Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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the controversy between God and Pharaoh was to be determined.
4. What an outcry was made upon it: There was a great cry in Egypt, universal lamentation for their only son (with many), and with all for their first-born. If any be suddenly taken ill in the night, we are wont to call up neighbours; but the Egyptians could have no help, no comfort, from their neighbours, all being involved in the same calamity. Let us learn hence,
(1.) To tremble before God, and to be afraid of his judgments, Ps 119:120. Who is able to stand before him, or dares resist him?
(2.) To be thankful to God for the daily preservation of ourselves and our families: lying so much exposed, we have reason to say, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed."
30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all
the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt: for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and
get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.
God's sons, even his first-born, released; this judgment conquered Pharaoh, and obliged him to surrender at discretion, without capitulating. Men had better come up to God's terms at first, for he will never come down to theirs, let them object as long as they will. Now Pharaoh's pride is abased, and he yields to all that Moses had insisted on: Serve the Lord as you have said (Ex 12:31), and take your flocks as you have said, Ex 12:32. Note, God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it. Hitherto the Israelites were not permitted to depart, but now things had come to the last extremity, in consequence of which,