The Importance of the Firstborn
J. H. Kurtz, D. D. Exodus 11:4-10 And Moses said, Thus said the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the middle of Egypt:… The importance of the firstborn may be thus explained: the firstborn naturally enjoyed both precedence and preeminence over the rest, he was the firstling of his father's strength (Genesis 49:3), the first-fruit of his mother. As the firstborn, he stood at the head of the others, and was destined to be the chief of whatever family might be formed by the succeeding births. As he stood at the head of the whole he represented the entire nation of the Egyptians. Hence the power which slew all the firstborn in Egypt was exhibited as a power which could slay all that were born then, and, in the slaughter of the whole of the firstborn, the entire body of the people were ideally slain. (J. H. Kurtz, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: WEB: Moses said, "This is what Yahweh says: 'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt,