John Calvin Commentary Exodus 11:4

"And Moses said, Thus saith Jehovah, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:" — Exodus 11:4 (ASV)

And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord. I recently said that Moses did not leave Pharaoh’s presence until he had delivered the message of his final destruction. This denunciation is, therefore, connected with the preceding passage. From this it appears how courageously Moses endured the threats of the tyrant, while he willingly confronted him and boasted that he would be his conqueror—though not in his presence—by the death of Pharaoh's firstborn son in the coming night.

Nor can it be doubted that Pharaoh was overwhelmed with terror, since, although so harshly rebuffed, he dismissed the Prophet in safety. Certainly, since such an unreserved threat must have inflicted a very bitter pang, it would also have aroused the cruelty of the raging tyrant, unless the same God who had endowed His servant with admirable firmness had also restrained the impetuosity of the savage beast.

Why God, in inflicting punishment on the children, postponed until another time that of the fathers, whose sin was greater; or why, in inflicting vengeance on the beasts, He spared men—it is not our place to inquire curiously. For¹³⁸ it is sinful to prescribe to God, whose incomprehensible wisdom surpasses all human understanding, what the rule or measure of His judgments should be.

By bringing the children and beasts to punishment, He certainly showed clearly to the wicked despisers of His power what they deserved. The firstborn of Pharaoh, who would have been heir to the kingdom, is placed in the first rank of victims. Afterwards, the whole body of humbler people is mentioned, for the maid-servants who turned their mills occupied a very low and despised position, as appears not only from ancient poets but also from the testimony of Scripture itself (1 Samuel 8:16).

If anyone chooses to observe the analogy between this plague and the unjust tyranny by which the Egyptians had afflicted Israel, God’s firstborn son, I have no objection.

God again puts a difference between the Egyptians and His own people when He declares that, in the midst of the great cry, the latter will be quiet and tranquil. For this is the meaning of the figure, A dog shall not move his tongue, because dogs are accustomed to bark at the slightest noise in the night.

Moreover, although such a separation between the faithful and unbelievers does not always appear—rather, similar punishments often involve them both together—yet in the final outcome, God divides them very widely from one another. Therefore, we can never lose this blessedness: knowing that all afflictions work together for the salvation of us whom He has once embraced with His loving-kindness.

¹³⁸ “Ce seroit un orgueil trop enorme;” it would be too enormous an impertinence. — Fr..