Chapter Eleven
Another Plague Coming
Containing only ten verses, this is the shortest chapter in the book of Exodus. It is a transitional chapter between the plague of darkness and an event that can be called “Passover,” (by those that followed God’s instruction) or “the killing of the firstborn,” (by those that did not follow God’s instruction).
The chapter does not follow the usual narrative construction. There appears to be three primary themes:
The transitional nature of this text serves as a warning to both the Egyptians and to the Israelites. This somber warning is to call everyone’s attention to the importance of following God’s instructions. It also serves for us readers today to help see and understand what Passover is all about, as it truly illuminates the nature of God. Always remember He is not only a JUST God, but He is also a LOVING God.
11:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely.
The first three verses may possibly be best considered a retrospective parenthetical, thus providing only a brief summary of the past. Since the Hebrew language does not have a separate pluperfect (past perfect), a verb form denoting an action completed prior to some point of time in the past (specified or implied), many translators often do not convey the past perfect meaning when they encounter a past perfect verb. Here the phrase, “The LORD said to Moses,” the Hebrew verb could be a reference to an action done much earlier, which would allow the verse to be rendered as seen in the New International Version, “Now the LORD had said to Moses,” (Exodus 11:1a, NIV). We know that God had previously told Moses about the final plague, after which they will be able to leave Egypt (see Exodus 3:20; 4:23).
11:2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
Moses tells the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for gifts of silver and gold, and since God made the Israelites look good in their sight, they will later cheerfully give them everything they ask for and more when they later begin to leave. “And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12:36) The vast amount of silver and gold collected will not be for personal gains or riches, the precious metals will be used in many ways while the Israelites traverse the desert.
The text also records how Moses, being the Israelite’s spokesman before God and Pharaoh, became highly revered by the Egyptian people, including the servants of Pharaoh. They understood that neither the Israelites, nor Moses, meant any harm to the Egyptians; the problems they were experiencing were the result of Pharaoh’s stubborn nature.
11:4 So Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, 5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.
Moses now gives the Israelites a summary of the coming final plague. He makes it clear that God will be responsible for the deaths of every firstborn. It is interesting to note that the early commentator and Torah translator, Onkelos (35-120 AD), the author of the Targum Onkelos, translated the first part of this verse, “And Mosheh said, Thus saith the Lord, At the dividing of the night I will be revealed in the midst of Mizraim, and all the firstborn in the land of Mizraim shall die.”[1] Implying that through His revealing (seeing God), the firstborn will die. This is a supposition as the text does not support that viewpoint. But the text does offers the extent of the killing, ranging from the firstborn of Pharaoh born in nobility to a slave girl. We also learn that the plague would not just kill humans, the text hints that the plague will also affect animals as well with the inclusion of firstborn cattle.
11:6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.
Moses relays from God that in response to the killing of all firstborns in Egypt, there will be an understandably great cry of pain and sorrow that will be heard throughout Egypt. God then notes that nothing like it was ever heard before and will never be heard again.
11:7 But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’
To reassure the Israelites that they will not be harmed when they leave, God has Moses tell them that not even a dog will growl against them as they exit Egypt.
11:8 And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
Now referring to the last time Moses was in front of Pharaoh, this verse explains how all of Pharaoh’s servants will, after the last plague, come pleading to Moses for him and all the other Israelites to leave Egypt. Only then will Moses leave, after all the firstborns are dead. Since Pharaoh showed no concern and did not care about innocent people dying, Moses angrily left his presence.
11:9 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.
God reminds Moses that Pharaoh would not listen, as the purpose of the plagues will serve as demonstrations of absolute power and influence over all things, each plague greater than the previous one. Moses and Aaron did all the wonders in front of Pharaoh as God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that all ten plagues would be seen. These last two verses essentially summarize the last five chapters (seven through eleven) of Exodus.
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[1] Etheridge, J. W. (Trans.). (1862–1865). The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan ben Uzziel on the Pentateuch; With the Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum: From the Chaldee (Ex 11). London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts.; Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green.