1 Yahweh said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt ; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether.
2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.”
3 Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
Note · Exode 11.1–3
Une sortie qui ne sera pas sans ressources
Les objets demandés et la faveur trouvée auprès des Égyptiens accompagnent le départ. Le récit distingue ici la population du refus royal : tous les habitants ne sont pas présentés comme hostiles. Moïse lui-même bénéficie d’une reconnaissance jusque parmi les serviteurs de Pharaon.
4 Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says : ‘About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt,
5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of livestock.
6 There will be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor will be any more.
7 But against any of the children of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal, that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.
8 All these servants of yours will come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, “Get out, with all the people who follow you ;” and after that I will go out.’” He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
Note · Exode 11.4–8
Une mort qui traverse les rangs sociaux
L’annonce atteint le palais comme la maison de la servante. Cette extension souligne la gravité de la crise, mais ne rend pas identiques les responsabilités du roi et des personnes sans pouvoir. Une note ne doit pas effacer la difficulté de ces morts par une explication générale trop facile.
9 Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
10 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go out of his land.
Note · Exode 11.9–10
Un refus devenu le fil du récit
Le chapitre conclut cette série d’avertissements par le refus persistant du roi. La répétition des signes et le durcissement soulignent la résistance d’un pouvoir qui retient les autres. Le dénouement à venir ne sera pas présenté comme un simple accord volontaire entre parties de force égale.