Éxodo 11

1 Y el SEÑOR dijo a Moisés: Una plaga traeré aún sobre el Faraón, y sobre Egipto; después de la cual él os dejará ir de aquí; y seguramente os echará de aquí del todo

2 Habla ahora al pueblo, y que cada uno demande a su vecino, y cada una a su vecina, vasos de plata y de oro

3 Y el SEÑOR dio gracia al pueblo en los ojos de los egipcios. También Moisés era gran varón en la tierra de Egipto, delante de los siervos del Faraón, y delante del pueblo

4 Y dijo Moisés: El SEÑOR ha dicho así: A la medianoche yo saldré por en medio de Egipto

5 y morirá todo primogénito en tierra de Egipto, desde el primogénito del Faraón que está asentado en su trono, hasta el primogénito de la sierva que está tras el molino; y todo primogénito de las bestias

6 Y habrá gran clamor por toda la tierra de Egipto, cual nunca fue, ni jamás será

7 Mas entre todos los hijos de Israel, desde el hombre hasta la bestia, ni un perro moverá su lengua: para que sepáis que hará diferencia el SEÑOR entre los egipcios y los israelitas

8 Y descenderán a mí todos estos tus siervos, e inclinados delante de mí dirán: Sal tú, y todo el pueblo que está debajo de ti; y después de esto yo saldré. Y salió muy enojado de la presencia del Faraón

9 Y el SEÑOR dijo a Moisés: El Faraón no os oirá, para que mis maravillas se multipliquen en la tierra de Egipto

10 Y Moisés y Aarón hicieron todos estos prodigios delante del Faraón; mas el SEÑOR había endurecido el corazón del Faraón, para que no dejara ir de su tierra a los hijos de Israel

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.