Exodus 10:9–11

Footnotes

1. 29 Heb “we have a pilgrim feast (חַג, khag) to Yahweh.”
2. 30 Pharaoh is by no means offering a blessing on them in the name of Yahweh. The meaning of his “wish” is connected to the next clause—as he is releasing them, may God help them. S. R. Driver says that in Pharaoh’s scornful challenge Yahweh is as likely to protect them as Pharaoh is likely to let them go—not at all (Exodus, ). He is planning to keep the women and children as hostages to force the men to return. U. Cassuto (Exodus, ) paraphrases it this way: “May the help of your God be as far from you as I am from giving you permission to go forth with your little ones.” The real irony, Cassuto observes, is that in the final analysis he will let them go, and Yahweh will be with them.
3. 31 The context of Moses’ list of young and old, sons and daughters, and the contrast with the word for strong “men” in v. 11 indicates that טַפְּכֶם (tappékhem), often translated “little ones” or “children,” refers to dependent people, noncombatants in general.
4. 32 Heb “see.”
5. 33 Heb “before your face.” The “trouble” or “evil” that is before them could refer to the evil that they are devising—the attempt to escape from Egypt. But that does not make much sense in the sentence—why would he tell them to take heed or look out about that? U. Cassuto (Exodus, ) makes a better suggestion. He argues that Pharaoh is saying, “Don’t push me too far.” The evil, then, would be what Pharaoh was going to do if these men kept making demands on him. This fits the fact that he had them driven out of his court immediately. There could also be here an allusion to Pharaoh’s god Re’, the sun-deity and head of the pantheon; he would be saying that the power of his god would confront them.
6. 34 Heb “not thus.”
7. 35 The word is הַגְּבָרִים (haggévarim, “the strong men”), a word different from the more general one that Pharaoh’s servants used (v. 7). Pharaoh appears to be conceding, but he is holding hostages. The word “only” has been supplied in the translation to indicate this.
8. 36 The suffix on the sign of the accusative refers in a general sense to the idea contained in the preceding clause (see §135.p).
9. 37 Heb “you are seeking.”
10. 38 Heb “they”; the referent (Moses and Aaron) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
11. 39 The verb is the Piel preterite, third person masculine singular, meaning “and he drove them out.” But “Pharaoh” cannot be the subject of the sentence, for “Pharaoh” is the object of the preposition. The subject is not specified, and so the verb can be treated as passive.