And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
At midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt—from Pharaoh's firstborn son who would inherit the throne, to the firstborn of prisoners locked in dungeons, and even all the firstborn of their livestock.
This verse describes God carrying out the final, devastating plague against Egypt—the death of every firstborn—fulfilling His promise to free the Israelites from slavery.
📚 Historical Context
This was the tenth and final plague God sent upon Egypt after Pharaoh repeatedly refused to let the Israelites go free from slavery. The Israelites had been protected from this plague by following God's instructions to mark their doorposts with lamb's blood during the first Passover. This event became the turning point that finally convinced Pharaoh to release the Hebrew people from bondage.
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