Exodus 10:26

26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must choose some of them for the worship of the Lord our God, and we will not know what to use to worship the Lord until we arrive there."

Exodus 10:26 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 10:26

Our cattle also shall go with us
Of every kind, of the flocks and of the herds: there shall not an hoof be left behind;
not a single creature that has an hoof: it is a proverbial expression, signifying that they should carry all that belonged to them with them: for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God;
something of every kind and sort, all they had being devoted to his service, and to be yielded to him upon demand: and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come
thither;
into the wilderness; they knew not exactly and precisely what kind of creatures or how many of them, as Aben Ezra observes, they were to offer at a time; for though before this there was a known distinction between clean and unclean creatures, and the various offerings and sacrifices of the patriarchs might in a good measure direct them in the use of them; yet the special and peculiar laws about sacrifices were not given until after their deliverance, and they were got into the wilderness; so that this was not a bare pretence to get their cattle along with them, but was the true case and real matter of fact.

Exodus 10:26 In-Context

24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses, and said, "Go, worship the Lord. Only your flocks and your herds shall remain behind. Even your children may go with you."
25 But Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings to sacrifice to the Lord our God.
26 Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must choose some of them for the worship of the Lord our God, and we will not know what to use to worship the Lord until we arrive there."
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was unwilling to let them go.
28 Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Take care that you do not see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.