Christianity

Exodus 11The Final Plague Announced

Summary

Exodus 11 is a short chapter announcing the last plague. God tells Moses that after one more blow Pharaoh will drive Israel out completely. The Israelites are to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold, and the people find favor in Egyptian eyes. Moses warns that at midnight every firstborn in Egypt will die, from Pharaoh's heir to the servant at the mill, with a great cry across the land, while not even a dog will bark against Israel.

Key verse

“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.”

Exodus 11:7

Themes

Final Warning
Distinction
Judgment
Favor

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.

Speak 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.

And 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.

And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born 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.

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.

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.

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.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

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.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
Psalm 136: Smote Egypt in Their Firstborn
Psalm 136:10 to 15 recalls the death of Egypt's firstborn, the exodus and the dividing of the Red Sea, with the refrain that God's mercy endures for ever.
Islam
Surah Ad-Dukhan (44): Pharaoh's People Left Behind
Quran 44:17 to 31 summarizes Moses' mission to Pharaoh, the night departure and the drowning of Pharaoh's army, which left behind gardens and springs. The Quran does not describe the death of the firstborn.

Questions about Exodus 11

Why did the Israelites ask the Egyptians for gold and silver?

Exodus 3:22, 11:2 and 12:35 to 36 describe this. Many interpreters see it as long overdue wages for years of forced labor, and some rabbis read it as fulfilling the promise in Genesis 15:14 that Abraham's descendants would leave with great substance.

Did Moses warn Pharaoh about the death of the firstborn?

Yes. Exodus 11:4 to 8 records Moses announcing the plague directly to Pharaoh before leaving his presence in great anger.