The plague on the firstborn
1Now 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, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbours for articles of silver and gold.’ 3(The Lord made the Egyptians favourably disposed towards the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)
4So Moses said, ‘This is what the Lord says: “About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand-mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt – worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.” Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, “Go, you and all the people who follow you!” After that I will leave.’ Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.
9The Lord had said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you – so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.’ 10Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.
Pigo La Kumi: Kuuawa Wazaliwa Wa Kwanza
111:1 Kut 3:20; 6:1Basi Bwana alikuwa amemwambia Mose, “Nitaleta pigo moja zaidi kwa Farao na katika nchi ya Misri. Baada ya hilo, atawaacha mwondoke hapa na atakapofanya hivyo, atawafukuza mtoke kabisa. 211:2 Kut 3:21-22Waambie watu wote waume kwa wake wawaombe majirani zao vitu vya fedha na vya dhahabu.” 311:3 Mwa 39:21; Kum 34:11; 2Sam 7:9; 8:13; 22:44; Es 9:4; Za 89:27(Bwana akawafanya Wamisri wawe na moyo wa ukarimu kwa Waisraeli, naye Mose mwenyewe akaheshimiwa sana na maafisa wa Farao na watu wote katika nchi ya Misri.)
411:4 Kut 12:29; Ay 34:20; Kut 12:23; Za 81:5Kwa hiyo Mose akasema, “Hili ndilo Bwana asemalo: ‘Panapo usiku wa manane Mimi nitapita katika nchi yote ya Misri. 511:5 Kut 4:23; Za 78:51; Isa 47:2Kila mwanaume kifungua mimba katika Misri atakufa, kuanzia mzaliwa wa kwanza wa kiume wa Farao, aketiye penye kiti cha ufalme, hadi mzaliwa wa kwanza wa kiume wa mtumwa wa kike, anayesaga nafaka kwa jiwe, pamoja na kila mzaliwa wa kwanza wa mifugo. 611:6 Kut 12:30; Mit 21:13; Amo 5:17Patakuwepo kilio kikubwa katika nchi yote ya Misri, kilio kibaya ambacho hakijakuwepo wala kamwe hakitakuwepo tena. 711:7 Kut 8:22Lakini miongoni mwa Waisraeli hakuna hata mbwa atakayembwekea mwanadamu wala mnyama yeyote.’ Ndipo mtakapojua kuwa Bwana huweka tofauti kati ya Misri na Israeli. 811:8 Kut 12:31-33; Ebr 11:27Maafisa hawa wako wote watanijia, wakisujudu mbele yangu, wakisema, ‘Ondoka, wewe pamoja na watu wako wote wanaokufuata!’ Baada ya haya nitaondoka.” Kisha Mose, huku akiwa amewaka hasira, akamwacha Farao.
911:9 Kut 7:4; 3:20Bwana alikuwa amemwambia Mose, “Farao atakataa kukusikiliza, ili maajabu yangu yapate kuongezeka katika nchi ya Misri.” 1011:10 Kut 4:21; Rum 2:5Mose na Aroni wakafanya maajabu haya yote mbele ya Farao, lakini Bwana akaufanya moyo wa Farao kuwa mgumu, wala hakuwaachia Waisraeli waondoke katika nchi yake.
