Exodus 12:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!"

NIV: Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."

NASB: Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.'

CSB: Take even your flocks and your herds as you asked and leave, and also bless me."

NLT: Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.'

KJV: Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

NKJV: Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”

Not only is Egypt's king finally releasing his nation's Hebrew slaves, but he does so without conditions and with the demand that they leave immediately (Exodus 12:29–31). The Egyptian people will express the same desire (Exodus 12:33). In prior conversations, Pharah had attempted to only allow sacrifices within Goshen or Egypt (Exodus 8:25), to allow Israel to go into the wilderness but close by (Exodus 8:28), to release only some Israelites (Exodus 10:8), or to keep some behind (Exodus 10:10–11), or to retain Israel's livestock (Exodus 10:24). Now he is utterly broken and forced to surrender. This is temporary, however, as Pharaoh's stubborn pride will lead him to a final attempt at revenge (Exodus 14:5–8).

Superstition, not faith, motivates Pharaoh to ask for a blessing. By now, all the false gods of Egypt's religion had been humbled by the plagues brought by the God of the Hebrews. He might have begun to believe that he was cursed and wanted some relief from that burden. It is notable that Scripture records no response from Moses and Aaron. They have seen Pharaoh change his mind (Exodus 8:15, 31–32; 9:34–35; 10:19–20) and harden his own heart many times (Exodus 5:2; 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7). They know he is now an object lesson in divine wrath (Exodus 10:1; Proverbs 29:1).

Exodus 12:29–32 describes the tenth (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23) and most devastating of the Lord's judgments on Egypt (Exodus 3:19–20). As promised (Exodus 11:4–6), God kills every firstborn in Egypt, from the lowliest animals to the Egyptian king's own family. Only the Israelites, whose homes are marked with lamb's blood, are spared (Exodus 12:23). Reeling from the death of his own son, Pharaoh finally agrees to release the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 4:21–23).

Israel is to realign their calendar to begin with the current month. They receive instructions to prepare a special meal. This includes sacrificing lambs and applying their blood to the doorway of each home. Following these instructions will cause God's wrath to "pass over" that house. Egypt's firstborn are killed and they demand Israel leave immediately. The people quickly gather their belongings and march out in a single massive group. These events are to be remembered with festivals to be celebrated for all time.

Moses was sent to lead Israel into freedom (Exodus 3:10). This meant announcing the Lord's supernatural judgments on Egypt (Exodus 3:19–21). After nine such disasters (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23), a tenth was promised (Exodus 4:21–23; 11:4–6). In this chapter, God provides instructions for Israel to both survive and commemorate this first Passover night. Egypt reels from the death of its firstborn and demands Israel leave that very night. More directions about the future are to come (Exodus 13). Then Pharaoh will once again change his mind and confront the Hebrews on the shores of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.