The Death of The First Born

Topic: Death
Passage: Exodus 11:1–10

October 27, 2025

Commentary

In this chapter, we find the announcement of the tenth and final plague – the death of the firstborn (v. 1). Moses may not have known exactly how many plagues there would be, but God’s patience with Pharaoh had finally run out. The time for warning was over, and judgment was about to fall. The last plague would strike at the very heart of Egypt. For years, the Israelites had worked as unpaid slaves. Now God told them to ask the Egyptians for silver, gold, and jewelry (vv. 2-3). This was not stealing – it was payment for long years of cruel labor. God gave His people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they willingly gave their treasure.

Like the third, sixth, and ninth plagues, this tenth one came without warning. Pharaoh had hardened his heart too many times. At midnight, death would visit every Egyptian home – from the poorest servant to the royal household, every firstborn son would die. Even the firstborn male cattle would die (vv. 4-6). It would be a night of great crying throughout Egypt, such as had never been heard before.

The firstborn of the Israelites would have died too; except they had obeyed God and painted lamb’s blood on the doorposts of their house. Every home marked by the blood would be safe (vv. 7-8). Yet among the Israelites, not even a dog would bark. What the LORD said came true as they saw Moses and Aaron work miracles, but the LORD still made the king stubbornly refuse to let the Israelites go (vv. 9-10).

Today, all people are “first-born” who have not been “twice-born.” Romans 3:23 says that “All have sinned” and Romans 6:23 says “The wages of sin is death.” Then Hebrews 9:22 says that “without the shedding of blood is no remission” for our sins.

Application

When I see how patient God was with Pharaoh (waiting until the tenth plague to bring final judgment), what does that teach me about God’s patience with me? What situations in my life tempt me to ignore what God is showing me? How does this story show it is important for me to trust in Jesus (and his blood) to save me?

Exodus 11:1–10 (NET)

1 The Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will release you from this place. When he releases you, he will drive you out completely from this place. 2 Instruct the people that each man and each woman is to request from his or her neighbor items of silver and gold.”

3 (Now the Lord granted the people favor with the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s servants and by the Egyptian people.)

4 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 6 There will be a great cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again. 7 But against any of the Israelites not even a dog will bark against either people or animals, so that you may know that the Lord distinguishes between Egypt and Israel.’ 8 All these your servants will come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you,’ and after that I will go out.” Then Moses went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

10 So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not release the Israelites from his land.

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