Esodo 11

1 E IL Signore disse a Mosè: Io farò venire ancora una piaga sopra Faraone, e sopra l’Egitto; e poi egli vi lascerà andar di qui; quando egli vi lascerà andare, egli del tutto vi scaccerà tutti quanti di qui.

2 Parla ora al popolo, e digli che ciascuno uomo chiegga al suo amico, e ciascuna donna alla sua amica, vasellamenti di argento, e vasellamenti d’oro.

3 E il Signore rendette grazioso il popolo agli Egizj; e anche quell’uomo Mosè era molto grande nel paese di Egitto, appo i servitori di Faraone, ed appo il popolo.

4 E Mosè disse: Così ha detto il Signore: In su la mezza notte io uscirò fuori, e passerò per mezzo l’Egitto.

5 E ogni primogenito morrà nel paese di Egitto, dal primogenito di Faraone che siede sopra il suo trono, fino al primogenito della serva che è dietro alle macine; e anche ogni primogenito degli animali.

6 E vi sarà un gran grido per tutto il paese di Egitto, il cui pari non fu, nè sarà giammai più.

7 Ma appresso tutti i figliuoli d’Israele, così fra gli uomini, come fra gli animali, non pure un cane moverà la lingua; acciocchè voi sappiate che il Signore avrà messa separazione fra gli Egizj e gl’Israeliti.

8 Allora tutti questi tuoi servitori scenderanno a me, e s’inchineranno davanti a me, dicendo: Partiti, tu, e il popolo che è al tuo seguito; e, dopo quello, io me ne partirò. E Mosè se ne uscì d’appresso a Faraone, acceso d’ira.

9 Or il Signore aveva detto a Mosè: Faraone non vi porgerà orecchio; acciocchè io moltiplichi i miei prodigi nel paese di Egitto.

10 E Mosè ed Aaronne fecero tutti questi prodigi nel cospetto di Faraone, ma il Signore indurò il cuor di Faraone, ed egli non lasciò andare i figliuoli d’Israele fuori del suo paese.

Esodo 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

God's last instructions to Moses respecting Pharaoh and the Egyptians. (1-3) The death of the first-born threatened. (4-10)

Verses 1-3 A secret revelation was made to Moses while in the presence of Pharaoh, that he might give warning of the last dreadful judgment, before he went out. This was the last day of the servitude of Israel; they were about to go away. Their masters, who had abused them in their work, would have sent them away empty; but God provided that the labourers should not lose their hire, and ordered them to demand it now, at their departure, and it was given to them. God will right the injured, who in humble silence commit their cause to him; and none are losers at last by patient suffering. The Lord gave them favour in the sight of the Egyptians, by making it appear how much he favoured them. He also changed the spirit of the Egyptians toward them, and made them to be pitied of their oppressors. Those that honour God, he will honour.

Verses 4-10 The death of all the first-born in Egypt at once: this plague had been the first threatened, but is last executed. See how slow God is to wrath. The plague is foretold, the time is fixed; all their first-born should sleep the sleep of death, not silently, but so as to rouse the families at midnight. The prince was not too high to be reached by it, nor the slaves at the mill too low to be noticed. While angels slew the Egyptians, not so much as a dog should bark at any of the children of Israel. It is an earnest of the difference there shall be in the great day, between God's people and his enemies. Did men know what a difference God puts, and will put to eternity, between those that serve him and those that serve him not, religion would not seem to them an indifferent thing; nor would they act in it with so much carelessness as they do. When Moses had thus delivered his message, he went out from Pharaoh in great anger at his obstinacy; though he was the meekest of the men of the earth. The Scripture has foretold the unbelief of many who hear the gospel, that it might not be a surprise or stumbling-block to us, ( Romans 10:16 ) . Let us never think the worse of the gospel of Christ for the slights men put upon it. Pharaoh was hardened, yet he was compelled to abate his stern and haughty demands, till the Israelites got full freedom. In like manner the people of God will find that every struggle against their spiritual adversary, made in the might of Jesus Christ, every attempt to overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and every desire to attain increasing likeness and love to that Lamb, will be rewarded by increasing freedom from the enemy of souls.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 11

Moses having an intimation from the Lord that one plague more would be brought on Pharaoh, and then he would let Israel go, when they should borrow of their neighbours jewels of gold and silver, the people being in great favour with the Egyptians, Ex 11:1-3, he declares to Pharaoh, before he went out of his presence, the slaying of all the firstborn in Egypt, which would issue in the dismission of Israel, and then he went out from him in great anger, Ex 11:4-8, but still Pharaoh would not hearken, and his heart was hardened, and he refused again to let Israel go, Ex 10:9,10.