The Plague on the Firstborn Foretold
1. Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.
2. Now tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”
3. The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.
4. So Moses announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt,
5. and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the handmill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle.
6. Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before, and never will be again.
7. But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will bark at any man or animal.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
8. All these officials of yours will come and bow down before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.” And burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.
9. The LORD had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
10. Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.