Exodus 7:2 You shall speak all that I command you, and Aaron, your brother, shall speak to Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and I will increase My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.
So Moses and Aaron went to the Pharoah, threw down a staff and it turned to a serpent. The Pharoah’s necromancers did the same with their staffs. The serpent of Moses and Aaron ate the necromancers’ serpents. But…
Exodus 7:13 But Pharaoh’s heart remained steadfast, and he did not hearken to them, as Yhwh had spoken.
Then Moses and Aaron, at Yhwh’s command, stretched the staff over the Nile and all the fish died and the water became putrid.
Exodus 7:22 And the necromancers of Egypt did likewise with their secret rites, and Pharaoh’s heart was steadfast, and he did not heed them, as Yhwh had spoken.
Then Yhwh sent Moses and Aaron to warn Pharaoh he would send a plague of frogs; which he did. The necromancers “did the same and brought frogs to Egypt with their rites.” What does that mean? The frogs were already there. Did the necromancers try to claim the sorcery of Yhwh or did they bring more frogs? The story doesn’t delve into this question. Pharaoh entreated Moses to ask Yhwh to end the plague. The frogs died and stunk the whole place up. But…
Exodus 8:11 When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart, and he did not hearken to them, as Yhwh had spoken.
Then Yhwh killed all the livestock of the Egyptians.
Exodus 9:7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not even one of the livestock of Israel died, but Pharaoh’s heart became hardened, and he did not let the people out.
Then Moses was instructed to toss ash into the air and Pharaoh and everyone in Egypt was stricken with boils,
Exodus 9:12 But Yhwh strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not hearken to them, as Yhwh spoke to Moses
Then Yhwh sent a hail that destroyed all the crops of Egypt.
Exodus 9:35 And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go out, as Yhwh had spoken through the hand of Moses
Exodus 10:1 Yhwh said to Moses: “Come to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order that I may place these signs of Mine in his midst,
Then Yhwh sent a plague of locusts to eat all the hail did not destroy.
Exodus 10:20 But Yhwh strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out.
Yhwh then created darkness over Egypt for three days.
Exodus 10:27 Yhwh strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them out.
Then Yhwh commanded Moses to warn the Pharaoh he would kill all the firstborn of Egypt.
Exodus 11:9 Yhwh said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not heed you, in order to increase My miracles in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron had performed all these miracles before Pharaoh, but Yhwh strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel out of his land.
After this, as we all know, Yhwh fulfilled his threat; he killed all the firstborn Egyptians.
Let’s think about this.
Moses was very popular among the Israelites and Egyptians, but not after Yhwh’s plagues. Notice how Yhwh commanded Moses and Aaron to hold out their hand, or a staff, or cast ash in the air. These actions weren’t necessary if Yhwh was creating the plagues; but would make it seem as though Moses and Aaron were responsible. Yhwh told them the Egyptians would chase them out.
Yhwh keeps punishing Egypt for Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Israelites leave their bondage and worship him. But Yhwh was the one “hardening the Pharaoh’s heart” so he wouldn’t release the Israelites. Yhwh could have gotten the Pharaoh let the children of Israel leave any time he wanted. The Pharaoh may not have even realized he was being influenced.
Each hardening, Yhwh states, is to make his own name known throughout the land. Yhwh declares he is creating plagues out of vanity.This is the same Yhwh that wanted Moses’ firstborn, and threatened to kill the child in the womb if Moses didn’t comply in chapter 4 (this post).
What does Yhwh really take in the end of the story?
The souls of the firstborn children of Egypt.