Exodus 12.29-51-The Tenth Plague, Israel's Exodus From Egypt And A Reminder Of Passover Ordinance
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday December 4, 2011
Journey Through The Bible Series: Exodus 12:29-51-The Tenth Plague, Israel’s Exodus From Egypt And A Reminder Of Passover Ordinance
Lesson # 13
Please turn in your Bibles to Exodus 12:29.
Exodus 12:29 records the tenth and final plague, which results in Amenhotep II setting the Israelites free.
Exodus 12:29 Now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle.
Verse 29 records the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise recorded in Exodus 4:22-23, 11:5 and 12:12 to kill the firstborn in Egypt, both man and beast and to execute judgments against the gods of Egypt.
It also presents the timing of the plague or in other words, when it would take place, which was midnight and it also presents the extent of the plague meaning who was affected by it.
Every family, from the greatest to the least in Egypt, suffered the loss of their firstborn, no exceptions.
Like the first nine plagues, this tenth and final plague was against the gods of Egyptians and specifically, it was directed at Min who was the god of reproduction.
Also, it was against Heqet who was the goddess who attended women at childbirth.
This plague was also against Isis who was goddess who protected children.
Lastly, it was against Pharaoh’s firstborn son, who the Egyptians considered a god.
Exodus 12:30 Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the Lord, as you have said. 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.”
Verse 30 records the aftermath of the tenth and final plague and the terrible emotional suffering the Egyptians experienced because of it.
The question arises as to why the Egyptians got up at midnight to check on their children.
Exodus 4:22-23 records that the Lord told Moses and Aaron to communicate to Pharaoh that He would kill his firstborn if Pharaoh did not release the Lord’s firstborn, Israel.
So Pharaoh undoubtedly recalled this prediction, as well as those who were his servants who listened to Moses and Aaron issue this prediction to Amenhotep II.
Therefore, this prediction circulated throughout each and every Egyptian family and so consequently, each parent checked on their children.
No doubt, the parents did not go to sleep in order to watch over their children.
However, when midnight struck, they found their children no longer breathing to their great horror.
The Israelite families were untouched because of the blood of the Passover lamb which typified the death of Christ.
The spreading of the blood of the animal on the doorposts and lintel of their homes was seen by the Lord, and the family was spared.
In Exodus 12:31 and 32, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and ordered them to leave Egypt along with their wives and children and flocks.
He was no longer negotiating for he had been brought to his knees by the Lord.
Fascinatingly, after ordering Moses and Aaron and the Israelites to leave Egypt, Amenhotep II requested that Moses bless him, which was a demonstration of respect and appreciation for the Israelites and their God, Yahweh.
Jacob blessed Pharaoh when he moved to live in Egypt in the land of Goshen and here we have Moses being placed in a position to bless Amenhotep II.
By means of the ten plagues, the Lord has brought about a complete role reversal since the Israelites who were once in a place of submission to the Egyptians and fear of this people, are now in power and the Egyptians are now at their mercy.
In Exodus 12:31, “called” is the verb qā∙rā(ʾ) (קָרָא) (kaw-raw), which the English translations such as the NASB render “summon” indicating that Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron into his presence.
However, in Exodus 10:28-29, Pharaoh tells them that he does not want to see them again and if he does he would kill them and Moses concurs that they will never see each other again.
Now, this apparent contradiction is resolved by the translation of this verb in Exodus 12:31.
The word often means “to summon” or “to call” into one’s presence but it can also mean “to proclaim or send a message to someone by a messenger” or “to make a public calling out of information or an event.”
Therefore, in Exodus 12:31, the verb qā∙rā(ʾ) should not be translated “summon” but rather “send a message by a messenger” because of the mutual determination of Pharaoh and Moses to never see each other again as recorded in Exodus 10:28-29.
Exodus 12:33 The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 36 and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
Verse 33 records the Egyptians urging the Israelites to leave their land for fear that they would all die because of preventing them from serving the Lord.
Verse 34 records the Israelites taking dough before it was leavened with their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders, which reveals the haste in which they left Egypt.
The Lord predicted to them that this would take place, that they would leave Egypt in haste.
Verses 35 and 36 record a fulfillment of prophecy since the Lord predicted in Exodus 3:21-22 that the Israelites would find favor with the Egyptian people because of the plagues so that the former would not leave Egypt empty-handed.
These verses also fulfill the prophecy that the Lord gave to Abram in Genesis 15:13-14 that the Israelites would leave Egypt with many possessions after four hundred years in that country.
The Israelites would need money to buy supplies from traders, caravaneers and local settlements in order to build a community and place to worship the Lord.
Exodus 12:37 Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. (NASB95)
The record of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt begins here in Exodus 12:37.
In fact, Exodus 12:37-18:27 presents in detail, the Exodus of the Hebrews from their leaving Rameses to their arrival at Mount Sinai three months later.
Exodus 12:37 describes the beginning of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, from their primary departure city, Rameses, to their first stop on their journey, Succoth.
“Rameses” was a city in the northeastern Nile delta region of Egypt.
The exact location of the place is debated among scholars, some have long identified it with Tanis (Zoan).
However, it more likely identified with Qanṭîr, ca. 24 km. (15 mi.) to the south.
“Succoth” was a city near the eastern end of the Wadi Tumilat and this location marked Israel’s first stop after leaving Rameses in their exodus deliverance.
Tell el-Maskhutah, a border fortress site, near Lake Timsah, is identified as the modern site of Succoth.
Exodus 12:37 records, that aside from children, six hundred thousand men left Egypt that day.
Exodus 38:26 records that the exact number of men was six hundred three thousand, five hundred and fifty men, which is confirmed by Numbers 1:46.
With women and children, the number of Israelites was approximately two million.
Add to this the number of individuals who were not Jews who left with the Israelites who are mentioned in verse 38.
Exodus 12:38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. 39 They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. (NASB95)
Verse 38 says that the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt was composed of a mixed group of people ethnically as indicated by the phrase “a mixed multitude.”
Not only those individuals who were direct descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob left Egypt at that time but also many people connected to them that were not biologically descended from the patriarchs.
Also, there must have been other individuals who were not connected to the Israelites and were not believers who used this opportunity to leave Egypt with Israel and this group would be a source of trouble for Israel later on (See Numbers 11:4).
Many of these racial groups or ethnicities were leaving with the Israelites because they had faith in Yahweh as a result of seeing for themselves the manifestation of His great power.
Therefore, verse 38 tells us that a great many people who were not Jews trusted in the Lord because of the plagues.
In verse 39, it is noted that the Israelites baked the dough which they brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread, which presents the fulfillment of the
Lord’s command in Exodus 12:8 that the Israelites were to eat unleavened bread because of the haste in which they would leave Egypt.
Exodus 12:40 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
These two verses record the fulfillment of the prophecy the Lord gave to Abram regarding the future of his descendants and teach the reader that the Lord was faithful to His promises, thus, they the reader should trust in the Lord as well.
The apostle Paul in Galatians 3:17 also states that Israel was in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years while other passages such as Genesis 15:13 and 16 and Acts 7:6 state it was four hundred years.
Genesis 15:13 and Acts 7:6 are using round numbers (1846-1446 B.C).
This four hundred and thirty year period began with the final confirmation of the covenant to Jacob when he was about to enter Egypt, which was 1875 B.C. (Genesis 46:1-4).
Acts 13:19 says that this sojourn in Egypt was “about 450 years” and this number would include a four hundred year sojourn in Egypt as well as the forty years in the wilderness and the seven year conquest of the land of Canaan (1875-1395 B.C.).
Exodus 12:42 It is a night to be observed for the Lord for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the Lord, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations. 43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner is to eat of it; 44 but every man’s slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it. 45 A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it. 46 It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. 47 All the congregation of Israel are to celebrate this. 48 But if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it. 49 The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you.” 50 Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that same day the Lord brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. (NASB95)
Verse 42 is speaking of the night of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, which the Israelites were to bring into remembrance throughout all their subsequent generations.
In verses 43-49, the Lord gives Moses and Aaron instructions with regards to the observance of the Passover ordinance.
Notice in verse 46, the Lord stipulates that the bones of the Passover lamb must not be broken.
The reason for this is that the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who is portrayed by the Passover Lamb would not have a bone of his body broken while dying for the sin of the world (John 19:36).
These instructions in verses 43-49 were as a result of the mixed multitude which accompanied the Israelites from Egypt.
The Lord stipulates that these Gentiles could eat the Passover meal if they were circumcised and could not eat the Passover if they were uncircumcised.
This regulation pertains to the slave as well.
By submitting to circumcision, these Gentiles would be identifying with the promises the Lord made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The failure to be circumcised indicated that you were not identifying with these promises and thus the Israelites.
Also, circumcision was a sign that one had exercised faith in the Lord.
Interestingly, there would be a 39 year interval between the Passover celebrated at Sinai (Numbers 9) and the one celebrated in the land of Canaan under Joshua (Joshua 5:10).
The implication is obvious, the Exodus generation, i.e. those who saw the plagues and left Egypt under Moses and Aaron, observed only one Passover.