Moses Announces the Death of the First-Born

Exodus 11 Then
the Lord said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and
Egypt. After that he will let you go. When he does, he will be certain to force
all of you out of here. Now announce to
the people of Israel that each man and woman must ask the Egyptians for
silver and gold jewelry." The Lord
made the Egyptians kind to the people. And Moses was highly respected by
Pharaoh''s officials and all the Egyptians.

Moses
said, "This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go out among the
Egyptians. Every firstborn son in Egypt
will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who rules the land, to the firstborn
children of female slaves who use their handmills, including every firstborn
domestic animal. There will be loud
crying throughout Egypt, such as there has never been or ever will be again.
But where the Israelites are, not even
a dog will be startled by any person or animal. This is how you will see that
the Lord shows the distinction between Egypt and Israel. Then all these officials of yours will come, bow
down to me, and say, ''You and all the people who follow you, get out!'' After
that I will leave." Burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh. The Lord had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will
not listen to you. This is why I will do more amazing things in Egypt." Moses and Aaron showed Pharaoh all
these amazing things. Yet, the Lord made Pharaoh stubborn, so he wouldn''t let
the Israelites leave his country.