Éxodo 11

1 Muerte para los primeros hijos varones de Egipto
Entonces el Señor
le dijo a Moisés: «Heriré al faraón y a la tierra de Egipto con un golpe más. Después, el faraón los dejará salir de su territorio. De hecho, estará tan desesperado por librarse de ustedes que los obligará a irse de su tierra.

2 Diles a todos los hombres y a todas las mujeres israelitas que pidan a sus vecinos egipcios objetos de plata y de oro».

3 (El Señor
había hecho que los egipcios miraran con agrado al pueblo de Israel. Además, en la tierra de Egipto a Moisés se le consideraba ser un gran hombre, y tanto los funcionarios del faraón como el pueblo egipcio lo respetaban).

4 Así que Moisés le dijo al faraón: «Esto dice el Señor
: “Hoy, a la medianoche, pasaré por el corazón de Egipto.

5 Todo primer hijo varón de cada familia de Egipto morirá, desde el hijo mayor del faraón, el que se sienta en su trono, hasta el hijo mayor de la sirvienta más humilde que trabaja en el molino. Incluso la primera cría de todos los animales morirá”.

6 Entonces se oirá un lamento desgarrador por toda la tierra de Egipto, un lamento como nunca antes hubo ni habrá después.

7 Sin embargo, entre los israelitas habrá tal tranquilidad que ni siquiera un perro ladrará. Entonces sabrán que el Señor
hace una distinción entre los egipcios y los israelitas.

8 Todos los funcionarios de Egipto correrán a buscarme y caerán al suelo ante mí y me suplicarán: “Por favor, vete. ¡Apresúrate! Y llévate a todos tus seguidores”. ¡Sólo hasta entonces me iré!». Luego Moisés, ardiendo de enojo, salió de la presencia del faraón.

9 Ahora bien, ya antes, el Señor
le había dicho a Moisés: «El faraón no los escuchará, así que haré más milagros poderosos en la tierra de Egipto».

10 Moisés y Aarón realizaron esos milagros en presencia del faraón, pero el Señor
endureció el corazón del faraón, y no dejó salir de su territorio a los israelitas.

Éxodo 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.