Exodus 10:26

26 (nay!) all the flocks shall go with us, for a claw shall not dwell of those things, that be needful into the worshipping of our Lord God, mostly since we know not what oughteth to be offered, till we come to that place.

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 And Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said to them, Go ye, make ye sacrifice to the Lord; only your sheep and your great beasts dwell still; your little children go with you. (And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, Go ye, and worship the Lord; your sheep and your great beasts must stay here, but even your little children can go with you.)
25 And Moses said, Also thou shalt give to us offerings and burnt sacrifices, which we shall offer to our Lord God; (And Moses said, Then shalt thou give us the offerings, and the burnt sacrifices, which we shall offer to the Lord our God?)
26 (nay!) all the flocks shall go with us, for a claw shall not dwell of those things, that be needful into the worshipping of our Lord God, mostly since we know not what oughteth to be offered, till we come to that place.
27 Forsooth the Lord made hard the heart of Pharaoh, and he would not deliver them. (But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.)
28 And Pharaoh said to Moses, Go away from me, and beware that thou see no more my face; in whatever day thou shalt appear to me, thou shalt die. (And Pharaoh said to Moses, Go away from me, and beware that thou do not see my face again; for on whatever day thou shalt appear before me, thou shalt die.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.