בא - Commentary on Aftermath of Last Plague

גם צאנכם גם בקרכם קחו TAKE ALSO YOUR FLOCKS AND HERDS — And what is the force of כאשר דברתם AS YE HAVE SPOKEN? It is an allusion to (10:25) “Thou, also, must give into our hands sacrifices and burnt offerings” — it means: take of my cattle also even as ye said.

וברכתם גם אתי AND BLESS ME ALSO — Pray on my behalf that I should not die because I am a firstborn (cf. Targum Jonathan on Exodus 12:32 and Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 12:29).

The meaning of "you should bring a blessing upon me also" is: When you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God as you have said, and you pray for yourselves that you will not be struck by plague or by sword, mention me with you. And Rashi said: "Pray on my behalf that I should not die because I am a firstborn." The plain sense of it is that they should bless him and his kingdom, because the peace of the whole kingdom is included in a blessing over the king. And in the Mekhilta: "Pray that my troubles will be finished. That is to say, that he will not be punished further on their account."

גם צאנכם גם בקרכם, “also your flocks and your herds” (you may take with you). The repetition of the word גם is a hint that Pharaoh gave the Israelites also part of his own as well as of his servants’ flocks and herds to take along. Thus Moses’ prediction that not only would the Israelites sacrifice some of these animals for their G-d, but they would include animals formerly owned by Pharaoh and offer these at his request. (Compare 10,25)

Your flocks: "Your flocks come also from mine!" Your herds: "Your herds come also from my ministers!" Take [them], as you said, and begone!: Your prediction has been fulfilled! "Moses said, “You yourself must provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings to offer up to the LORD our God" (Exodus 10:25) And may you bring a blessing upon me also!: Even women and children. Another interpretation: "And may you bring a blessing upon me also." (Exodus 12:32) From here you say that Pharaoh knew that he was lacking in prayer, and God does not forgive someone until he has persuaded his neighbor [to forgive him as well]. What reward did he take for this? -- "In that day, there shall be an altar to the LORD inside the land of Egypt" (Isaiah 19:19) The mouth that said, "Who is the LORD that I should heed Him [and let Israel go]?" (Exodus 5:2) is [also] the mouth that said, "The LORD is in the right [and I and my people are in the wrong.]" (Exodus 9:27) What reward did he take for this? -- "You shall not abhor an Egyptian, for you were a stranger in his land." (Deuteronomy 23:8) The mouth that said, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil," (Exodus 15:9) is [also] the mouth that said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, [for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.]" (Exodus 14:25) What reward did he take for this? -- "You put out Your right hand, The earth swallowed them." (Exodus 15:12) They merited to be buried, that beast and birds would not eat them.

(Exodus 12:31) "And he called for Moses and Aaron": We are hereby apprised that Pharaoh made the rounds of Egypt, asking "Where is Moses to be found? Where is Aaron to be found?" "And he said: Arise, go out" — to which Moses replied: We are exhorted to go out only in a throng, viz. (Ibid. 22) "And you, do not go out, etc." Variantly: "And he called to Moses and to Aaron": What is the intent of this? Pharaoh had said to him (Ibid. 10:28) "Go from me." (29) "And Moses said: "True have you spoken" (and in the proper time. Indeed,) "I shall not see your face again." (11:8) "And all these servants of yours will come down to me (Moses), etc." What is the intent of "these"? You (Pharaoh) are destined to be at their head and to come down first — whereby we are taught that Moses accorded honor to the ruler, ("these" being euphemistic for "you"). And thus do we find that the Holy One Blessed be He (Himself) accorded honor to the ruler, viz. (6:13) "And the L rd spoke to Moses and to Aaron and he charged them … to Pharaoh." He charged them to accord honor to the ruler. For thus do we find with Joseph, that he accorded honor to the ruler, viz. (Genesis 41:16) "G d will answer (for) the peace of Pharaoh." And thus with Jacob, viz. (Genesis 28:2) "And Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed" (to accord honor to Joseph, the ruler at that time). And thus with Eliyahu, viz. (I Kings 18:46) "And he girded his loins and ran before (King) Achav." And thus with Chananiah, Mishael, and Azaryah, viz. (Daniel 3:26) "Then Nevuchadnezzar approached the door of the burning, fiery furnace and called out: 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Aved-Nego, servants of the Most High — Come out! (Only) then (at the behest of the ruler) Shadrach, Meshach, and Aved-Nego came out of the fire?" And thus with Daniel, viz. (Daniel 6:21) "And when he (the king) approached the den, he cried to Daniel in a mournful voice … (22) (Only) then did Daniel speak with the king, etc." "And he said: Arise and go out": I (Pharaoh) said (Ibid. 10:8) "Who and who are the goers?" and you said (Ibid. 9) "With our youth and with our elders will we go" — "Arise go out from the midst of my people, both you (the adults) and the children of Israel." I said (Ibid. 24) "Only your flocks and herds leave in place," and you said (Ibid. 25) "You, too, shall place in our hands sacrifices and burnt-offerings" — (Ibid. 12:32) "Take as you have spoken and go, etc." "and bless me, too": Pray that this calamity depart from me.