Chapter 11

1 God’s message to the Israelites to borrow jewels of their neigbours. 4 Moses threateneth Pharaoh with the death of the firstborn.

1. One plague more. Although God had previously indicated to Moses that several judgments would be required to move Pharaoh to issue permission for their departure (see chs. 3:19; 9:14), He never revealed the precise number of plagues that would be required. For the first time the veil of uncertainty is now lifted as to the time when deliverance might be expected.

Thrust you out. The Hebrew verb is most emphatic. Pharaoh would eventually drive them out, making no reservations of any kind.

2. Every man. At first only the women were to “borrow” (see on ch. 3:22). Now that the time had come the men were included. It may seem strange that men as well as women were advised to ask jewelry from their neighbors. However, Egyptian monuments picture men wearing as much jewelry—necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc.—as the women.

3. The man Moses was very great. Some have thought it strange that Moses, if he were indeed the author of the Pentateuch, should make such a comment. There is, however, nothing in the statement inferring vanity on the part of Moses. He is simply explaining why the Egyptians gave so freely of their means. It was natural that, as the agent of God, the people should have associated Moses with the “very great” signs they had witnessed. First of all, he had confounded the magicians (ch. 8:18, 19), then he had so impressed the courtiers that a number of them took advantage of one of his warnings and saved their livestock (ch. 9:20). Finally, almost the entire court became convinced that it lay in his power to destroy the country (ch. 10:7). Moses had dealt with the king as with an equal, and the fact that the people reverenced him as a god automatically enhanced Moses’ reputation with them. Had Moses not appeared to them as a most extraordinary person whom it would be dangerous to molest, some violence would probably have been done him long since. As it was, the entire nation seemed happy that the people who had occasioned them so much misfortune were to leave, and therefore they gave gladly of their means.

4. And Moses said. Once more Moses appeared in the presence of Pharaoh. According to ch. 10:28 Pharaoh had threatened him with death should he dare to do so. It is certain that Moses would not have returned except upon an explicit divine command.

About midnight. This midnight could not be the one following the day on which Moses made the announcement to the king, for it was not till after this conversation with Pharaoh that Moses received directions as to the Passover. These directions must have been communicated to the people several days prior to the feast of the Passover and their departure from Egypt (ch. 12:3, 6). The night was no doubt purposely left indefinite in order that Pharaoh might have time to ponder the fate that awaited him and his people.

Will I go out. It is noteworthy that the Lord Himself visited Egypt with the tenth plague, whereas each of the others had been inflicted by Moses and Aaron as agents of God, through a natural medium.

5. All the firstborn. This stroke was to fall upon the first-born of both man and beast. God did not desire to obliterate the Egyptians and their cattle, but simply to convince them that opposition to His purpose for Israel could no longer be tolerated.

6. A great cry. The intensity of Oriental emotions and the freedom with which they are expressed are well known. Ancient Egyptian funeral scenes picture wailing women with disheveled hair and arms upraised, expressing their sorrow by gestures as well as vocally. Herodotus relates that the Egyptians stripped themselves and beat their breasts at funerals (ii. 85), a custom that also prevailed among the Semites. With bitter mourning in every house, the cry of Egypt might now well be one such as had never been heard before and would not be heard again.

7. Move his tongue. The word translated “move” means “to cut into,” “to sharpen,” “to bring to a point,” and alludes to the fact that a dog points its tongue when it growls. Israel would not suffer the slightest injury (see Joshua 10:21), whereas many Egyptians would die.

8. In a great anger. Literally, in the “heat of anger.” Thus far Moses had displayed more than human patience in his dealings with the king. This was a reflection of the long-suffering and patience of God, whose ambassador he was and in whose name and by whose authority he had acted. Now, however, the wrath of the departing servant of God was evidence to the hardhearted king that his day of grace was at an end and that the wrath of God was about to burst upon him.

9. The Lord said unto Moses. Most commentators take these words as a repetition of previously made divine statements, and seek to translate them, “as the Lord had said unto Moses.” But they may also be taken as a renewed pledge of God to Moses that He would fulfill the prediction made prior to his call (ch. 4:23).

10. Did all these wonders. Before proceeding to relate the last and greatest of all the plagues, Moses pauses momentarily to glance back at the series of miracles, meditating as it were on their failure to move the stubborn will of Pharaoh. On the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, see on ch. 4:21.

Ellen G. White comments

3    PP 272

4-8PP 273

5     SR 118

10   5T 274