The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn

11 The Lord said^[a] to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he lets you go,^[b] he will drive you out of here. ² Now announce to the people that both men and women should ask their neighbors for silver and gold jewelry.” ³ The Lord gave^[c] the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. And the man Moses was highly regarded^[d] in the land of Egypt by^[e] Pharaoh’s officials and the people.^(A)

⁴ So Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, ⁵ and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is behind the millstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock. ⁶ Then there will be a great cry of anguish through all the land of Egypt such as never was before, or ever will be again. ⁷ But against all the Israelites, whether man or beast, not even a dog will snarl,^[f] so that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. ⁸ All these officials of yours will come down to me and bow before me, saying: Leave, you and all the people who follow you.^[g] After that, I will leave.’” And he left Pharaoh’s presence in fierce anger.^(B)

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen^(C) to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” ¹⁰ Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart,^(D) and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.