Exodus 11

CHAPTER 11THEME: The Israelites ask Egyptians for jewels; the firstborn of Egypt are threatened with deathThis is the final chapter in this section of the contest with Pharaoh. The death of the firstborn is the final act of judgment upon Egypt before Israel is freed from the yoke of bondage. Pharaoh should have learned by this time that it is futile to enter into conflict with God. God has been longsuffering and forgiving, but He must make Pharaoh understand that it is time for Israel to leave Egypt. All of Egypt was inclined to take Pharaoh’s side in this contest with God and He must deliver one final blow upon Egypt in His attempt to teach them the lessons they need to learn.

Exodus 11:1

THE ISRAELITES ASK EGYPTIANS FOR JEWELSThe word “borrow” in this passage simply means to collect back wages. The Israelites had served for years as slaves and had never received any payment for their labor. Now they were going to get their money. They were literally to go to their neighbors and ask for their back wages. The Lord gave the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they were glad to pay the children of Israel their just payment.

Exodus 11:4

THE FIRSTBORN OF EGYPT ARE THREATENED WITH DEATHNow the firstborn of both mand and beast belonged to he gods of Egypt. The Lord God will claim the firstfruits of the Egyptian gods. He is going to show that there is a difference between the children of Israel and the Egyptians. The difference did not lie in the death angel which passed over both the lands of Egypt and Goshen. It did not lie in the fact that one race was Jew and one was Gentile. The difference lay in the blood of the lamb put upon the doorpost. Each home protected by the blood would not be touched by the death angel. This was the beginning of the oldest religious holiday of the Jews, the Passover Feast. The Passover is one of the most eloquent portraits of the Lord Jesus Christ found in the Old Testament.