Chapter Eleven

1–3. Command to the people to take precious things from the Egyptians. 4–10. Prediction of the tenth plague.

Exodus 11:1. And the Lord said to Moses: I will bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; after that, he will let you go from here; when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely; Exodus 11:2. Tell the people [secretly] that every man should ask his neighbor and every woman her neighbor for objects of silver and gold [and clothing]. Exodus 11:3. And the Lord gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, [and they gave to him;] and Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of [Pharaoh and] his servants and in the eyes of [all] the people. If (Exod 11:4-8) are the direct continuation of (Exod 10) (see above), then the first three verses, containing the account of the revelation to Moses about the coming of the tenth plague (Exod 4:23) and about the circumstances of the exodus from Egypt (Exod 3:21-22), apparently disrupt the flow of speech. For this reason, some exegetes conjecture that the revelation contained in them falls on the time before the last explanation of Moses with Pharaoh (Exod 10:24-29), and the account of it is placed after (Exod 11:1-3) because it sufficiently explains the boldness of Moses’ answer (Exod 10:29). The textual basis for such understanding is the translation of the Hebrew “vayomer”—“said” (Exod 11:1)—with the past perfect tense. In particular, that (Exod 11:1-3) do not represent a new revelation, the announcement of which would require a new appearance before Pharaoh, is proven by the absence in this case of the usual formula: “Go to Pharaoh and tell him” (Exod 7:15), which begins each new revelation.

Exodus 11:4. And Moses said: Thus says the Lord: I will go out in the middle of the night through the midst of Egypt, Exodus 11:5. and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slave-girl who is at the mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle; Exodus 11:6. and there shall be a loud cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as has never been, and such as shall never be again; See below the commentary on verses 31–32 of chapter 12.

Exodus 11:7. But against all the sons of Israel no dog shall growl, either against people or against animals, so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. While throughout the land of Egypt a cry will be heard, complete quiet will be observed among the Israelites; no one and nothing will disturb even the watchdogs (Jdt 11:19).

Exodus 11:8. And all these officials of yours shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying: Go, you and all the people who follow you. After that, I will leave. And [Moses] left [Pharaoh] in anger. On the reasons for such action of the 10th plague on Pharaoh see below in the explanation of verse 31 of chapter 12.

Exodus 11:9. And the Lord said to Moses: Pharaoh will not listen to you, in order that my wonders may be multiplied [and my signs and wonders] in the land of Egypt. Exodus 11:10. Moses and Aaron performed all these [signs and] wonders before Pharaoh; but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land. The review of the first nine plagues concludes with a note of the exact fulfillment by Moses and Aaron of the divine commandments.