Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Exodus 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Exodus 11
"And Jehovah said unto Moses, Yet one plague more will I bring 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 them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. And Jehovah 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." — Exodus 11:1-3 (ASV)
A secret revelation was made to Moses while he was in Pharaoh's presence, so that he might give warning of the last dreadful judgment before he departed.
This was the last day of Israel's servitude; they were about to leave. Their masters, who had exploited them in their labor, would have sent them away empty-handed. However, God ensured that the workers would not lose their wages; He ordered them to demand payment now, upon their departure, and it was given to them.
God will bring justice to the injured who, in humble silence, entrust their cause to Him; and ultimately, no one loses through patient suffering.
The Lord gave them favor in the sight of the Egyptians by making it clear how much He favored them. He also changed the attitude of the Egyptians toward them and caused them to be pitied by their oppressors.
Those who honor God, He will honor.
"And Moses said, Thus saith Jehovah, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there hath not been, nor shall be 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 Jehovah doth make a distinction 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 hot anger. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pharaoh will 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 Jehovah hardened Pharaoh`s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land." — Exodus 11:4-10 (ASV)
The death of all the first-born in Egypt at once: this plague had been the first threatened, but was the last executed. See how slow God is to wrath. The plague is foretold, the time is fixed; all their first-born should sleep the sleep of death, not silently, but so as to rouse the families at midnight. The prince was not too high to be reached by it, nor the slaves at the mill too low to be noticed.
While angels slew the Egyptians, not even a dog would bark at any of the children of Israel. It is a foretaste of the difference there will be on the great day, between God's people and his enemies. If people knew what a difference God makes, and will make for eternity, between those who serve him and those who do not serve him, religion would not seem to them an indifferent thing; nor would they act in it with so much carelessness as they do. When Moses had thus delivered his message, he went out from Pharaoh in great anger at his obstinacy, though he was the meekest of the men of the earth.
The Scripture has foretold the unbelief of many who hear the gospel, so that it might not be a surprise or stumbling block to us (Romans 10:16). Let us never think the worse of the gospel of Christ for the slights people put upon it. Pharaoh was hardened, yet he was compelled to abate his stern and haughty demands, until the Israelites got full freedom. In like manner, the people of God will find that every struggle against their spiritual adversary, made in the might of Jesus Christ, every attempt to overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and every desire to attain increasing likeness and love to that Lamb, will be rewarded by increasing freedom from the enemy of souls.
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