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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 12:21-28

I. Moses is here, as a faithful steward in God's house, teaching the children of Israel to observe all things which God had commanded him; and no doubt he gave the instructions as largely as he received them, though they are not so largely recorded. It is here added, 1. That this night, when the first-born were to be destroyed, no Israelite must stir out of doors till morning, that is, till towards morning, when they would be called to march out of Egypt, Exod. 12:22. Not but that the... read more

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 12:28

And the children of Israel went away ,.... The elders of the people, Exodus 12:21 they departed to their several tribes and families at Goshen and elsewhere: and did as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they ; they took a lamb on the tenth day, and kept it till the fourteenth, on which day they slew it, and roasted it with fire, and ate it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 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 12:1-28

The institution of the Passover. Moses has now done with requesting and threatening Pharaoh. He leaves Pharaoh to the terrible smiting hand of Jehovah, and turns, when it is quite time to turn, to his own people. He who would not listen had to be left for those who would listen. It is now manifest that Moses is to be profitably occupied with matters which cannot any longer be delayed. It was needful to give warning concerning the death of the first-born to the Israelites quite as much as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:1-28

The Passover. "It is the Lord's Passover" ( Exodus 12:11 ). After Pharaoh's refusal to see Moses again, Jehovah comes more manifestly into the history, in the last judgment and deliverance of his people. Three great events crowd now into a single night, the Passover, the slaying of the first-born, the march out. Consider now the Passover. I. ITS NECESSITY . 1 . Israel must be separated from Egypt. This idea of separation runs through all Hebrew history from the time of... 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 12:21-28

1 . The designation of the "hyssop," as the instrument, by which the blood was to be placed on the side-posts and lintel ( Exodus 12:22 ); and, 2 . The injunction not to quit the house "until the morning." These points may have been contained in the original directions, though omitted from the record for brevity; or they may have been added by Moses of his own authority. On the other hand, several very main points of the original directions are not repeated in the injunctions given... read more

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