Exodus 11

Ex 11:1-10.

DEATH OF THE

FIRST-BORN

THREATENED.

1. the Lord said--rather, "had said unto Moses." It may

be inferred, therefore, that he had been apprised that the crisis had

now arrived, that the next plague would so effectually humble and alarm

the mind of Pharaoh, that he would "thrust them out thence altogether";

and thus the word of Moses

(Ex 10:29),

must be regarded as a prediction.

2, 3. Speak now in the ears of the people--These verses,

describing the communication which had been made in private to Moses,

are inserted here as a parenthesis, and will be considered

(Ex 12:35).

4. Thus saith the Lord, About midnight--Here is recorded the

announcement of the last plague made in the most solemn manner to the

king, on whose hardened heart all his painful experience had hitherto

produced no softening, at least no permanently good effect.

will I go out into the midst of Egypt--language used after the

manner of men.

5. And all the first-born in the land . . . shall

die--The time, the suddenness, the dreadful severity of this coming

calamity, and the peculiar description of victims, among both men and

beasts, on whom it was to fall, would all contribute to aggravate its

character.

the maid-servant that is behind the mill--The grinding of the

meal for daily use in every household is commonly done by female slaves

and is considered the lowest employment. Two portable millstones are

used for the purpose, of which the uppermost is turned by a small

wooden handle, and during the operation the maid sits behind the

mill.

6. shall be a great cry throughout all the land--In the case of

a death, people in the East set up loud wailings, and imagination may

conceive what "a great cry" would be raised when death would invade

every family in the kingdom.

7. against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his

tongue--No town or village in Egypt or in the East generally is

free from the nuisance of dogs, who prowl about the streets and make

the most hideous noise at any passers-by at night. What an emphatic

significance does the knowledge of this circumstance give to this fact

in the sacred record, that on the awful night that was coming, when the

air should be rent with the piercing shrieks of mourners, so great and

universal would be the panic inspired by the hand of God, that not a

dog would move his tongue against the children of Israel!

8. all these thy servants shall . . . bow down themselves

unto me--This would be the effect of the universal terror; the

hearts of the proudest would be humbled and do reverential homage to

God, in the person of His representative.

went out . . . in a great anger--Holy and righteous

indignation at the duplicity, repeated falsehood, and hardened

impenitence of the king; and this strong emotion was stirred in the

bosom of Moses, not at the ill reception given to himself, but the

dishonor done to God

(Mt 19:8;

Eph 4:26).