MPV Commentary

1. The Lord had spoken to Moses previously about this crisis, and now he was informed that the time had arrived for the next plague. This would so effectively humble and alarm Pharaoh's mind that he would finally agree to let the Israelites leave Egypt.

2-3. These verses describe a private conversation between God and Moses, which is inserted here as a parenthesis. They will be considered in more detail later (Ex 12:35).

4. The Lord announced the final plague to Pharaoh in a solemn manner, at midnight. This was a deliberate choice of time, intended to maximize the impact on the king's hardened heart.

5. At this moment, God would go out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn sons in every household – including those of animals – would die. The suddenness and severity of this calamity, combined with its universal scope, would make it particularly devastating.

6. As a result, there would be an intense cry of grief throughout the land. In ancient cultures, people typically expressed their sorrow through loud wailing, so one can imagine the scale of the mourning that would occur when death struck every family in Egypt.

7. Not even dogs would dare to make a sound against any Israelite child during this time. Dogs were common pests in Egyptian towns and villages, but on this night, they would be too cowed by the terror inspired by God's hand to raise a single bark.

8. As a result of this universal fear, Pharaoh's servants would all bow down to Moses, acknowledging his authority as God's representative. This was not just a matter of personal submission; it was a sign that even the most proud and hardened individuals would be humbled by the power of God.

9. Moses went out from Pharaoh in great anger, driven by holy indignation at the king's repeated deception and impenitence. His anger was not directed at Pharaoh personally but at the dishonor done to God (Mt 19:8; Eph 4:26).