Exodus 12:29-41

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29

At midnight . As prophesied by Moses ( Exodus 11:4 ). The day had not been fixed, and this uncertainty must have added to the horror of the situation. The first-born of Pharaoh . We have no proof that the eldest son of Menephthah died before his father, unless we take this passage as proving it. He left a son, called Seti-Menephthah, or Seti II , who either succeeded him, or reigned after a short interval, during which the throne was held by Ammonmes, a usurper. The first-born of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-30

THE TENTH PLAGUE . At last the time had come for the dealing of the final blow. Nine plagues had been sent, nine inflictions endured, and no serious effect had been produced. Once or twice Pharaoh had wavered, had made profession of submitting himself, had even acknowledged his sin. But each time he had relapsed into obstinacy. Now at length the fiat had gone forth for that last plague which had been announced the first ( Exodus 4:23 ). Pharaoh's own son, his firstborn, the heir to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-42

Egypt's sorrow: Israel's joy. I. THE JUDGMENT OF EGYPT EMBLEM AND PROMISE OF THE WORLD 'S JUDGMENT . 1 . The time of visitation; midnight, when all were wrapt in deepest slumber and, notwithstanding the warning which had been given, busy only with dreams. The world will be surprised in the midst of its false security. "As it was in the days of Noel etc. 2 . Its universality. There were none so high that God's hand did not reach them, and none so low that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-42

March at midnight. "This is that night of Jehovah" ( Exodus 12:42 ). Observe the striking words of the text! "The night of Jehovah," a night in which he specially appeared and acted on behalf of Israel. For a description of the scenery of this eventful night see Dr. W . M . Taylor's "Moses," 99-101. In the treatment of this subject considerable exposition will be necessary. For material, see expository section of this commentary. It may, in order to include all important points, be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:30

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, and all his servants . This general disturbance differentiates the present visitations from that which came upon the host of Sennacherib ( 2 Kings 19:35 ). Then, the calamity came with such silence and secrecy, that the deaths were not suspected until men rose to go about their various tasks in the morning Now, every household seems to have been aroused from its sleep in the night. We must suppose sharp and painful illness, terminating after a few hours in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:31

And he called for Moses and Aaron . Kalisch understands this as a summons to the King's presence, and even supposes that the two brothers complied, notwithstanding what Moses had said ( Exodus 10:29 ). But perhaps no more is meant than at Pharaoh's instance Moses and Aaron were summoned to an interview with some of the Court officials (see Exodus 11:8 ). As ye have said. Literally, "according to your words." The reference is to such passages as Exodus 8:1 , Exodus 8:20 ; Exodus 9:1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:31-36

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:31-36

Israel's going forth from Egypt a pattern to oppressed Churches. Churches are sometimes enslaved and oppressed by the civil power. In unsuspecting confidence they have accepted the State's protection, and entered into certain relations with it, supposed to be mutually advantageous. But, as time has gone on, the terms of the original arrangement have been disregarded; the civil power has made encroachments; has narrowed the Church's liberties, has behaved oppressively towards it, has... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-42

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:29-42

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:30

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:31

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:31-36

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:31-36

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