The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-31
The death of the first-born, On this see Exodus 11:4-7 . Observe here— I. THIS JUDGMENT IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF REPRESENTATION . Hitherto, the plagues had fallen on the Egyptians indiscriminately. Now, a change is made to the principle of representation. Egypt, Israel also, is represented in its first-born. When a death-penalty was to be inflicted, the lines had to be drawn more sharp and clear. We are reminded that this principle of representation holds a... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-30
The death of the first-born. From the death of the first-born we may learn:— I. THE SEVERITY OF GOD 'S LONG DEFERRED JUDGMENTS . That punishment will overtake the wicked sooner or later was the conviction of heathendom no less than of the Jewish and Christian worlds. Horace says—"Judgment may halt, but yet it rarely fails to overtake the guilty one at last." Tibullus—"Wretch, though at first thy sin no judgment meet, vengeance will come at length with silent feet." But... read more