Exodus 11:8

8 Then all these officials of yours shall come down to me, and bow low to me, saying, "Leave us, you and all the people who follow you.' After that I will leave." And in hot anger he left Pharaoh.

Exodus 11:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 11:8

And all these thy servants
Pharaoh's nobles, ministers, courtiers and counsellors, who were then in his presence, and stood about him, to whom Moses pointed: shall come down unto me;
from Pharaoh's palace, which might be built on an eminence, to the place where Moses had dwelt during the time he had been in Egypt, which might lie lower; or these should come from Zoan, or from Memphis, whichever of them was now the royal city, to the land of Goshen, which lay lower than the other part of Egypt; or it may only denote the submission of Pharaoh's, servants, that they should in the time of their distress be so humble and condescending as to come themselves to Moses, and as it follows: and bow down themselves unto me;
in the most obsequious manner, humbly entreating, and earnestly begging him: saying, get thee out, and all the people that follow thee;
or "are at thy feet" F23, that were at his beck and command, and under his power, as Aben Ezra; or that followed his counsel and advice, as Jarchi, that did as he directed them, and went after him as their leader and commander, even everyone of them; they that brought up the rear, he, and all of them, would be desired to depart, and not a man remain behind: this was fulfilled, ( Exodus 12:31 ) : and after that I will go out;
out of the land of Egypt, Moses, and all the children of Israel: and he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger;
as soon as he had said the above words, because he had bid him be gone from him, and had threatened him with his life, if ever he saw his face more; and because he was so rebellious against God, whose zeal inspired the heart of Moses with indignation against him, though the meekest man on earth, and for whose glory he was concerned; though some understand this of Moses going out from Pharaoh, when he and not Moses was in great anger, because of what Moses had now threatened him with, and told him what would be the issue of things, the submission of him and his nobles, and the dismission of Israel; but this sense is not favoured by the accents.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 (Kylgrb) "in pedibus tuis", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "sub pedibus tuis", Munster, Vatablus; "qui est ad pedes tuos", Cartwright.

Exodus 11:8 In-Context

6 Then there will be a loud cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as has never been or will ever be again.
7 But not a dog shall growl at any of the Israelites—not at people, not at animals—so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
8 Then all these officials of yours shall come down to me, and bow low to me, saying, "Leave us, you and all the people who follow you.' After that I will leave." And in hot anger he left Pharaoh.
9 The Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you, in order that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."
10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; but the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.
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.