Exodus 12:32

Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

Exodus 12:32 (KJV)

Context

This verse stands at the climax of the ten plagues. The death of every firstborn in Egypt has just struck the land, and Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron during the night. His earlier refusals and compromises have collapsed. Now he urgently tells the Israelites to leave, taking their flocks and herds as they had asked, and to bless him also.

Meaning

Pharaoh’s command to take the livestock reverses his earlier demand that the flocks and herds remain in Egypt (Exodus 10:24). He now grants the full request, showing that God’s word through Moses has prevailed. The phrase “bless me also” is likely a plea for prayer, as the ancient Aramaic Targum renders it “pray for me.” Pharaoh, who had hardened his heart, now seeks favor from the people he oppressed. His request is real but shallow, born of desperation rather than repentance. This dramatic reversal reveals the extent of his distress and the power of God’s judgment. The oppressor who once refused to let the people go now urges them to depart with everything they own.

Biblical connections

The deliverance here foreshadows the greater redemption through Christ, the Passover Lamb. Just as Pharaoh released Israel with their possessions, God later frees believers from sin’s bondage, providing for their needs. The request for blessing also echoes the promise to Abraham that those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3), though Pharaoh’s blessing is sought without a changed heart. The urgency of “be gone” reminds us that God’s call to leave bondage is immediate and total.

Application

God’s deliverance is complete. He not only breaks the chains of slavery but also supplies what His people need for the journey. When God calls us to leave sin, we should respond promptly, without hesitation, as the Israelites did. We may also see enemies or opponents acknowledge God’s power, yet we must remember that true blessing requires repentance, not just a desperate request. We can pray for those who oppose us, as Moses and Aaron likely did, while trusting God to work in every situation. This passage also warns that a superficial request for blessing, without true repentance, is ultimately hollow.

Reflection

Pharaoh’s words “bless me also” reveal a man who has seen God’s power but not submitted to Him. His blessing is hollow because his heart remains unchanged. This warns us to examine our own motives. Do we seek God’s blessing while resisting His will? The verse also reassures us that God can turn the hearts of enemies and that His purposes cannot be thwarted. As we follow Him, we can trust that He will provide and protect, just as He did for Israel on that night of deliverance.