Exodus 12:31-32
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Pharaoh's panicked command, "go, serve the LORD, as you have said," isn't just a surrender; it's a desperate echo of Moses' earlier pronouncements. He's not just letting the Israelites go; he's acknowledging, in his terror, the very authority and purpose Moses had declared all along. This shows how God's plans can turn even the proudest enemies into unwilling witnesses and reluctant messengers of His will.
Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the climax of God's judgment upon Egypt, as the final plague, the death of the firstborn, has just struck. Pharaoh, in utter terror and grief, finally capitulates, summoning Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night to command them to leave immediately with all the Israelites. This urgent dismissal is the direct result of the devastating plague and sets the stage for Israel's hasty departure from Egypt.
Imagine the Egyptian ruler, utterly defeated, sending for his adversaries in the dead of night. What does this desperate midnight summons reveal about God's power and Pharaoh's brokenness?
This verse marks a dramatic shift. Pharaoh, who had relentlessly opposed Moses and the Israelites, now summons them. This isn't a sign of his authority, but of his utter terror.
A Desperate King
Amidst the chaos and judgment, a crucial instruction is given: 'go, serve the LORD.' What does this command signify for the newly freed Israelites?
The immediate directive after the judgment and expulsion is not simply to escape, but to .
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Purpose Beyond Escape
Understand the original words
avad · Hebrew Verb
To render religious service, worship, or obedience to God; it implies a life devoted to the Lord's commands and honor.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the God of Israel, the personal, covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself to Moses and delivered His people from bondage.
barak · Hebrew Verb
To invoke God's favor, protection, or prosperity upon someone; in this context, it reflects Pharaoh's recognition of the power of the God of Israel.
This verse marks the climactic moment of God's judgment on Egypt and the dramatic liberation of His people. Pharaoh's panicked command to leave underscores the overwhelming power of God's judgment, as even the king, who had previously hardened his heart, is now desperate for the Israelites to depart.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
God Afflicts Egypt with Plagues
Following Pharaoh's repeated refusal to let the Israelites go, God unleashes a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt, culminating in the death of every firstborn Egyptian son.
Midnight, c. 1446 BC
The Tenth Plague Strikes
At midnight, the final and most devastating plague occurs, resulting in the death of the firstborn of Pharaoh and all of Egypt, from the highest to the lowest.
Night of the Tenth Plague
Pharaoh's Hasty Release
In the midst of widespread death and terror, Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron, commanding them and all the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately.
The Following Day
Israelites Depart Egypt
The Israelites leave Rameses, their place of dwelling, and journey to Succoth. The exodus involves approximately 600,000 men, plus women, children, and a mixed multitude, along with livestock.
430 years after Abraham's arrival
Completion of Sojourning in Egypt
The 430-year period of Israel's sojourn in Egypt concludes, marking the precise fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan.
This passage reveals God's initial call to Abraham, promising him descendants and a land, a divine plan that finds its drastic culmination in the Exodus, where God forcefully delivers His people to fulfill those ancient promises.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15This commandment to keep the Sabbath is rooted in the memory of the Exodus from Egypt, emphasizing God's liberation of Israel from slavery and His provision for them, mirroring the theme of God's direct intervention and care initiated in Exodus 12.
Joshua 24:1-13In this passage, Joshua recounts God's mighty acts, starting with Abraham and culminating in the Exodus, underscoring the liberation from Egypt as a pivotal act of God's faithfulness and power that binds Israel to Him.
Psalm 105:37This psalm directly celebrates the Exodus, stating that God 'brought them out, also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes,' echoing the sudden and divinely orchestrated departure described in Exodus 12.
1 Corinthians 10:10-11Paul uses the Exodus as a cautionary tale for believers, highlighting God's judgment on those who grumbled and fell away, and the miraculous deliverance, showing how this foundational event continues to serve as a spiritual lesson.
clarkeExodus 12:31: "And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said."
Called for Moses and Aaron - That is, he sent the message here mentioned to them; for it does not appear that he had any farther interview with Moses and Aaron, after what is mentioned Exodus 10:28 , Exodus 10:29 , and Exodus 11:8 . See Clarke's notes Exodus 10:28 , Exodus 10:29 (note), and Exodus 11:8…
calvinExodus 12:29-39: "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."
- And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cat…
Pharaoh's panicked command, "go, serve the LORD, as you have said," isn't just a surrender; it's a desperate echo of Moses' earlier pronouncements. He's not just letting the Israelites go; he's acknowledging, in his terror, the very authority and purpose Moses had declared all along. This shows how God's plans can turn even the proudest enemies into unwilling witnesses and reluctant messengers of His will.
This verse marks the climax of God's judgment upon Egypt, as the final plague, the death of the firstborn, has just struck. Pharaoh, in utter terror and grief, finally capitulates, summoning Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night to command them to leave immediately with all the Israelites. This urgent dismissal is the direct result of the devastating plague and sets the stage for Israel's hasty departure from Egypt.
This verse marks the climax of God's judgment upon Egypt, as the final plague, the death of the firstborn, has just struck. Pharaoh, in utter terror and grief, finally capitulates, summoning Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night to command them to leave immediately with all the Israelites. This urgent dismissal is the direct result of the devastating plague and sets the stage for Israel's hasty departure from Egypt.
"Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me…" — Pharaoh's panicked command, "go, serve the LORD, as you have said," isn't just a surrender; it's a desperate echo of Moses' earlier pronouncements. He's not just letting the Israelites go; he's ackno…
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Last reviewed October 2026
