1 The Lord said 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, 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 items.”
3 The Lord gave the people favor with the Egyptians. In addition, Moses himself was very highly regarded in the land of Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and the people.
Note · Exode 11.1–3
Une sortie qui ne sera pas sans ressources
Les objets demandés et la faveur trouvée auprès des Égyptiens accompagnent le départ. Le récit distingue ici la population du refus royal : tous les habitants ne sont pas présentés comme hostiles. Moïse lui-même bénéficie d’une reconnaissance jusque parmi les serviteurs de Pharaon.
4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord 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 at the grindstones, 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 people or animals, not even a dog will snarl, so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
8 All these officials of yours will come down to me and bow before me, saying: Get out, you and all the people who follow you. After that, I will get out.” And he went out from Pharaoh’s presence fiercely angry.
Note · Exode 11.4–8
Une mort qui traverse les rangs sociaux
L’annonce atteint le palais comme la maison de la servante. Cette extension souligne la gravité de la crise, mais ne rend pas identiques les responsabilités du roi et des personnes sans pouvoir. Une note ne doit pas effacer la difficulté de ces morts par une explication générale trop facile.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen 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, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his land.
Note · Exode 11.9–10
Un refus devenu le fil du récit
Le chapitre conclut cette série d’avertissements par le refus persistant du roi. La répétition des signes et le durcissement soulignent la résistance d’un pouvoir qui retient les autres. Le dénouement à venir ne sera pas présenté comme un simple accord volontaire entre parties de force égale.