Barnes' Notes on the Bible · Exodus 第11章

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Exodus 第 11 章

1

Exodus 11:1

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「耶和華說」(The Lord said)——或作「耶和華曾說」。本章頭三節是插敘。摩西在記述給法老的最後警告之前,認為應當先讓讀者回想主先前已賜給他的啟示與命令。

「當他容你們去的時候」——當法老最終容你們帶著兒女、羊群、牛群並一切所有的離去時,他必催逼你們倉促成行。摩西早已知道最後一災之後將立即啟程,因此大概已採取措施,為以色列人的行程作預備。事實上,每逢法老暫時鬆口,摩西自必立即向百姓的族長下達命令,使他們一再被帶入為最後行動而設、程度不等的完整組織狀態。

英文原文

The Lord said - Or "the Lord had said." The first three verses of this chapter are parenthetical. Before Moses relates the last warning given to Pharaoh, he feels it right to recall to his readers' minds the revelation and command which had been previously given to him by the Lord.

When he shall let you go ... - When at last he lets you depart with children, flocks, herds, and all your possessions, he will compel you to depart in haste. Moses was already aware that the last plague would be followed by an immediate departure, and, therefore, measures had probably been taken to prepare the Israelites for the journey. In fact, on each occasion when Pharaoh relented for a season, immediate orders would of course be issued by Moses to the heads of the people, who were thus repeatedly brought into a state of more or less complete organization for the final movement.

2

Exodus 11:2

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「各人」(Every man)——出三22只提到婦女;如今命令即將執行,便說得更為明確。

「要(借)」(Borrow)——即「求」(ask)。見出三22註。

英文原文

Every man - In Exodus 3:22 only women were named; the command is more explicit when the time has come for its execution.

Borrow - "ask." See Exodus 3:22 note.

4

Exodus 11:4

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「摩西說」(And Moses said)——以下的話必須與前章最後一節緊接著讀。

「約到半夜」(About midnight)——這標明了災擊發生的時辰,卻不是日子。其間可能有、也大概有幾天的間隔,好為逾越節的慶祝和以色列人的啟程作準備。

英文原文

And Moses said - The following words must be read in immediate connection with the last verse of the preceding chapter.

About midnight - This marks the hour, but not the day, on which the visitation would take place. There may have been, and probably was, an interval of some days, during which preparations might be made both for the celebration of the Passover, and the departure of the Israelites.

5

Exodus 11:5

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有兩點值得注意:

一、這災殃的範圍:全地在頭生之子身上受苦,不僅是因為君王的罪,更因百姓實際參與了殺嬰的罪行(出一22)。

二、這災殃的限制:法老曾下令殺盡以色列人一切的男孩,但埃及每家只死一個孩子。若法老是圖特摩斯二世,這災殃對他家尤為嚴厲——他沒有留下兒子,而是由其遺孀繼位。

「推磨的」(The mill)——這磨由兩塊圓石組成,一塊固定在地上,另一塊藉手柄轉動。磨穀的工作極其勞苦,由最低階層的婦女擔任。

「頭生的牲畜」(Firstborn of beasts)——這災殃針對埃及普遍的獸類崇拜,有特別的力量;每一個地區都有自己視為神聖的動物,被當作當地守護神的彰顯或代表來敬拜。

英文原文

Two points are to be noticed:

  1. The extent of the visitation: the whole land suffers in the persons of its firstborn, not merely for the guilt of the sovereign, but for the actual participation of the people in the crime of infanticide Exodus 1:22.

  2. The limitation: Pharaoh's command had been to slay ALL the male children of the Israelites, but only one child in each Egyptian family was to die. If Tothmosis II was the Pharaoh, the visitation fell with special severity on his family. He left no son, but was succeeded by his widow.

The mill - This consisted of two circular stones, one fixed in the ground, the other turned by a handle. The work of grinding was extremely laborious, and performed by women of the lowest rank.

Firstborn of beasts - This visitation has a special force in reference to the worship of beasts, which was universal in Egypt; each district having its own sacred animal, adored as a manifestation or representative of the local tutelary deity.

7

Exodus 11:7

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「連狗也不敢向你們搖舌」——這是一句諺語,表達免於驚慌、不受侵害的自由。

英文原文

Shall not a dog move his tongue - A proverb expressive of freedom from alarm and immunity front assault.