Verses 1-3 seem to be a parenthetical statement of some-thing that had previously happened. If that is true, then after the darkness of the early part of Chapter 10, Pharaoh summoned Moses to appear before him (10: 24, "PHARAOH CALLED UNTO MOSES"). Then follows the conversation in the latter part of Chapter 10. Then at 11:4-8 there is the conclusion of Moses' final speech to Pharaoh. And these three parenthetical Verses (11:1-3) tell what God revealed to Moses before he made this last appearance at Pharaoh's court.
11:1 AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, YET WILL I BRING ONE PLAGUE [MORE] UPON PHARAOH, AND UPON EGYPT; AFTERWARDS HE WILL LET YOU GO HENCE: WHEN HE SHALL LET [YOU] GO, HE SHALL SURELY THRUST YOU OUT HENCE ALTOGETHER.
A.ONE PLAGUE MORE: First, God revealed that there was one plague left, and only one.
B.AFTERWARDS HE WILL LET YOU GO HENCE: Second, He revealed that this last one would finally break Pharaoh's stubborn will.
C.HE SHALL SURELY THRUST YOU OUT: Third, God revealed that there would be no reluctance in Pharaoh's allowing them to go, but that in fact he would insist on their leaving.
11:2 SPEAK NOW IN THE EARS OF THE PEOPLE, AND LET EVERY MAN BORROW OF HIS NEIGHBOR, AND EVERY WOMAN OF HER NEIGHBOR, JEWELS OF SILVER, AND JEWELS OF GOLD.
A.The time had now come for them to "spoil the Egyptians" (that is, take their possessions) according to the promise given Moses at Mt. Horeb (3:21-22, "AND I WILL GIVE THIS PEOPLE FAVOR IN THE SIGHT OF THE EGYPTIANS: AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT, WHEN YE GO, YE SHALL NOT GO EMPTY: 22 BUT EVERY WOMAN SHALL BORROW OF HER NEIGHBOR, AND OF HER THAT SOJOURN-ETH IN HER HOUSE, JEWELS OF SILVER, AND JEWELS OF GOLD, AND RAIMENT: AND YE SHALL PUT [THEM] UPON YOUR SONS, AND UPON YOUR DAUGHTERS; AND YE SHALL SPOIL THE EGYPTIANS.")
B.The word BORROW in 3:22 and here in 11:2 literally means ASK; The people were to seek contributions for the long journey.
C.After many years of hard labor without compensation, the peo-ple of Israel would now be well paid, and it would be very expensive for Egypt. This is only justice for both parties. The wealth Egypt had gained by oppressing Israel would now be returned to its rightful owners.
D.Two reasons the Egyptians would comply are given in Verse 3.
11:3 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.
A.THE LORD GAVE THE PEOPLE FAVOR: The first reason -- The Egyptians had observed the patience of the Israelites and their quiet endurance of suffering.
B.MOREOVER THE MAN MOSES WAS VERY GREAT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT...: This is the second reason the Egyptians freely gave of their possessions to the Israelites. Moses had appeared before them as a dignified and courageous man. The circumstances of the time had exalted him so as to make him look greater than even Pharaoh (who was one of their "great gods"), so there would be a general willingness to follow his directions.
C.Now the story returns to the last interview between Moses and Pharaoh, repeating the introductory words of 10:29, "AND MOSES SAID." Remember that Pharaoh has ordered him to go, and never come again. Moses has said he will not be back, but before leaving, he announces the final plague.
11:4 AND MOSES SAID, THUS SAITH THE LORD, ABOUT MIDNIGHT WILL I GO OUT INTO THE MIDST OF EGYPT:
A.THUS SAITH THE LORD: So this was not personal revenge from Moses, but an expression of the wrath of Jehovah.
B.ABOUT MIDNIGHT: Because of the great plainness, there can be no mistake or misunderstanding; Even the exact time of day is given. Note that the night is not specified -- It may have been that night or the next, or later; But perhaps there was a purpose in the indefiniteness, so Pharaoh would be left in suspense and terror to think on his rebellion against Jehovah.
C.When the night came, the exact time was observed - Ex 12:29, "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 FIRSTBORN OF THE CAPTIVE THAT [WAS] IN THE DUNGEON; AND ALL THE FIRSTBORN OF CATTLE."
11:5 AND ALL THE FIRSTBORN IN THE LAND OF EGYPT SHALL DIE, FROM THE FIRSTBORN OF PHARAOH THAT SITTETH UPON HIS THRONE, EVEN UNTO THE FIRSTBORN OF THE MAIDSERVANT THAT [IS] BEHIND THE MILL; AND ALL THE FIRSTBORN OF BEASTS.
11:6 AND THERE SHALL BE A GREAT CRY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT, SUCH AS THERE WAS NONE LIKE IT, NOR SHALL BE LIKE IT ANY MORE.
A.This left no question about what the plague would be.
B.The tenth plague would bring death to the firstborn of every Egyptian household. How could there be a more devastating blow to a nation than to suffer the loss of the oldest child in every home in the land? They deserved this punishment because of their cruelty to the Hebrews, and perhaps espec-ially because of their drowning of the babies (Ex 1:22). Some individuals may not have been guilty, but this was a national judgment, and the distress would extend from the highest on the social scale to the lowest slave woman doing the grinding of the grain (THE HANDMAID THAT IS BEHIND THE MILL).
C.This most surely included the palace -- Remember the warning of Ex 4:22-23, "AND THOU SHALT SAY UNTO PHARAOH, THUS SAITH THE LORD, ISRAEL [IS] MY SON, [EVEN] MY FIRSTBORN: 23 AND I SAY UNTO THEE, LET MY SON GO, THAT HE MAY SERVE ME: AND IF THOU REFUSE TO LET HIM GO, BEHOLD, I WILL SLAY THY SON, [EVEN] THY FIRSTBORN." So the Crown Prince was to die.
D.ALL THE FIRSTBORN OF BEASTS: This was secondary to the human loss, but certainly not unimportant to the Egyptians, for they had many pet animals (dogs, cats, monkeys, perhaps others); And many BEASTS were regarded as sacred, whose death would be looked upon as being a great calamity.
E.And there would be a terrible CRY to follow. Historians say the Egyptians showed great emotion at funerals, beating their breasts and crying out with loud mourning. The CRY on this occasion was to be so great that there had never been anything like it before, and never anything like it to come.
11:7 BUT AGAINST ANY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL NOT A DOG MOVE HIS TONGUE, AGAINST MAN OR BEAST: THAT YE MAY KNOW HOW THAT THE LORD DOTH PUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EGYPTIANS AND ISRAEL.
A.Included in the plainness of this warning is the knowledge of the complete exemption of the Israelites.
B.SHALL NOT A DOG MOVE HIS TONGUE: Things would be so quiet and peaceful among them that not even a dog would be barking.
C.THAT YE MAY KNOW...: All Egypt (and other nations then, and all people in all ages who read this inspired history) would know there is a vast difference between those who worship idols and those who worship Jehovah.
11:8 AND ALL THESE THY SERVANTS SHALL COME DOWN UNTO ME, AND BOW DOWN THEMSELVES UNTO ME, SAYING, GET THEE OUT, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW THEE: AND AFTER THAT I WILL GO OUT. AND HE WENT OUT FROM PHARAOH IN A GREAT ANGER.
A.ALL THESE THY SERVANTS: All those then standing before Pharaoh in his court would COME DOWN (descend to a place of less dis-tinction), and BOW to Moses as though he were the real king.
B.SAYING, GET THEE OUT, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW THEE: The warning was so clear and specific that Pharaoh is even told the exact message he would send to Moses by these servants.
C.AFTER THAT I WILL GO OUT: Moses and the people would go.
D.AND HE WENT OUT FROM PHARAOH: Without waiting for a reply, Moses departed IN A GREAT ANGER because of the stubbornness of Pharaoh. He had acted and spoken in a calm and dignified man-ner through all these meetings with Pharaoh, but Jehovah had been blasphemed and Moses had been insulted and threatened; And now he is through (There can be righteous indignation, provided one does not sin - Eph 4:26).
Verses 9-10, Before telling of the actual coming of the last plague, there is a pause in the story, and a look back on the whole series of miracles which had come upon Egypt. In this summary there is a reference to the circumstances under which the plagues had been sent, and how they had failed to move Pharaoh from his stubbornness.
11:9 AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, PHARAOH SHALL NOT HEARKEN UNTO YOU; THAT MY WONDERS MAY BE MULTIPLIED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.
11:10 AND MOSES AND AARON DID ALL THESE WONDERS BEFORE PHARAOH: AND THE LORD HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART, SO THAT HE WOULD NOT LET THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL GO OUT OF HIS LAND.
A.PHARAOH SHALL NOT HEARKEN UNTO YOU: What the Lord had earlier said to Moses came true. This is the warning He had given when He appeared to Moses in Midian at the burning bush - Ex 3:21, "AND I AM SURE THAT THE KING OF EGYPT WILL NOT LET YOU GO, NO, NOT BY A MIGHTY HAND."; Again when Moses began the journey from Midian back to Egypt - Ex 4:21, "AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, WHEN THOU GOEST TO RETURN INTO EGYPT, SEE THAT THOU DO ALL THOSE WONDERS BEFORE PHARAOH, WHICH I HAVE PUT IN THINE HAND: BUT I WILL HARDEN HIS HEART, THAT HE SHALL NOT LET THE PEOPLE GO."; And again when Moses and Aaron began this long controversy with Pharaoh - Ex 7:3, "AND I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH'S HEART, AND MULTIPLY MY SIGNS AND MY WONDERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT." The words and the miracles would fall on deaf ears and a hardened heart until God reached down and brought the judgment stroke of death of the firstborn -- Only then was Pharaoh's stubborn will broken.
B.THAT MY WONDERS MAY BE MULTIPLIED: The king would not listen, so God would send even more miracles. If Pharaoh had yielded immediately, God's greatness and power would not have been spoken of very much or very long. But since he did not yield, although that delayed the departure of Israel for another year of suffering, there were at least three advantages:
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