Exodus 12:33

33 And [the] Egyptians urged the people [in order] to hurry their release from the land, because they said, "All of us [will] die!"

Exodus 12:33 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:33

And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people
The people of Israel; not using force, but strong entreaties, the most powerful arguments, and importunate language they were masters of:

that they might send them out of the land in haste:
this looks as if it was the people about Pharaoh, his ministers and courtiers, they were pressing upon to dismiss the Israelites at once, and to hasten their departure; or else Moses and Aaron, and the elders of the people, to stir them up to a quick dispatch of their affairs, that they might be soon rid of them; unless the sense is, that they were very solicitous and earnest with the people, that they would get away out of the land as fast as they could:

for they said, we [be] all dead [men];
for their firstborn being all slain, they expected that they themselves, and the rest of their families, would be struck with death next; and this they feared would be the case in a very little time, if they did not depart;

for they had sufficient reason to convince them,
that it was purely on their account, and because they had not leave to go out of the land, that all the above judgments, and particularly the last, were inflicted on them.

Exodus 12:33 In-Context

31 And he called Moses and Aaron [at] night, and he said, "Get up, go out from the midst of my people, both you as well as the {Israelites}, and go, serve Yahweh, as you have said.

32 Take both your sheep and goats as well as your cattle, and go, and bless also me."

33 And [the] Egyptians urged the people [in order] to hurry their release from the land, because they said, "All of us [will] die!"

34 And the people lifted up their dough before it had yeast; their kneading troughs [were] wrapped up in their cloaks on their shoulder.

35 And the {Israelites} did according to the word of Moses, and they asked from [the] Egyptians [for] objects of silver and objects of gold and [for] clothing.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "to hasten to release them"
• [b]. Or "We all are dead!"