“It was at midnight, and the Lord smote all firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle” (Exodus 12:29). “It was at midnight” – that is what is written: “Who fulfills the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers” (Isaiah 44:26). Rabbi Abahu says: “Who fulfills the word of His servant,” this [servant] is Moses, as it is stated: “My servant Moses is not so, [he is trusted in all My house]” (Numbers 12:7).
How did He fulfill [the word of Moses]? When He brought the plague of darkness upon them, Pharaoh began screaming: “Go serve the Lord; only your flocks and your herds will remain…” (Exodus 10:24). Moses said to him: ‘By your life, “no hoof will remain”’ (Exodus 10:26). What is “hoof”?
Even an animal which belongs entirely to an Egyptian, but it has one hoof that belongs to an Israelite, he will not leave it. “As we will take from them” (Exodus 10:26) – after saying: “As we will take from them,” he then said: “And we will not know with what we will serve the Lord” (Exodus 10:26). You, who are flesh and blood, people die if they violate your commands, and if you issue an edict and say: ‘Collect for me such and such,’ the world will be able to fulfill your edict; however, we, perhaps God will say to us, ‘sacrifice an offering of two hundred and ten years’1During all those years we did not sacrifice any offerings. – that is: “And we will not know.”
Pharaoh said to him: ‘Until when will you enter here? “Go from me, beware, do not see my face anymore”’ (Exodus 10:28). Moses said to him: “You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore” (Exodus 10:29).The Holy One blessed be He said: What do I still need to inform Pharaoh? It is one plague.
Immediately, God rushed to him, as it were, and entered into Pharaoh’s palace on Moses’s behalf, who said to him: “I will not see your face anymore,” so he would not be found to be a liar. You find that the Holy One blessed be He spoke to Moses in Pharaoh’s palace only at that time. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “As I leave the city, I will spread my hands to the Lord” (Exodus 9:29).2Moses did not want to pray in Pharaoh’s palace or even in the city, due to the presence of idols there.
Similarly, God did not speak to Moses there. See Shemot Rabba 12:5 and 15:5. But now, the Holy One blessed be He rushed and spoke with Moses, as it is stated: “One more plague I will bring upon Pharaoh…” (Exodus 11:1). When Moses heard, he rejoiced and was exalted, as it is stated: “Moreover the man Moses was very great” (Exodus 11:3).
He began shouting publicly: “So said the Lord: About midnight, [I will emerge in the midst of Egypt]” (Exodus 11:4). “You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore.” ‘I will not come to you anymore, but you will come to me. This general that is standing with you, and this prefect of yours, and all the officers of your palace, will come to me with you, requesting of me, and prostrating themselves to me, so that we will depart from here, as it is written: “All these, your servants, will come down to me, and prostrate themselves to me, saying: [Go out, you and all the people that follow you]” (Exodus 11:8).
He did not want to say “you will prostrate yourself to me” as a show of deference to the kingdom. When midnight arrived, as Moses had said, immediately: “it was at midnight, and the Lord smote all the firstborn” – therefore [the verse states], “Who fulfills the word of His servant.” “And performs the counsel of His messengers,” for [God] consulted with Abraham concerning this matter. When?
It was when the kings came and [Abraham] pursued them, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘It is sufficient for you [to pursue them] until midnight. Come let us divide the night between Me and you,’ as it is stated: “And he divided the night between them” (Genesis 14:15).3This phrase is commonly translated: “He divided himself against them by night,” but the midrash is offering an alternate interpretation.
Once the hour arrived, the counsel was complete;4Once midnight arrived on the night of the plague of the firstborn, God completed the plan He had discussed with Abraham. that is: “it was at midnight” – that is what is written: “And performs the counsel of His messengers.”