<b>And it came to pass in the middle of the night, that the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt (Exod. 12:29).</b> The Creator of the night divided the night precisely. <i>The Lord smote all the first born</i>. It was the Lord Himself who smote the firstborn and not His emissary (Moses). In fact, even though a man was elsewhere, and his firstborn was in Egypt, he died. How do we know that the firstborn of the Cuthites, Puthites, and Ludites were also slain? It is said: <i>And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham</i> (Ps. 78:51).<sup class="footnote-marker">8</sup><i class="footnote">Ham was the ancestor of Cush, Put, and Lud (Gen. 10:15).</i> Only the firstborn of the Pharaoh remained alive in fulfillment of the verse <i>However, it was for this that I raised you up</i> (Exod. 9:16). And Ba’al Saphon was the only idol remaining, to mislead them, in fulfillment of the verse <i>He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them</i> (Job 12:23). <i>Unto the firstborn of the captives</i> (Exod. 12:29). Why were the firstborn of the captives punished? Because they had rejoiced in the decrees promulgated against Israel. Hence it is written: <i>He that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished</i> (Prov. 17:5). You must not be of the opinion that only the captives reacted in that manner, for the slaves and handmaidens did likewise, as is said: <i>Even unto the firstborn of the maidservants that is behind the mill</i> (Exod. 11:5); that is, even those who were legally bound to the millers. Even their firstborn cattle were destroyed lest the people assert: “Our deities are powerful, and that is why punishment was imposed upon them (and not upon us).”
<i>And Pharaoh rose up in the night</i> (Exod. 12:30). Perhaps (he rose at) the third hour (9:00 a.m.), the time at which kings are accustomed to arise. (Therefore) Scripture says specifically <i>in the night</i>. Perhaps he was awakened by the princes and the princesses, (and therefore) the verse states he <i>arose</i>, to inform us that he went to the door of the servants’ quarters and aroused them. He went with them, calling out: “Where are Moses and Aaron resting?” as it is said: <i>And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said: “Rise up, get you forth from among my people”</i> (ibid., v. 31). Whereupon Moses replied: The Holy One, blessed be He, told us: <i>And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning</i> (ibid., v. 22). Are we thieves that we should steal away under the cover of night? No. We shall depart proudly, in full view of the Egyptians.
Why did Pharaoh and his servants approach him, saying: <i>Get you</i>? The time Pharaoh told him: <i>Get thee from me, see my face no more</i> (ibid. 10:29), he (Moses) insisted: <i>But we shall not leave until all these servants shall come down unto me</i> (ibid. 11:9), to escort us from this place. This verse indicates that Moses paid homage to royalty, since he did not say to him: “You and all your servants.” In fact, the Holy One, blessed be He, had previously charged Moses and Aaron to be respectful to royalty, as it is said: <i>And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt</i> (ibid. 6:13). Joseph was respectful to royalty when he said: <i>It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace</i> (Gen. 41:6). Jacob was respectful to royalty; <i>and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed</i> (ibid. 49:2). Elijah paid homage to royalty, as is said: <i>And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah</i> (I Kings 18:46). Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah also were respectful to royalty, and so was Daniel.
<i>Go serve the Lord, but who are they that shall go?</i> (Exod. 10:8), he asked, and you replied: <i>We shall go with our young and with our old</i>. Then I say to you: <i>Arise up, get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel</i> (ibid. 12:31), <i>only let your flocks and your herds remain</i> (ibid. 10:24). You answered: <i>Our cattle also shall go with us, there shall not a hoof be left behind</i> (ibid., v. 26). <i>Then take both your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone</i> (ibid. 12:32). Would that you had already departed. Then you added: <i>Thou must also give into our hands sacrifices and burnt-offerings</i> (ibid., v. 28). Take whatever you wish and depart, <i>and bless me also</i> (ibid., v. 32); said Pharaoh.