And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
About midnight the Lord himself would go out into the midst of Egypt to bring judgment. It was the final judgment and the last plague to come upon Egypt. Every firstborn in Egypt would be struck dead. The death would reach from Pharaoh's household to the household of the lowest servant. The firstborn of the animals would also die. Israel would be spared, making clear that the Lord distinguished between Egypt and Israel, and Egypt would face a grief unlike any before it.
It was the most severe and dreadful plague yet, coming closer than the others before it. The warning came after Pharaoh stubbornly and repeatedly resisted God's command to release Israel, relenting only under pressure from the plagues. He had offered only partial concessions, first that the men should go, then that the women and children might go, but still refused to let them take their cattle, after Egypt had been nearly destroyed by locusts, yielding a little only under grievous affliction and taking back each concession when the scourge was removed. The announcement fulfilled the earlier warning that Egypt's firstborn would be slain if Pharaoh refused to release Israel.
It was Moses's final message to the rebellious king, spoken to his face before leaving his presence after Pharaoh had threatened him with death. Moses declared the warning fearlessly despite Pharaoh's anger, relying on God's greater authority. He did not tremble before royal authority because he leaned for support upon a mightier arm than any earthly monarch, and he faithfully declared the plague's nature and effects, which enraged the king because he could not intimidate him. Pharaoh's servants would plead with the Israelites to leave.
The last plague was sent to compel the king who pretended not to know God to yield to His claims and acknowledge His authority as supreme ruler, and to make him know by sad experience that God's power is superior to all other power. It was sent to declare God's name throughout all the earth in divine power and justice, and to show distinguished mercy to Israel before all the Egyptians. It was sent to strengthen the faith of God's people and their posterity to worship Him alone who wrought merciful wonders for them. As the announcement of the final plague, it shows that Jehovah executes judgment on the earth and is supreme over Egypt's gods. Pharaoh did not humble himself at the warning, and though he released his hold on his bondmen when the firstborn lay dead in every house, he dared again to array himself against God at the Red Sea.
About midnight the Lord himself would go out into the midst of Egypt to bring judgment. It was the final judgment and the last plague to come upon Egypt. Every firstborn in Egypt would be struck dead. The death would reach from Pharaoh's household to the household of the lowest servant. The firstborn of the animals would also die. Israel would be spared, making clear that the Lord distinguished between Egypt and Israel, and Egypt would face a grief unlike any before it.
It was the most severe and dreadful plague yet, coming closer than the others before it. The warning came after Pharaoh stubbornly and repeatedly resisted God's command to release Israel, relenting only under pressure from the plagues. He had offered only partial concessions, first that the men should go, then that the women and children might go, but still refused to let them take their cattle, after Egypt had been nearly destroyed by locusts, yielding a little only under grievous affliction and taking back each concession when the scourge was removed. The announcement fulfilled the earlier warning that Egypt's firstborn would be slain if Pharaoh refused to release Israel.
It was Moses's final message to the rebellious king, spoken to his face before leaving his presence after Pharaoh had threatened him with death. Moses declared the warning fearlessly despite Pharaoh's anger, relying on God's greater authority. He did not tremble before royal authority because he leaned for support upon a mightier arm than any earthly monarch, and he faithfully declared the plague's nature and effects, which enraged the king because he could not intimidate him. Pharaoh's servants would plead with the Israelites to leave.
The last plague was sent to compel the king who pretended not to know God to yield to His claims and acknowledge His authority as supreme ruler, and to make him know by sad experience that God's power is superior to all other power. It was sent to declare God's name throughout all the earth in divine power and justice, and to show distinguished mercy to Israel before all the Egyptians. It was sent to strengthen the faith of God's people and their posterity to worship Him alone who wrought merciful wonders for them. As the announcement of the final plague, it shows that Jehovah executes judgment on the earth and is supreme over Egypt's gods. Pharaoh did not humble himself at the warning, and though he released his hold on his bondmen when the firstborn lay dead in every house, he dared again to array himself against God at the Red Sea.