Egyptian Firstborn Die: the Israelites Prepare to Depart. In Exodus 11:1-3 * E and Exodus 11:4-8 * J the spoiling of the Egyptians and the death of their firstborn sons were announced, and the events are now given by the editor in reverse order, Exodus 12:29-34 J preceding Exodus 12:35 f. E. The last plague was a sudden outbreak of pestilence, cf. 2 Kings 19:35, which was believed to have stricken every firstborn son. The fact that the eldest son of the king and other notable Egyptians fell victims, along with the practice of dedicating first-born sons (Exodus 13:1-16 *, Numbers 3:11-13 *), and possibly the connexion of the spring festival with the sacrifice of firstlings, may have led to the tradition assuming the sharply defined form of the text. The number of eldest sons appearing in The Times obituaries of officers in 1914- 15 was such as to suggest to some minds the idea of an evil fate. Behind the tradition is a faith that, whether God inflicts calamity on themselves or their enemies, His people gain some good and the victims do not suffer in vain. And the plagues of Egypt were among the events which nourished this faith. The climax of decision with which Pharaoh at last grants the request recorded in Exodus 5:3 and defined in Exodus 10:26 is put clearly in Exodus 12:31 f. The haste with which the alarmed Egyptians thrust the Hebrews forth (Exodus 12:33 f. J) is mentioned to account for their starting without waiting for a supply of leavened bread, the historical link with the Feast of Mazzoth or Unleavened Cakes being thus indicated. But in Exodus 12:35 f. E the situation is rather differently conceived, there being time to organise a levy upon the stores of gold and silver ornaments and festal garments which the Egyptians had, which the Hebrews needed for due religious service (cf. Exodus 33:4-6 *). The threefold relation (Exodus 3:22; Exodus 11:3, and here) shows with what relish the story was told. From Exodus 11:3 we should suppose the levy was made before the stroke fell. If that be the meaning, this will be an editorial repetition, and the verbs in Exodus 12:35 f. should be pluperfects, had done. had asked. had given. The night was an impossible time for such a collection. The RV rendering, they let them have, suggests that the things were given outright. But the word gave is avoided, and the phrase may well mean lent (as in Syr.). In that case the transaction would be justified because Pharaoh's later pursuit made return after the wilderness festival impossible; or else because by Hebrew standards all was fair in dealing with tyrants. Keble (Christian Year, 3rd Sunday in Lent) has adopted from Augustine an allegorical application of the spoiling of the Egyptians.
Exodus 12:34 b. Render: their kneading-bowls (Exodus 8:3 *) being bound up in their mantles (Judges 8:25; Ruth 3:15).