Exodus 12:29–42 — The death of all the oldest male offspring

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Exo 12:29–42

12:29 The death of all the oldest male offspring

29 Then, in the middle of the night, Yahweh struck all the oldest males in Mitsrayim (Egypt), from the oldest son of Par’oh (Pharaoh) who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon and all oldest male offspring of the animals.[ref] 30 During the night, all the Mitsrim (Egyptians) got up, including Par’oh and all his servants. There was tremendous wailing throughout Mitsrayim because it was a very rare house where there wasn’t someone dead. 31 Par’oh called for Mosheh (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron) in the night and told them, “Pack up and get out from among my people—you two and all the other Israelis. Go and serve Yahweh as you’ve said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds as you’ve said, and go. And bless me as well.

33 The Mitsrim urged the Israelis, hurrying to let them go from the land because they said, “We’re all dying.”

34 So the people carried their bread dough before it could rise. Their bread-making bowls were wrapped in their clothes on their shoulders.

35 The Israelis did everything that Mosheh had instructed them, including asking for items of gold and silver, and clothing from the Mitsrim.[ref] 36 Yahweh gave the people favour in the eyes of the Mitsrim, so by their requests, they were able to strip the Mitsrim of their wealth.

37 Then the Israelis walked from Ra’meses toward Sukot—about 600,000 strong men on foot, not counting women and children. 38 A large assortment of other people also went with them, along with large numbers of sheep and goats, and cattle.

39 They baked the dough that they brought from Mitsrayim (Egypt) into flat bread since it hadn’t had time to rise,[fn] because they were driven out of Mitsrayim in a hurry and hadn’t had time to prepare food to take.

40 The descendants of Yisrael (Israel) (also called Ya’akov (Jacob) ) had lived in Mitsrayim for 430 years[ref] 41 to the day, because that very day was when all the various divisions of Yahweh’s people left Mitsrayim. 42 It was a time when they stayed awake all night as Yahweh took them out of Mitsrayim—a night to be observed in that same way by every future generation.

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29 And_he/it _was in_the _middle _of the_night and_YHWH he _struck _down every _of firstborn in_land of _Miʦrayim from_the _firstborn _of Parˊoh who_sat on throne _of_his unto the _firstborn _of the _prisoner who in_house _of the _cistern and_all/each/any/every firstborn _of livestock.

30 And_he/it _rose _up Parˊoh night he and_all servants _of_his and_all Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_it _became a _cry great in_Miʦrayim if/because there_was_not a _house where there_was_not there a _dead_person.

31 And_he/it _called (to)_Mosheh and_(to)_ʼAhₐron night and_he/it _said arise go _out from_among _of people _of_my both you(pl) as _well _as the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_go serve DOM YHWH as_said_you(pl).

32 Both flock[s]_of_your(pl) as _well _as herd[s]_of_your(pl) take just_as you(pl)_said and_go and_you(pl)_will _bless also DOM_me.

33 And_ Miʦrayim _it _urged on the_people to_hurry to_send_them _away from the_earth/land if/because they _said of _us _of_all are_about _to _die.

34 And_ the_people _it _carried _off DOM dough _of_its before it _was _leavened troughs _of_their _kneading were_bound _up in_clothes _of_their on shoulder _of_their.

35 And_the _sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they _did according_to _the _message _of Mosheh and_they _asked from_Miʦrayim articles _of silver and_articles _of gold and_clothes.

36 And_YHWH he _gave DOM the _favour _of the _people in/on_both _eyes _of Miʦrayim and_they_granted _them _the _request and_they _plundered DOM Miʦrayim.

37 And_ the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _set _out from_Raˊməşēş to_Şukkōt were_about_six hundred(s) thousand foot _soldier[s] the_men apart_beside from_little _one[s].

38 And_also a _mixed _company numerous it _went _up with_them and_flock[s] and_herd[s] livestock numerous very.

39 And_they _baked DOM the_dough which they _had _brought _out from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) bread _cakes unleavened _bread(s) if/because not it _was _leavened if/because they _had _been _driven _out from_Miʦrayim and_not they _had _been _able to_delay and_also provision[s] not they _had _made to/for_them.

40 And_the _dwelling _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) which they _dwelt in_Miʦrayim was_thirty year[s] and_four hundred(s) year[s].

41 And_he/it _was from _the_end/extremity thirty year[s] and_four hundred(s) year[s] and_he/it _was on_the _substance _of the_day the_this all _of the _soldiers/messengers _of YHWH they _went _out from_the _land _of Miʦrayim.

42 Was_a _night _of vigil(s) it to/for_YHWH to_bring_them _out from_the _land _of Miʦrayim that the_night the_this to/for_YHWH will _be_vigil(s) to/from_all/each/any/every the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_generations _of_their.

12:39 Most modern readers probably visualise yeast bought from a supermarket when ‘leaven’ (or even ‘yeast’) is mentioned in a Bible translation. However, it’s much more likely that each day, a portion of the bread dough was set aside for the natural yeasts (think ‘sour dough’ bread) to accumulate, and then mixed into the new batch of dough the next day and left for the natural yeasts to work and rise the dough. The text here implies that it’s possible that the Hebrew word translated ‘unleavened’ really meant ‘unrisen’ on that first ‘pass-over’ night.

12:29: Exo 4:22-23.

12:35-36: Exo 3:21-22.

12:40: Gen 15:13; Gal 3:17.

OET-RV by cross-referenced section EXO 12:29

The death of all the oldest male offspring

Exo 12:29–42

Collected OET-RV cross-references