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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 12:29-36

Here we have, I. The Egyptians? sons, even their first-born, slain, Exod. 12:29, 30. If Pharaoh would have taken the warning which was given him of this plague, and would thereupon have released Israel, what a great many dear and valuable lives might have been preserved! But see what obstinate infidelity brings upon men. Observe, 1. The time when this blow was given: It was at midnight, which added to the terror of it. The three preceding nights were made dreadful by the additional plague of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:29

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt ,.... The midnight of the fifteenth of Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan, when fast asleep, and thoughtless of any danger; and it being at such a time must strike with a greater horror and terror, when sensible of the blow, which might be attended with a great noise, that might awaken the rest: from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne ; the heir to his crown, who was to have sat upon... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:29

Smote all the first born - If we take the term first-born in its literal sense only, we shall be led to conclude that in a vast number of the houses of the Egyptians there could have been no death, as it is not at all likely that every first-born child of every Egyptian family was still alive, and that all the first-born of their cattle still remained. And yet it is said, Exodus 12:30 , that there was not a house where there was not one dead. The word therefore must not be taken in its... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:29

Verse 29 29.And it came to pass, that at midnight. Lest the hand of God should be hidden in this miracle, as well in the preservation of the people as in taking vengeance upon the Egyptians, Moses sets forth its power by many circumstances. For he both relates that the destruction took place at midnight, which was the time prescribed by God, and then adds, that all the first-born of the land were smitten, from the son of the king to the son of the captive in the dungeon. It is thus that he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:1-29

The Passover. God's last and overwhelming blow was about to be struck at Egypt. In anticipation of that blow, and in immediate connection with the exodus, God gave directions for the observance of a Passover. I. THE PASSOVER IN ITS CONNECTION WITH THE HISTORY . For details of the ritual, see the verses of the chapter. 1 . The design of the Passover was to make plain to Israel the ground on which its salvation was bestowed—the ground, viz; of Atonement. "The more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:21-29

Christ our Passover. The Passover was an eminent type of Christ. It was probably to it the Baptist referred when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John L 29). Paul gives a decisive utterance on the question in the words: "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" ( 1 Corinthians 5:7 ). I. POINTS OF ANALOGY BETWEEN THE TRUE PASSOVER AND ITS TYPE . 1 . In both the death of a blameless victim. The lamb, physically... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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