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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Exodus 12:29 - 12:36
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The Slaughter of the First-Born and the Exodus. —
v. 29. And it came to pass that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of cattle. It was a supernatural visitation, a divine punishment which was here meted out, in spite of all the attempts to explain the facts in a natural way. The very fact that the firstborn only was stricken in every case, from the highest to the lowest, shows that it could not have been a mere accident of the Egyptian pest, nor would it have struck both man and beast all in the same night.
v. 30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, there was lamenting from one end of the country to the other; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. God's punishment spared none.
v. 31. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, the matter would not even wait for the coming of the morning, and said, Rise up and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. It was now not a mere permission, but a royal mandate, which showed signs of extreme excitement. The children of Israel were to have free hand to act as they thought best, to worship the Lord as they had indicated.
v. 32. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. All the former conditions were forgotten, and his terror reduced Pharaoh to the state where he begged to be left the blessing of Jehovah as a guarantee against further plagues.
v. 33. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste, they almost resorted to violence in hurrying the departure of the children of Israel; for they said, We be all dead men. That is often the effect when God visits His enemies with such a terrible destruction, that even the survivors are filled with a dread and panic which sees nothing but death on all sides.
v. 34. And the people (the children of Israel ) took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. "They had already put enough unleavened dough for seven days into the baking pans, and carried these on their shoulders, wrapped up in their outer garments, or rather in wrapping-cloths, such as might be used for mantles or wallets. " (Lange. )
v. 35. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver and jewels of gold, costly vessels and jewelry, and raiment;
v. 36. and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. The children of Israel simply demanded, and the Egyptians readily gave what was asked, glad, apparently, that they could give, if only it would mean the removal of the strangers out of their midst. And they spoiled the Egyptians, they took along all these treasures as rich plunder and as a well earned compensation, as a blessing of God.