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.
Called for Moses and Aaron - a striking fulfillment of the words of Moses (Exodus 11:8), and showing that they were spoken under divine suggestion.
By night. The first-born were smitten at midnight; and as the Israelites were strictly prohibited from going out at the door until the morning, their first march must have been at some time in the early dawn (cf. Deuteronomy 16:6). It is quite evident that wherever Pharaoh's residence at the time was-whether Memphis, Zoan, or Rameses-Moses must have been in the immediate neighbourhood of the court, otherwise, neither the king's messengers could have so soon reached him, nor he have communicated the final instructions to the elders.