The Lord announces the final plague

11:1 The Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will release you from this place. When he releases you, he will drive you out completely from this place. 11:2 Instruct the people that each man and each woman is to request from his or her neighbor items of silver and gold.” 11:3 (Now the Lord granted the people favor with the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s servants and by the Egyptian people.) 11:4 Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, 11:5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 11:6 There will be a great cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. 11:7 But against any of the Israelites not even a dog will bark against either people or animals, so that you may know that the Lord distinguishes between Egypt and Israel.’ 11:8 All these your servants will come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you,’ and after that I will go out.” Then Moses went out from Pharaoh in great anger. 11:9 The Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 11:10 So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not release the Israelites from his land.

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The Lord tells Moses that one more plague will come on Egypt. This plague will break Pharaoh’s resistance and lead to Israel’s release. The Lord will also show clear favor to Israel and make a strong distinction between Egypt and his people.

God speaks with a final warning and with certainty. He says that one more plague will come, and after that Pharaoh will drive Israel out completely. Moses is told to instruct the people to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold, because the Lord has already given them favor. This shows that the slaves will leave Egypt enriched, not empty-handed.

Moses then delivers the Lord’s word to Pharaoh. At about midnight, the Lord himself will pass through Egypt. Every firstborn in the land will die, from Pharaoh’s son to the son of the lowest slave, and even the firstborn of the cattle. The cry in Egypt will be unlike anything that has ever happened there.

But Israel will be protected. Not even a dog will bark against them. The Lord will make a clear distinction between Egypt and Israel. Pharaoh’s own servants will then come and bow before Moses, begging him and the people to leave. This is a reversal of power and a shame for Egypt.

The Lord also says that Pharaoh will not listen. His refusal will cause God’s wonders to be seen more fully in Egypt. The passage ends by saying that Moses and Aaron did these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he still would not let Israel go.

• The Lord announces one more plague before Israel is released.
• Israel is told to ask for silver and gold from the Egyptians.
• The Lord grants favor to his people in Egypt.
• The firstborn of Egypt will die, from Pharaoh’s house to the lowest household.
• The judgment will be complete and terrifying.
• Israel will be kept safe and clearly distinguished from Egypt.
• Pharaoh’s servants will bow and beg for Israel to leave.
• Pharaoh’s refusal will serve God’s purpose of showing his wonders.
• The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not release Israel.

• Warning: the death of the firstborn will come on Egypt.
• Warning: Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal will not stop God’s purpose.
• Promise: Israel will be distinguished from Egypt and protected.
• Promise: the Lord will grant favor to his people.
• Command: Moses is to instruct the people to ask for silver and gold.
• Command: Moses is to speak the Lord’s word to Pharaoh.

This passage is part of the final stage of the exodus conflict. God is judging Egypt and forcing Pharaoh to release Israel, just as he promised to Abraham’s descendants. The distinction between Egypt and Israel prepares for Passover in the next chapter and shows the Lord’s saving power over his covenant people.

We should not harden our hearts when God speaks. Repeated refusal of his word brings serious judgment. We should also trust that God can give favor in hard places and carry out his plan even when people resist him. But we must keep this passage in its exodus setting and not turn it into a general promise of wealth or safety for every believer.

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