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
In the biblical narrative of Exodus, the Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for generations, and God sent a series of ten plagues to demonstrate His power and compel Pharaoh to release them. The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, was a severe judgment on Egypt for their stubborn refusal to let God's people go, despite previous warnings and signs. This event marked the climax of the plagues, leading directly to the Israelites' hurried departure from Egypt.
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