Exodus 11King James Version
Moses warns Pharaoh of the last plague. At midnight, the firstborn of every house in Egypt will die, from Pharaoh's own son to the firstborn of the maidservant behind the millstone. Even the firstborn of the cattle. There will be a great cry through all the land of Egypt, such as has never been before and will never be again.
God tells Moses there is one plague left, after which Pharaoh will drive them out. God instructs Israel to borrow silver and gold from Egyptian neighbors, who now favor the Hebrews. Moses announces the final plague to Pharaoh: every firstborn in Egypt will die, from Pharaoh's son to the slave's son to the firstborn of cattle. A great cry will go through Egypt unlike any before. But not a dog will bark against any Israelite. Then Moses, in hot anger, leaves Pharaoh's presence.
The final plague will not simply remove Israelites from Egypt; it will reverse the power structure so completely that Pharaoh will beg them to leave.
v7: "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" -- the distinction is total, even the animals respond differently.
Pharaoh's palace, probably Rameses in the eastern delta. Moses, now representing a God who has just spent nine rounds defeating Egypt's entire divine order, faces the most powerful man on earth in his own throne room. He delivers the worst news a parent can receive and walks out. The Egyptians are apparently urging Hebrews to leave. The social pressure is already building.
Moses delivers the death-plague announcement with composed fury; God speaks with quiet certainty about what is coming; Pharaoh is not described as responding; the people of Egypt who have watched the plagues are said now to favor the Hebrews.
This brief chapter functions as a hinge: the announcement of death before the night of death. The borrowing of silver and gold from Egyptians echoes God's earlier promise that they would not leave empty-handed. Paul's letter to the Corinthians draws on the firstborn language when describing Christ's resurrection as the 'firstfruits' of those who sleep.
For when you can see the end of a long captivity coming but it has not arrived yet and the waiting has a different quality now. Moses walks out of Pharaoh's throne room in anger, and the story pauses for one chapter before everything breaks.
1And 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.
2Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
3And the LORD gave the people favour 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.
4And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
5And 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.
6And 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.
7But 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.
8And 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.
9And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10And 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.