Exodus 11: The Last Plague Announced
God announces the final blow against Egypt's firstborn, distinguishing his people, as Pharaoh's stubbornness brings judgment to its climax.
Exodus 11 (WEB)
1 Yahweh said to Moses, “Yet one plague more will I bring on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether.
2 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.”
3 Yahweh 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.
4 Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt,
5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of livestock.
6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor shall be any more.
7 But against any of the children of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal; that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.
8 All these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, “Get out, with all the people who follow you”; and after that I will go out.’” He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
9 Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go out of his land.
Exodus 11 (KJV)
1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more 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.
2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
3 And the Lord gave the people favour 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.
4 And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
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.
6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
7 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 the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
8 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 a great anger.
9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
Exodus 11 (ASV)
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 And Moses said, Thus saith Jehovah, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
5 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.
6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there hath not been, nor shall be any more.
7 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.
8 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.
9 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pharaoh will not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10 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.
Summary
God tells Moses that one final plague will fall on Pharaoh and Egypt, after which he will not merely let Israel go but thrust them out entirely. The people are to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold, and the Lord gives them favor, so that Moses himself is highly regarded in Egypt. Moses then declares God's word to Pharaoh: about midnight the Lord will go out into Egypt, and every firstborn will die, from Pharaoh's own son on the throne to the firstborn of the lowliest servant, and even of the livestock. There will be a great cry throughout all Egypt, unlike anything before or after. But against the children of Israel not even a dog will bark, that Pharaoh may know the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Moses warns that Pharaoh's servants will bow before him and beg Israel to leave, and then he departs in hot anger. The chapter closes by noting that God's wonders are multiplied in Egypt precisely because Pharaoh will not listen, and that the Lord has hardened Pharaoh's heart so he will not let Israel go—setting the stage for the Passover and the decisive act of deliverance.
Main Characters
- Moses — The prophet who announces the final, fearful plague to Pharaoh and departs in righteous anger at the king's hardened refusal.
- Pharaoh — The king whose persistent stubbornness, sovereignly hardened by God, brings the climactic judgment of the firstborn upon his nation.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who announces the death of the firstborn, distinguishes Israel from Egypt, and gives his people favor in the Egyptians' eyes.
- The children of Israel — God's people, spared even the barking of dogs, who find favor with the Egyptians and ask for silver and gold as they prepare to leave.
Key Verse
Exodus 11:7 (WEB)
But against any of the children of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal; that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.
Lessons Learned
- God's patience has a limit; persistent rebellion finally meets decisive judgment.
- The Lord makes a clear distinction between those who are his and those who are not.
- God turns the hearts of enemies to favor his people and provide for them.
- Judgment on sin is real and sobering, pointing us to our need for a refuge.
- God brings judgment to a decisive end. “Yet one plague more will I bring on Pharaoh, and on Egypt” (Exodus 11:1, WEB). The Lord's forbearance gives way at last to final reckoning.
- God distinguishes his people. Among Israel “a dog won’t even bark,” “that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction” (Exodus 11:7, WEB). The Lord clearly marks off those who belong to him.
- God grants favor to his people. “Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians” (Exodus 11:3, WEB). He moves even hostile hearts to bless those he is redeeming.
- Hardened hearts serve God's larger purpose. God hardens Pharaoh's heart “that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 11:9, WEB). Even resistance magnifies his glory.
- How will this final plague differ in its outcome from all the previous ones?
- What is the significance of the death of the firstborn, including Pharaoh's own son?
- How does God once again distinguish between Egypt and Israel (verse 7)?
- Why does God give Israel favor in the eyes of the Egyptians?
- How does the seriousness of God's judgment here deepen your appreciation for his provision of a refuge?
- This plague will not merely persuade Pharaoh to let Israel go but will make him thrust them out entirely (11:1). The death of the firstborn is the climactic judgment that breaks Egypt's resistance once and for all.
- The firstborn represents strength, heir, and future, and striking every firstborn—from throne to mill—shows God's judgment reaching all of Egypt (11:5). It answers Pharaoh's threat against God's firstborn son, Israel (4:22-23), with exact justice.
- While Egypt will be filled with a great cry, among Israel not even a dog will bark (11:6-7). The stark contrast displays that the Lord himself separates and protects his people, a distinction soon marked by the blood of the lamb.
- God grants favor so that Israel leaves not as escaped slaves but enriched with silver and gold (11:2-3), fulfilling his promise that they would not go empty-handed. It shows his power to provide even through the people who oppressed them.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to sit with the gravity of judgment and how it heightens the wonder of being sheltered. As leader, lead the group gently toward the Passover lamb and ultimately to Christ, our refuge from judgment.