John Calvin Commentary Exodus 12:31

"And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve Jehovah, as ye have said." — Exodus 12:31 (ASV)

And he called for Moses. It is not likely that God’s servants were recalled into Pharaoh's presence; but the meaning of this passage must be sought in Moses's prediction. Pharaoh, therefore, is said to have called for them when, by sending his chief courtiers to them, he compelled their departure.

This is sufficiently proven by the context, because it is immediately added that the Israelites were compelled by the Egyptians to go out in haste. Therefore, even if Pharaoh never saw Moses again after threatening him with death if he came to him again, there is nothing absurd in saying that he called for him when he sent his nobles with his command.

The perturbation of an alarmed and anxious person is vividly expressed in these words: “Rise up, get you forth, both ye and your children; go, serve the Lord; also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said.”

For he takes no less precaution against giving any occasion for delay than he had previously been diligent in bargaining. While, then, he hastily cuts off all objections, the change in the man betrays itself, for the same God who had previously hardened his iron heart has now broken it.

Hence, too, that cry—the signal of despair—“We be all dead men;” hence, too, their readiness to give willingly of their substance and to adorn with spoils those whom they had pillaged before.

Nor indeed does he without reason repeat that this favor proceeded from divine inspiration, since there would never have been such liberality in robbers as willingly to proffer whatever precious things their houses possessed, and to give them to the Israelites, now ready to depart, whom they knew to be justly hostile to them on account of so many injuries.

And the fact that the children of Israel were so prompt to obey—who previously had been either slow, inconstant, sullen, or rebellious—was brought about by the guidance of the Spirit, who turned their hearts in a moment; since God well knew how to arrange opportunely all the springs of action.