Exodus 12:29

29 Forsooth it was done in the midst of the night, the Lord smote all the first begotten thing(s) in the land of Egypt, from the first begotten of Pharaoh, that sat in the throne of him (who sat on his throne), till to the first begotten of a captive woman, that was in (the) prison, and all the first engendered of beasts.

Exodus 12:29 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:29

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt
The midnight of the fifteenth of Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan, when fast asleep, and thoughtless of any danger; and it being at such a time must strike with a greater horror and terror, when sensible of the blow, which might be attended with a great noise, that might awaken the rest: from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne;
the heir to his crown, who was to have sat upon his throne, or already did, being taken a partner with him in it: unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon;
or prison, that was grinding at the mill there, ( Exodus 11:5 ) which was the work and business the prisoners were often put to, as appears from the case of Samson, ( Judges 16:21 ) , and all the firstborn of cattle;
which were left of the other plagues, which had consumed great numbers of them.

Exodus 12:29 In-Context

27 ye shall say to them, It is the sacrifice of the passing (over) of the Lord, when he passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt, and smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses (but spared our houses). And the people was bowed, and worshipped.

28 And the sons of Israel went out (And the Israelites went out), and did as the Lord commanded to Moses and Aaron.

29 Forsooth it was done in the midst of the night, the Lord smote all the first begotten thing(s) in the land of Egypt, from the first begotten of Pharaoh, that sat in the throne of him (who sat on his throne), till to the first begotten of a captive woman, that was in (the) prison, and all the first engendered of beasts.

30 And Pharaoh rose (up) in the night, and all his servants, and all Egypt; and a great cry was made in Egypt; for none house was, in which a dead man lay not (for there was not one house in which there was not a dead son).

31 And when Moses and Aaron were called in the night, Pharaoh said, Rise ye, and go ye out from my people, both ye and the sons of Israel; go ye, offer ye to the Lord, as ye say; (And when Moses and Aaron were called for in the night, Pharaoh said, Rise ye up, and go ye out from my people, both ye and the Israelites; go ye, and worship ye the Lord, as ye say that ye want to do;)