The blow was long suspended, Exod. iv. 23. Now it descends. God tries lesser chastisements first, to bring men to repentance; but when they are found incorrigible, then vengeance overtakes them to the uttermost. 1. The judgment is denounced; the time fixed, at dead of night; the extent of it, from the prince to the slave: Israel alone is exempted. In their dwellings there shall be life and joy, whilst death and mourning shall fill the houses of the Egyptians. Note, Death, as the wages of sin, can never hurt those who are passed from death unto life. 2. It is foretold how supplant the proud persecutors would grow, v. 8, and hereupon Moses with indignation leaves the devoted palace. Note, (1.) The hardness of sinners hearts is a bitter grief to the ministers of Christ. (2.) When sin is the object of our indignation, we may be angry, and sin not. 3. The determined hardness of Pharaoh's heart, as foretold, continues. Note, We are not to wonder at the general rejection of God's truth; it was foretold long ago. Moses enjoin, and Israel humbly obeys: The lamb is killed, the lintels sprinkled with blood. No man must go out, lest he die. Now, The soul that trusts on any other hope than the blood of sprinkling, perishes with the Egyptians. Their children too hereafter must be taught the meaning of the ordinance, v. 26. When children ask, (and it is pleasing indeed to see them inquisitive in matters relating to God) we should take delight to speak to them about the dear Lamb which was slain, and his distinguishing love to his people. 29. ¶ And 'it came to pass, that at midnight 'the LORD smoke all the firth-born in the land of Egypt, from the firth-born of Pharaoh, that sat on his throne, unto the firth-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firth-born of cattle. 30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31. ¶ And 'he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among all my people, 'both you and the children of Israel: and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 32. 'Also take your flock; and your herds as ye have said, and be gone: and bless me also. 33. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might tend them out of the land in haste: for they said, We be all dead men. 34. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses: and they borrowed of the Egyptians: 'jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. 36. And 'the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required: and 'they spoiled the Egyptians.