Year of the Bible
Exodus 11
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Commentary on the Book of Exodus, Chapter 11:
A long series of horrific disasters have brought judgment upon Pharaoh and Egypt. These have revealed the LORD’s power by starting and ending when at the times the LORD indicated. Some have impacted the Egyptians but not the Hebrews. With Egypt’s economy and welfare in ruins, and Pharaoh still not granting Moses’ request to let the Hebrews go worship their God, the Lord reveals there is only one strike left. God speaks through Moses, informing Pharaoh that about midnight God will go through Egypt, killing the firstborn of every human and animal. He will, however, once again make a distinction between Egypt and His people Israel. As a result, Pharaoh will demand that God, and those who follow Him, leave Egypt. These upcoming events will serve to let the Lord reveal His power and wonders even more fully.
The Book of Exodus, Chapter 11:
Warning of the Final Plague
1 The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here; when he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, jewelry of silver and of gold.” 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
4 And Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: About midnight I will go forth in the midst of Egypt;
5 and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sits upon his throne, even to the first-born of the maidservant who is behind the mill; and all the first-born of the cattle. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever shall be again. 7 But against any of the sons of Israel, either man or beast, not a dog shall growl; that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel. 8 And all these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get you out, and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
Pharaoh's heart is hardened one last time, and Moses assures that God will distinguish between the Egyptians and the Israelites. Lord, show me where my hardness of heart may be distinguishing me as someone other than your beloved child.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this. If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further
1 Dijo el Señor a Moisés:
–Todavía he de atraer una plaga
más sobre el Faraón y sobre Egipto; después
os dejará marchar de aquí. Cuando os deje
marchar, hasta os expulsará de aquí. 2 Habla,
por tanto, al pueblo y que cada hombre pida
a su vecino, y cada mujer a su vecina, objetos
de plata y de oro.
3 El Señor hizo grato el pueblo a los
ojos de Egipto; también Moisés llegó a
ser un gran personaje en Egipto ante los
siervos del Faraón y ante el pueblo.
4 Moisés dijo:
–Así dice el Señor: «En la mitad de
la noche yo saldré por medio de Egipto,
5 y morirá en el país de Egipto todo
primogénito, desde el primogénito del
Faraón, que se sienta en su trono, hasta
el primogénito de la esclava dedicada
a moler; y también los primogénitos
de los animales. 6 Un gran clamor se oirá
en todo el país de Egipto, como nunca
lo hubo ni lo habrá jamás. 7 Pero entre
los hijos de Israel ni siquiera un perro
aullará ni por hombres ni por animales;
para que sepáis que el Señor hace distinción
entre Egipto e Israel. 8 Y bajarán
hasta mí todos estos siervos tuyos y se
postrarán ante mí diciendo: “Sal, tú y el
pueblo que te venera”. Entonces saldré».
Moisés salió muy enojado de la presencia
del Faraón.
9 Y el Señor dijo a Moisés:
–El Faraón no os escuchará, para
que tengan que multiplicarse mis prodigios
en el país de Egipto.
10 Moisés y Aarón habían realizado
todos estos prodigios ante el Faraón;
pero el Señor endureció el corazón del
Faraón y no dejó marchar a los hijos de
Israel de su país.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).