Death of the Firstborn Announced
Exodus 11, verse 1. Now the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here. Exodus 11, verse 2. Speak now secretly in the hearing of the people, and let everyone ask from his neighbor articles of silver and gold and clothing.” Exodus 11, verse 3. So the Lord gave the people grace in the sight of the Egyptians, and they lent to them. Moreover, the man Moses was very great before the Egyptians and before Pharaoh and all his servants. Exodus 11, verse 4. Then Moses said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; Exodus 11, verse 5. and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne even to the firstborn of the female servant behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. Exodus 11, verse 6. Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. Exodus 11, verse 7. But against not even one of the descendants of Israel, be it man or cattle, shall a dog snarl its tongue, that you may know the Lord shall make a wide distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.’ Exodus 11, verse 8. And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Go from here, and all the people who follow you.’ After that I will go out.” Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger. Exodus 11, verse 9. But the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, that I may multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 11, verse 10. So Moses and Aaron did all these signs and wonders in the land of Egypt before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel depart from the land of Egypt.