Exodus 11:8

11:4-10 The death of all the first-born in Egypt at once: this plague had been the first threatened, but is last executed. See how slow God is to wrath. The plague is foretold, the time is fixed; all their first-born should sleep the sleep of death, not silently, but so as to rouse the families at midnight. The prince was not too high to be reached by it, nor the slaves at the mill too low to be noticed. While angels slew the Egyptians, not so much as a dog should bark at any of the children of Israel. It is an earnest of the difference there shall be in the great day, between God's people and his enemies. Did men know what a difference God puts, and will put to eternity, between those that serve him and those that serve him not, religion would not seem to them an indifferent thing; nor would they act in it with so much carelessness as they do. When Moses had thus delivered his message, he went out from Pharaoh in great anger at his obstinacy; though he was the meekest of the men of the earth. The Scripture has foretold the unbelief of many who hear the gospel, that it might not be a surprise or stumbling-block to us, Ro 10:16. Let us never think the worse of the gospel of Christ for the slights men put upon it. Pharaoh was hardened, yet he was compelled to abate his stern and haughty demands, till the Israelites got full freedom.

In like manner the people of God will find that every struggle against their spiritual adversary, made in the might of Jesus Christ, every attempt to overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and every desire to attain increasing likeness and love to that Lamb, will be rewarded by increasing freedom from the enemy of souls.

Pharaoh's nobles, ministers, courtiers and counsellors, who were then in his presence, and stood about him, to whom Moses pointed: shall come down unto me; from Pharaoh's palace, which might be built on an eminence, to the place where Moses had dwelt during the time he had been in Egypt, which might lie lower; or these should come from Zoan, or from Memphis, whichever of them was now the royal city, to the land of Goshen, which lay lower than the other part of Egypt; or it may only denote the submission of Pharaoh's, servants, that they should in the time of their distress be so humble and condescending as to come themselves to Moses, and as it follows: and bow down themselves unto me; in the most obsequious manner, humbly entreating, and earnestly begging him: saying, get thee out, and all the people that follow thee; or "are at thy feet" (w), that were at his beck and command, and under his power, as Aben Ezra; or that followed his counsel and advice, as Jarchi, that did as he directed them, and went after him as their leader and commander, even everyone of them; they that brought up the rear, he, and all of them, would be desired to depart, and not a man remain behind: this was fulfilled, Exodus 12:31, and after that I will go out; out of the land of Egypt, Moses, and all the children of Israel: and he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger; as soon as he had said the above words, because he had bid him be gone from him, and had threatened him with his life, if ever he saw

Exodus 11:8 . All these thy servants — Thy courtiers and great officers: The people that follow thee — That are under thy conduct and command. When Moses had thus delivered his message, he went out from Pharaoh in great anger, though he was the meekest of all the men of the earth. Probably he expected that the very threatening of the death of the firstborn should have wrought upon Pharaoh to comply; especially he having complied so far already, and having seen how exactly all Moses’s predictions were fulfilled. But it had not that effect; his proud heart would not yield, no, not to save all the firstborn of his kingdom. Moses hereupon was provoked to a holy indignation, being grieved, as our Saviour afterward, for the hardness of his heart, Mark 3:5 .

(8) All these thy servants —i.e., the high officers of the Court who were standing about Pharaoh. These grandees would come to Moses when the blow fell, and prostrate themselves before him as if he were their king, and beseech him to take his departure with all his nation. The details are given more fully and more graphically in this place than in the subsequent narrative ( Exodus 12:31 ). In a great anger.—Heb., in heat of anger: i.e., burning with indignation. Moses had not shown this in his speech, which had been calm and dignified; but he here records what he had felt. For once his acquired “meekness” failed, and the hot natural temper of his youth blazed up. His life had been threatened—he had been ignominiously dismissed—he had been deprived of his right of audience for the future (Exodus 10:28). Under such circumstances, he “did well to be angry.”

Thy courtiers and great officers, who now are so insolent and obstinate, shall come down unto me, both by their own inclination and necessity, and in thy name, and by thy command. That follow thee; that are under thy conduct and command; as this or the like expression is used Judges 4:10 1 Kings 20:10 2 Kings 3:9 Isaiah 41:2 . In a great anger; not so much for the affront offered to himself, as for his incurable rebellion against God. Compare Mark 3:5 .

Verse 8. - All these thy servants - i.e. , all these courtiers here present. Shall come . Literally, "shall descend." Kalisch observes that by the Hebrew idiom "going from a nobler place to one of less distinction is called descending" ( Comment. p. 133). And bow down . Make obeisance to me, as if I were a king. The last of the plagues would cause the courtiers to look on Moses as the real king of the land, and pay him royal honours. All the people that follow thee . Literally, as in the margin, "that is at thy feet;" i.e. , that follows and obeys thee." The Egyptians looked on Moses as king, or at any rate prince of his nation. In a great anger . Literally, "in heat of anger." The abrupt dismissal ( Exodus 10:28 ), the threat against his life (ibid.) and the announcement that no more interviews would be granted him moved the indignation of Moses, who was not conscious to himself of having done anything to deserve such treatment. He had answered the king calmly and temperately ( Exodus 10:29 ; Exodus 11:4-8 ); but knew what his feelings had been, and here records them. CHAPTER 11:9 Exodus 11:8

8 . Then the Pharaoh’s ministers themselves will come humbly to Moses, and beg him and his people to leave Egypt; cf. Exodus 12:31-33 . come down ] ‘from the palace, where the writer thinks of the ministers as assembled, after hearing the tidings of the calamity, and which he pictures as elevated above the surrounding city and country (cf. 2 Samuel 9, 2 Kings 6:33 ; 2 Kings 7:17 )’ (Di. from Kn.). Get thee out , &c.] simply, Go out, thou and all , &c. that follow thee ] Heb. that are at thy feet : Deuteronomy 11:10 Heb., Jdg 4:10 ; Jdg 8:5 Heb. al.in hot anger ] viz. on account of what the Pharaoh had said, Exodus 10:27-28 . The expression, as 1 Samuel 20:34 al.

8. all these thy servants shall … bow down themselves unto me—This would be the effect of the universal terror; the hearts of the proudest would be humbled and do reverential homage to God, in the person of His representative. went out … in a great anger—Holy and righteous indignation at the duplicity, repeated falsehood, and hardened impenitence of the king; and this strong emotion was stirred in the bosom of Moses, not at the ill reception given to himself, but the dishonor done to God (Mt 19:8; Eph 4:26).