“And there shall be a great outcry throughout the entire land of Egypt, such as there never was and never will be.” (Shemot 11:6)
It must be clarified why the verse says “there shall be a great outcry” in the singular, when seemingly there should have been many cries coming from countless households.
The Alshich explains that a unique miracle occurred during the plague of the firstborn. Unlike the other plagues, which lasted for seven days and could cease through Moses’ prayer, this plague took place in a single instant. All the firstborn died at the same moment.
Therefore, the verse is exceedingly precise in stating “a great outcry”: everyone cried out at exactly the same time, and the sound was perceived as one unified cry. Had they died one after another, many successive cries would have been heard.
Furthermore, Rabbeinu explains that the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted them all to die simultaneously so that they would have no opportunity to repent out of fear of punishment and thereby halt the plague.
(Zera Shimshon, Parashat Kedoshim, art. 2)
