The Tenth Plague: Death
1 The Lord 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 drive you out completely. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people and let every man ask his neighbor and every woman her neighbor for jewels of silver and jewels of gold.” 3 The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
4 Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Around midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt must die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, 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 ever be again. 7 But against the Israelites not even a dog will bark or growl, either against man or animal, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israelites. 8 All these servants of yours will come down to me and bow down 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.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not 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 the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the Israelites go out of his land.