of every beast. 6. And there shall be a great cry through all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or even against beast, that thou mayest know that Jehovah doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

8. And thou also shalt be greatly honoured in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people. 9. Then Moses said unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born; and I said unto thee, Let my son go that he may serve me. 10. But thou hast refused to let him go; behold, Jehovah slayeth thy son, thy first-born.—See Kennicott’s Remarks.|—Bagster. Ver. 5. The maid-servant that is behind the mill.—In many parts of the East they still grind their corn with a kind of portable mill, like the querns formerly used in England, and still in some parts of Scotland. They were always worked by female slaves, and sometimes placed in their lap. When the mill was large, or the labour heavy, then two women were employed; hence the expression of our Lord, (Matthew 24:40). Ver. 7. Not a dog shall move his tongue.—[Though so many thousand people would be on their march, with their wives, children, numerous herds of cattle, &c. yet this should produce so little alarm, that even the dogs should not bark at them, which it would be natural to expect. It seems to be a proverbial expression, intimating, that the Israelites should not only be free from this death, but that they should depart without any kind of molestation,]—Bagster.