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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 12:30

And Pharaoh rose up in the night ,.... Being awakened by the uncommon noise he heard: he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians ; he and his nobles, and ministers of state, courtiers, and counsellors, and his subjects in common, perhaps everywhere in his kingdom, but particularly in the metropolis: and there was a great cry in Egypt ; throughout the whole land, the firstborn being everywhere slain, which caused a most dreadful lamentation of parents for their eldest son, of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:30

There was a great cry - No people in the universe were more remarkable for their mournings than the Egyptians, especially in matters of religion; they whipped, beat, tore themselves, and howled in all the excess of grief. When a relative died, the people left the house, ran into the streets, and howled in the most lamentable and frantic manner. See Diod. Sicul., lib. i., and Herod., lib. ii., c. 85, 86. And this latter author happening to be in Egypt on one of their solemnities, saw myriads... 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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:1-36

The Passover (12:1-36)Until now the Israelites had escaped the judgment of the plagues without having to do anything, but now their safety depended on their carrying out God’s commands. Redemption involves faith and obedience.Each family would be delivered from judgment only by killing a sacrificial animal as substitute for it, and sprinkling the animal’s blood on the door of the house where the family lived. The sprinkled blood indicated to those outside that a substitutionary sacrifice had... read more

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