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Pharaoh had told Moses to get out of his presence (Ex 10:28), and Moses had promised this should be the last time he would trouble him, yet he resolves to say out what he had to say, before he left him; accordingly, we have in this chapter, I. The instructions God had given to Moses, which he was now to pursue (Ex 11:1,2), together with the interest Israel and Moses had in the esteem of the Egyptians, Ex 11:3. II. The last message Moses delivered to Pharaoh, concerning the death of the firstborn, Ex 11:4-8. III. A repetition of the prediction of Pharaoh's hardening his heart, (Ex 11:9), and the event answering to it, Ex 11:10.
1-10
The Plagues of Egypt (1491 BC)
繁體中文
埃及的災殃（主前1491年）
¹ 耶和華對摩西說、我再使一樣的災殃臨到法老和埃及、然後他必容你們離開這地。他容你們去的時候、總要催逼你們都離開這地。
² 你要傳於百姓的耳中、叫他們男女各人向鄰舍要金器銀器。
³ 耶和華叫百姓在埃及人眼前蒙恩。並且摩西在埃及地、在法老臣僕和百姓的眼中、看為極大。
此處，I. 摩西和以色列在神眼前所得的極大恩寵。1. 摩西是天上的寵兒，因為神不向他隱瞞自己將要作的事。神不僅使他作使者傳達信息，更（如同心腹謀士）把自己的旨意告訴他：他要再降一災——只降一災——在法老身上，藉此完成對以色列的拯救，Ex 11:1。摩西渴望看見這可畏之工的結局，渴望看見埃及不再受災、以色列不再受壓：「好，」神說，「如今離結局不遠了；爭戰快要完結，目標即將達成；法老必被迫承認自己被征服，不得不放棄這場爭鬥。」在一切其餘的災之後，神說：我要再降一樣。照樣，在今世向罪人執行了一切審判之後，仍有一樣為他們存留，要在另一個世界向他們執行，那要徹底制服一切其他事物所不能制服的驕傲人。2. 以色列人是天上的寵兒；因為神親自承擔他們受屈之事的伸冤，並留心使他們服事埃及人的一切辛勞都得到工價。這是他們為奴的最後一日；他們即將離開，他們那些曾在他們工作上苛待他們的主人，卻不甘欺哄他們、剝奪他們的工錢、讓他們空手而去；可憐的以色列人因熱愛自由，情願不要工價、只要有自由便心滿意足，並樂意以任何條件得著它：但那為受欺壓的施行公義判斷的，卻定意使勞工不至失去工錢，吩咐他們在離去之時索取（Ex 11:2），就是金器銀器。為預備此事，神藉著那些災已使埃及人情願以任何條件任他們離去，正如從前埃及人藉嚴苛使他們情願以任何條件離去一樣。儘管忍耐的以色列人甘心失去工錢，神卻不讓他們空手而去。請注意，神總要這樣或那樣地為受屈者伸冤——他們既在謙卑的沉默中把案件交託給他；他也必看顧，使沒有人因耐心受苦、或因服事而最終吃虧。
II. 摩西和以色列在埃及人眼前的極大恩寵，Ex 11:3。1. 連那曾經被恨惡、被藐視的民族如今也受人尊重；為他們所行的奇事給了他們尊榮，使他們受人注目。神如此為他們爭戰，他們便顯得何等偉大！照樣耶和華使他們在埃及人眼前蒙恩，因為他使人看見自己是何等恩待他們；他也改變了埃及人對他們的心，使欺壓他們的人憐憫他們，Ps 106:46。2. 摩西在埃及地看為極大。他們既看見他所披戴的權能、和藉他手所行的奇事，怎能不如此看呢？照樣使徒們本是看來微不足道的人，後來也被百姓敬重，Ac 5:13。尊重神的，神必重看他；至於那些向自己證明是忠心的人——無論他們經過這世界時被人看得多麼卑微——將有一日，他們在全天下人——甚至如今以極度輕蔑看他們的人——眼中看來要顯得偉大、非常偉大。請注意，雖然法老恨摩西，法老的臣僕中卻有人尊重他。照樣在該撒的家裏——甚至尼祿的家裏——也有一些人是尊重蒙福的保羅的，Php 1:13。
⁴ 摩西說、耶和華這樣說、約到半夜我必出去巡行埃及遍地。
⁵ 凡在埃及地、從坐寶座的法老、直到磨子後的婢女所有的長子、以及一切頭生的牲畜、都必死。
⁶ 埃及遍地必有大哀號、從前沒有這樣的、後來也必沒有。
⁷ 至於以色列中、無論是人是牲畜、連狗也不敢向他們搖舌。好叫你們知道耶和華是將埃及人和以色列人分別出來的。
⁸ 你這一切臣僕都要俯伏來見我、說、求你和跟從你的百姓都出去。然後我要出去。於是摩西氣憤憤地離開法老出去了。
⁹ 耶和華對摩西說、法老必不聽你們、使我的奇事在埃及地多起來。
¹⁰ 摩西亞倫在法老面前行了這一切奇事。耶和華使法老的心剛硬、不容以色列人出他的地。
此處向法老發出警告，論到如今即將降下的最後一場、決定性的災。這就是埃及一切頭生的在一夜之間死亡——這事起初曾被威脅（Ex 4:23，我要殺你的兒子、你的長子），卻最後才執行；較輕的審判都試過了，若這些能奏效，便不至有此一災。請看神向怒氣是何等遲延，何等樂意在他審判的路上與人相遇、轉消他的怒氣，並特別看明人的性命在他眼中何等寶貴：若他們牲畜的死能使他們謙卑歸正，他們的兒女便得以存留；但人若不肯善用神審判逐步推進的機會，結局是最糟的留到最後，那只能怪他們自己。1. 這場災本身在此特別被預告，Ex 11:4-6。時間定了——約在半夜，就在次日半夜，夜中最死寂的時分；當他們都沉睡之時，他們一切的長子要睡那死亡的覺，不是悄無聲息地、直到早晨才被發現，卻是在半夜激起全家起來，眼睜睜看他們氣絕。這場災的範圍被描述，Ex 11:5。那將要繼位的王子並未高到不可觸及，磨子旁的奴隸也未低到不被理會。摩西和亞倫並未受命去傳召這場災；沒有我必出去、這是耶和華說的，Ex 11:4。落在永生神的手裏、真是可怕的；地獄豈不就是如此麼？2. 以色列的兒女所將得的特別保護，以及他們與埃及人之間所要顯出的明顯區別。當天使拔劍攻擊埃及人之時，以色列兒女中連一隻狗也不可向他們搖舌，Ex 11:7。這是大日神要在他百姓與仇敵之間作出區別的預嘗：人若知道神在那些事奉他與不事奉他的人之間所放下的區別、並要放到永遠，宗教在他們眼中便不會顯得如此無關緊要，他們在其中行事也不會如此漫不經心了。3. 法老的臣僕將要向摩西所作的謙卑降服，以及他們將何等恭順地求他離去（Ex 11:8）：他們要俯伏下拜。請注意，神和以色列的驕傲仇敵終必俯伏，Re 3:9，並要在他們面前說謊，De 33:29。摩西如此傳達信息之後，經上記著：他氣憤憤地離開法老出去——縱然他是世上最溫柔的人。可能他原指望單單長子之死的威脅便能使法老依從，尤其法老已經依從了那麼多，又看見摩西到目前為止一切的預言何等準確地應驗。卻沒有那樣的果效；他那驕傲的心不肯屈服，連拯救他全國一切長子也不肯。人在今世面臨失去一切珍愛之物的迫切危險時尚且不被嚇退，那麼人對來世永遠痛苦的展望不能阻止他們行惡，也就不足為奇了。摩西因此被激至聖潔的義憤，為他心的剛硬而憂痛（如我們救主後來所作的），Mk 3:5。請注意，看見百姓對所給的一切善意警告充耳不聞、不顧所用的一切慈憐方法仍直奔滅亡，這實在令好傳道人的心靈大感苦楚。照樣以西結在心中的苦楚裏去（Eze 3:14），因為神告訴他以色列家不會聽他，Ex 11:7。除了罪之外一概不怒，便是不在怒中犯罪之道。摩西既提及法老的頑梗如何攪擾他，(1.) 便回顧神先前對此事所給的預告（Ex 11:9）：*耶和華對摩西說、法老必不聽你們。*聖經早已預言那些將要聽見福音之人的不信，免得我們為之驚訝、絆跌，Joh 12:37,38，Ro 10:16。我們不可因人一般對福音的輕忽而看輕基督的福音，因為我們早已被告知它將遇到何等冷淡的接待。(2.) 他概述了先前為此所說的一切（Ex 11:10）：摩西在法老面前行了這一切奇事，正如此處所記（他自己就是目擊者），卻不能奏效——這正是神自己按公義審判使他的心剛硬的確鑿記號。照樣猶太人棄絕基督的福音，是如此明顯的荒謬，以致從中很容易推論出：神給他們昏迷的心，Ro 11:8。
英文原文
The Plagues of Egypt (1491 BC)
¹ And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
² Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
³ And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.
Here is, I. The high favour Moses and Israel were in with God. 1. Moses was a favourite of Heaven, for God will not hide from him the thing he will do. God not only makes him his messenger to deliver his errands, but communicates to him his purpose (as the man of his counsel) that he would bring one plague more, and but one, upon Pharaoh, by which he would complete the deliverance of Israel, Ex 11:1. Moses longed to see an end of this dreadful work, to see Egypt no more plagued and Israel no more oppressed: "Well," says God, "now it is near an end; the warfare shall shortly be accomplished, the point gained; Pharaoh shall be forced to own himself conquered, and to give up the cause." After all the rest of the plagues, God says, I will bring one more. Thus, after all the judgments executed upon sinners in this world, still there is one more reserved to be brought on them in the other world, which will completely humble those whom nothing else would humble. 2. The Israelites were favourites of Heaven; for God himself espouses their injured cause, and takes care to see them paid for all their pains in serving the Egyptians. This was the last day of their servitude; they were about to go away, and their masters, who had abused them in their work, would not have defrauded them of their wages, and have sent them away empty; while the poor Israelites were so fond of liberty that they would be satisfied with that, without pay, and would rejoice to get that upon any terms: but he that executeth righteousness and judgment for the oppressed provided that the labourers should not lose their hire, and ordered them to demand it now at their departure (Ex 11:2), in jewels of silver and jewels of gold, to prepare for which God, by the plagues, had now made the Egyptians as willing to part with them upon any terms as, before, the Egyptians, by their severities, had made them willing to go upon any terms. Though the patient Israelites were content to lose their wages, yet God would not let them go without them. Note, One way or other, God will give redress to the injured, who in a humble silence commit their cause to him; and he will see to it that none be losers at last by their patient suffering any more than by their services.
II. The high favour Moses and Israel were in with the Egyptians, Ex 11:3. 1. Even the people that has been hated and despised now came to be respected; the wonders wrought on their behalf put an honour upon them and made them considerable. How great do they become for whom God thus fights! Thus the Lord gave them favour in the sight of the Egyptians, by making it appear how much he favoured them: he also changed the spirit of the Egyptians towards them, and made them to be pitied of their oppressors, Ps 106:46. 2. The man Moses was very great. How could it be otherwise when they saw what power he was clothed with, and what wonders were wrought by his hand? Thus the apostles, though otherwise despicable men, came to be magnified, Ac 5:13. Those that honour God he will honour; and with respect to those that approve themselves faithful to him, how meanly soever they may pass through this world, there is a day coming when they will look great, very great, in the eyes of all the world, even theirs who now look upon them with the utmost contempt. Observe, Though Pharaoh hated Moses, there were those of Pharaoh's servants that respected him. Thus in Caesar's household, even Nero's, there were some that had an esteem for blessed Paul, Php 1:13.
⁴ And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
⁵ And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
⁶ And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
⁷ But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
⁸ And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.
⁹ And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
Warning is here given to Pharaoh of the last and conquering plague which was now to be inflicted. This was the death of all the first-born in Egypt at once, which had been first threatened (Ex 4:23, I will slay thy son, thy first-born), but is last executed; less judgments were tried, which, if they had done the work would have prevented this. See how slow God is to wrath, and how willing to be met with in the way of his judgments, and to have his anger turned away, and particularly how precious the lives of men are in his eyes: if the death of their cattle had humbled and reformed them, their children would have been spared; but, if men will not improve the gradual advances of divine judgments, they must thank themselves if they find, in the issue, that the worst was reserved for the last. 1. The plague itself is here particularly foretold, Ex 11:4-6. The time is fixed—about midnight, the very next midnight, the dead time of the night; when they were all asleep, all their first-born should sleep the sleep of death, not silently and insensibly, so as not to be discovered till morning, but so as to rouse the families at midnight to stand by and see them die. The extent of this plague is described, Ex 11:5. The prince that was to succeed in the throne was not too high to be reached by it, nor were the slaves at the mill too low to be taken notice of. Moses and Aaron were not ordered to summon this plague; no I will go out, saith the Lord, Ex 11:4. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; what is hell but this? 2. The special protection which the children of Israel should be under, and the manifest difference that should be put between them and the Egyptians. While angels drew their swords against the Egyptians, there should not so much as a dog bark at any of the children of Israel, Ex 11:7. An earnest was hereby given of the difference which shall be put in the great day between God's people and his enemies: did men know what a difference God puts, and will put to eternity, between those that serve him and those that serve him not, religion would not seem to them such an indifferent thing as they make it, nor would they act in it with so much indifference as they do. 3. The humble submission which Pharaoh's servants should make to Moses, and how submissively they should request him to go (Ex 11:8): They shall come down, and bow themselves. Note, The proud enemies of God and his Israel shall be made to fall under at last (Re 3:9), and shall be found liars to them, De 33:29. When Moses had thus delivered his message, it is said, He went out from Pharaoh in a great anger, though he was the meekest of all the men of the earth. Probably he expected that the very threatening of the death of the firstborn would have induced Pharaoh to comply, especially as Pharaoh had complied so far already, and had seen how exactly all Moses's predictions hitherto were fulfilled. But it had not that effect; his proud heart would not yield, no, not to save all the firstborn of his kingdom: no marvel that men are not deterred from vicious courses by the prospects given them of eternal misery in the other world, when the imminent peril they run of the loss of all that is dear to them in this world will not frighten them. Moses, hereupon, was provoked to a holy indignation, being grieved (as our Saviour afterwards) for the hardness of his heart, Mk 3:5. Note, It is a great vexation to the spirits of good ministers to see people deaf to all the fair warnings given them, and running headlong upon ruin, notwithstanding all the kind methods taken to prevent it. Thus Ezekiel went in the bitterness of his spirit (Eze 3:14), because God had told him that the house of Israel would not hearken to him, Ex 11:7. To be angry at nothing but sin is the way not to sin in anger. Moses, having thus adverted to the disturbance which Pharaoh's obstinacy gave him, (1.) Reflects upon the previous notice God had given him of this (Ex 11:9): The Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken to you. The scripture has foretold the incredulity of those who should hear the gospel, that it might not be a surprise nor stumbling-block to us, Joh 12:37,38, Ro 10:16. Let us think never the worse of the gospel of Christ for the slights men generally put upon it, for we were told before what cold entertainment it would meet with. (2.) He recapitulates all he had said before to this purport (Ex 11:10), that Moses did all these wonders, as they are here related, before Pharaoh (he himself was an eye-witness of them), and yet he could not prevail, which was a certain sign that God himself had, in a way of righteous judgment, hardened his heart. Thus the Jews' rejection of the gospel of Christ was so gross an absurdity that it might easily be inferred from it that God had given them the spirit of slumber, Ro 11:8.
法老曾告訴摩西離開他面前（出 10:28），摩西也答應這將是最後一次來攪擾他，然而他定意在離開之前，把當說的話說完；因此本章記述：一、神先前給摩西的指示，他如今要照著行（出 11:1,2），以及以色列和摩西在埃及人心目中所受的敬重，出 11:3。二、摩西向法老所傳最後的信息，論到長子之死，出 11:4-8。三、重申對法老剛硬其心的預言（出 11:9），以及與之相應的事件，出 11:10。