The Firstborn Are Slain.
Exodus 12:29-30.
29 At midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.
30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
INTRODUCTION
THE TENTH PLAGUE.
COMMENTARY
29 At midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
The nature of the tenth plague is unquestionable, but there may be different views as to the exact action employed. In every family where the firstborn child had been a male, that child was stricken with death. Pharaoh's firstborn son—the erpa suten sa—the heir to his throne, was taken; and so in all other families. Nobles, priests, merchants, artisans, peasants, and fishermen suffered. In the inflated language of the storyteller, "there was not a home where there was not one dead."
Moreover, the deaths occurred "at midnight," in the weirdest hour, at the quietest time, and in the deepest darkness. So it had been prophesied (Exodus 11:4), but the particular night had not been announced. Several days had elapsed since the announcement, so that the Egyptians may have been wrapt in fancied security. Suddenly the calamity fell upon them, and "there was a great cry." Death did not come, as upon the host of Sennacherib, noiselessly, unperceived, but "with observation." Those who were seized woke up and aroused their relatives. There was a cry for help, a general alarm, a short, sharp struggle, and a death.
The visitation is ordinarily ascribed to God Himself (Exodus 4:23; Exodus 11:4; Exodus 12:12; Exodus 12:27; Exodus 12:29; Exodus 13:15, &c), but in Exodus 12:23 to "the destroyer." It has already been shown that this expression points to the angelic agency. That agency, however, does not exclude a further natural one. As in 2 Samuel 24, the seventy thousand whom the destroying angel killed (Exodus 12:16) are said to have been slain by a pestilence (Exodus 12:15), so it may have been here. Pestilence often rages in Egypt in the spring of the year and carries off thousands in a short space of time. As with so many of the other plagues, God may have employed a natural agency here too. Nonetheless, would the plague have been miraculous—(1) in its intensity; (2) in its coming at the time prophesied, namely, midnight; (3) in its selection of victims, that is to say, the firstborn males only, and all of them; (4) in its avoidance of the Israelites; and (5) in its extension, as prophesied, to the firstborn of animals.
The Pharaoh's eldest son was recognized as the "hereditary crown prince" and was sometimes associated with the kingdom during his father's lifetime. This had been the case with Rameses II., probably the Pharaoh from whom Moses fled (Exodus 2:15), but the practice was not expected. In any case, however, the eldest son of the reigning monarch occupied a most critical position, and his loss would be felt as a national calamity.
To the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon.—The variation of phrase between this verse and Exodus 11:5 is curious but appears not to be of any significance. The writer means, in both places, "all, from the highest to the lowest."
All the firstborn of cattle.—Rather, of beasts, as in Exodus 11:5. (On the reasons for beasts being included in the calamity, see the Note on that passage.) "And all the firstborn of cattle." Rather, "of beasts." There is no limitation of the plague to domesticated animals. Exodus 12:29
DEFINITIONS:
(29) All the firstborn.—The Hebrew word applies only to males.
The firstborn of Pharaoh.—The law of primogeniture*prevailed in Egypt as elsewhere generally.
Definition of primogeniture*
1: the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents.
2: an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son.
"And all the firstborn of cattle." Rather, "of beasts." There is no limitation of the plague to domesticated animals—Exodus 12:29.
SCRIPTURE
(Exodus 11:4) "And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt":
(Exodus 11:5) "And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts."
(Exodus 2:15) "Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well."
(Exodus 12:15, 16) "Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day, there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day, there shall be a holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you."
(Exodus 4:23); [also see Exodus 11:4; Exodus 12:12; Exodus 12:27; Exodus 12:29; Exodus 13:15, &c), but in Exodus 12:23] "And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn."
