Exodus 12:33

33 And the Egyptians constrained the people to go out of the land swiftly, and said, All we shall die! (And the Egyptians compelled the people to swiftly go out of the land, saying, Or else we shall all 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 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;)

32 (and) take ye your sheep and [your] great beasts, as ye asked (for); and go ye, and (also) bless ye me.

33 And the Egyptians constrained the people to go out of the land swiftly, and said, All we shall die! (And the Egyptians compelled the people to swiftly go out of the land, saying, Or else we shall all die!)

34 Therefore the people took meal sprinkled together, before that it was dighted with sourdough (And so the people took the meal, or the flour, before that any yeast was added to it); and they bound it in mantles, and put it on their shoulders.

35 And the sons of Israel did as the Lord commanded to Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians silver vessels and golden, and full much clothing. (And the Israelites did as the Lord commanded to Moses; and they asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry, and for a great deal of clothes.)