Exodus 10:26

26 Our livestock will also go with us - not a hoof will be left behind - because we must choose some of them to worship ADONAI our God, and we don't know which ones we will need to worship ADONAI until we get 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 Pharaoh summoned Moshe and said, "Go, worship ADONAI; only leave your flocks and herds behind - your children may go with you."
25 Moshe answered, "You must also see to it that we have sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we can sacrifice to ADONAI our God.
26 Our livestock will also go with us - not a hoof will be left behind - because we must choose some of them to worship ADONAI our God, and we don't know which ones we will need to worship ADONAI until we get there."
27 But ADONAI made Pharaoh hardhearted, and he would not let them go.
28 Pharaoh said to them, "Get away from me! And you had better not see my face again, because the day you see my face, you will die!"
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.