Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
1. Gods message to the Israelites, to borrow jewels of their neighbours the Egyptians. 4, Moses threatneth Pharaoh with the death of all the First-borne in Egypt. 9, Pharaohs heart is hardened still.
ANd Iehovah said unto Moses; Yet one plague will I bring upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards hee will send you away from hence: when hee shall send you away, he shall thrusting thrust you out from hence altogether. Speake now in the eares of the people; & let every man aske of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. And Iehovah gave the people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians: also the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the eyes of Pharaohs servants, and in the eyes of the people. And Moses said, thus saith Iehovah, About midnight will I goe out into the midst of Egypt. And every first-borne in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-borne of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even to the first-borne of the bond-woman, that is behinde the mill; and every first borne of beasts. And there shall bee a great crie in all the land of Egypt, such as there hath beene none like it, nor shall bee like it any more. But against any of the sons of Israel shall not a dogge move his tongue, against man or beast, that ye may know how Iehovah maruellously severeth between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come downe unto mee, and bow downe themselves unto me, saying, Goe out thou, and all the people that is at thy feet; and after that, I will goe out: and hee went out from Pharaoh, in heat of anger. And Iehovah said unto Moses; Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and Iehovah made strong the heart of Pharaoh, and he sent not away the sonnes of Israel out of his land.
Annotations.
SAid] or, had said, before he went last unto Pharaoh, being called, Exod. 10. 24. therefore ere he departeth out of his presence, hee denounceth this last plague, as appeareth by the 8. verse following▪ thrusting thrust] that is, earnestly and hastily thrust, as came to passe, Exod. 12. 31. 33. The Greeke translateth, with all rejection he shall reject (or cast you out;) and as the Chaldee saith, with full rejection.
Vers. 2. in the eares] The Greeke addeth, privily. the people] the Israelites. his neighbour] an Egyptian: this was signified at the first Exod. 3. 22. jewels, or, vessels, instruments, of all sorts. These they borrowed, but never restored; Gods extraordinary commandement was their warrant, as it was unto Abraham for the killing of his sonne, Gen. 22. and it was a recompence of their labours, wherewith they had served the Egyptians.
Vers. 3. grace] that is, favour, Hebr. the grace of the people; which the Greeke translateth, grace to his people: see the notes on Exod. 3. 21. and Gen. 39. 21.
Verse. 4. said] to Pharaoh, before he went out of his presence, verse 8. and Exod. 10. 29. I goe out] the Chaldee saith, I will be revealed: this God did by his Angell that destroyed them, Exod. 12. 23. And this going out, as the like phrase of passing through, in Exod. 12. 12. is meant for evill unto Egypt: unto which the Scriptures elsewhere have reference, as in Amos 5. 17. I will passe through thee, saith the Lord.
Vers. 5. on his throne] that is, which shall reigne after him: the Chaldee explaineth it, which shall sit upon the throne of his kingdome. And the holy text so explaineth it selfe, as his throne, 1 Chron. 17. 12. is the throne of his kingdome, 2 Sam. 7. 13. and to sit on the throne, is to reigne in stead of another, 1 Kin. 3. 6. with 2 Chron. 1. 8. and a man upon the throne, 1 King. 9. 5. is expounded to be a ruler, 2 Chron. 7. 18. behinde the mill] or, after the mill stones; that is, in prison grinding at the mill, as is explained in Exod. 12. 29. Iudg. 16. 21. Esa. 47. 1. 2. and she is said to be behinde, or after it, for thrusting it before them, as they wrought.
Vers. 7. move] that is, they shall not have the least let or disturbance. See the like in Ios. 10. 21. The dog signifieth the wicked, Psal. 22. 17. 21. that such should not move their tongue, is according to that saying, Iniquitie shall stop her mouth, Iob 5. 16. Psal. 1…7. 42. severeth] Greeke, glorifieth: see Exodus 8. 22.
V. 8. servants] the Counsellors, Nobles, Courtiers. These compelled by the plague, should bow down to Moses: so greatly would God honour his servant. So God promiseth his Church, that Kings and Queenes should bow downe thereto, with their face towards the earth, &c. Esay. 49. 23. at thy feete,] following thee: the Greeke translateth it, whom thou leadest: the Chaldee, with thee, heat,] or, inflammation of anger. Though Moses was a very meeke man, above all the men that were upon the earth, Numb. 12. 3. yet now in the Lords cause, with whom Pharaoh had so often mocked, hee is very wroth, and so the king and hee doe part, angry each with other, as Exod. 10. 28. And such is the end of the ministery of Moses law, unto all hard hearted sinners, Rom. 2. 5. and 4. 15. VntoUnto this we may apply that saying of Paul; By faith Moses for sooke Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he indured, as seeing him who is invisible, Heb. 11. 27.
Vers. 10. made strong] that is, as the Greeke expoundeth it, hardned. Herein the unsearchablenesse of Gods judgements is to be considered; for as those whom he loveth, he loveth unto the end, Ioh. 13. 1. and putteth his feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from him, Ierem. 32. 40. so the wicked (whom his soule hateth, Psal. 11. 5.) he hardneth their heart from his feare, Esay. 63. 17.) that though hee doe many miracles before them, yet they beleeve not; neither can they beleeve, because hee hath blinded their eyes, and hardned their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and he should heale them, Ioh. 12. 37. 39. 40. So after their hardnesse and impenitent heart; they treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath, Rom. 2. 5. and God willing to shew wrath, & to make his power knowne, endureth with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction, Rom. 9. 22. Of which Pharaoh is a most memorable example, appointed of God for this, that hee might shew his power in him, and that Gods name might bee declared throughout all the earth, Exodus 9. 16. Romanes 9. 17.