8:8 Then Pharaoh summoned12 Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray13 to the Lord that he may take the frogs away14 from me and my people, and I will release15 the people that they may sacrifice16 to the Lord.”
tn The verb קָרָא (qara’) followed by the lamed (ל) preposition has the meaning “to summon.”
13
tn The verb הַעְתִּירוּ (ha’tiru) is the Hiphil imperative of the verb עָתַר (’atar). It means “to pray, supplicate,” or “make supplication”—always addressed to God. It is often translated “entreat” to reflect that it is a more urgent praying.
14
tn This form is the jussive with a sequential vav that provides the purpose of the prayer: pray … that he may turn away the frogs.
sn This is the first time in the conflict that Pharaoh even acknowledged that Yahweh existed. Now he is asking for prayer to remove the frogs and is promising to release Israel. This result of the plague must have been an encouragement to Moses.
15
tn The form is the Piel cohortative וַאֲשַׁלְּחָה (va’ashallékhah) with the vav (ו) continuing the sequence from the request and its purpose. The cohortative here stresses the resolve of the king: “and (then) I will release.”
16
tn Here also the imperfect tense with the vav (ו) shows the purpose of the release: “that they may sacrifice.”