Pharaoh of the Exodus (Exodus 3:10–22; Exodus 4:21–23; Exodus 5:1–9; Exodus 7:1–13; Exodus 8:15–19; Exodus 8:32; Exodus 9:12–16; Exodus 9:27–35; Exodus 10:1–2; Exodus 10:16–20; Exodus 10:27–29; Exodus 11:1–10; Exodus 12:29–32; Exodus 14:4–8; Exodus 14:23–28; Exodus 15:4; 1 Samuel 6:6; Psalms 136:15; Romans 9:17)

King of Egypt Who Would Not Let the People Go

The king of Egypt, unnamed in the text, to whom Moses and Aaron were sent; he said he knew not the LORD, laid heavier work on the people, promised release through the plagues and did not let them go, sent Israel out when the firstborn died, and pursued them to the sea, where the waters covered all the host of Pharaoh.

The text gives this king no personal name; Exodus calls him Pharaoh and the king of Egypt. This study begins at Exodus 3, where the LORD sends Moses to him: “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Earlier chapters speak of a new king “who knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:8) and record that “the king of Egypt died” (Exodus 2:23); the text does not identify the Pharaoh of Exodus 5-14 with the king of those chapters, and this study does not carry their deeds over to him. The LORD says beforehand, “I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand” (Exodus 3:19), and “I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go” (Exodus 4:21).

When Moses and Aaron ask for a feast in the wilderness, Pharaoh answers, “Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2), and lays heavier work on the people. Through the signs and plagues that follow he sometimes calls for Moses and Aaron and promises to let the people go, and then does not. The text speaks of the hardening of his heart in different ways in different verses. The LORD says “I will harden his heart” (Exodus 4:21) and “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 7:3), and later “I have hardened his heart” (Exodus 10:1); the narrative says “Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh” (Exodus 9:12) and “Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 10:20). Of Pharaoh it says “he hardened his heart” (Exodus 8:15), “Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also” (Exodus 8:32), and “he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart” (Exodus 9:34). Elsewhere it says only “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened” (Exodus 7:13) or “the heart of Pharaoh was hardened” (Exodus 9:35), and twice that his heart was “stubborn” (Exodus 7:14).

At midnight the LORD smites the firstborn of Egypt, and Pharaoh rises in the night and sends Moses and Aaron and Israel away. Then “the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people” (Exodus 14:5); he pursues with chariots, and at the sea “the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh” (Exodus 14:28). The song at the sea says, “Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea” (Exodus 15:4). Exodus does not speak of his own end apart from his host; a psalm gives thanks to the One who “overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea” (Psalms 136:15), and the priests and diviners of the Philistines ask, “Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?” (1 Samuel 6:6). Paul writes, “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth” (Romans 9:17).

Weaknesses

• Did not know the LORD
• Heavier work laid on the people
• Promised release, then hardened his heart
• Sinned yet more
• Threatened Moses with death

Themes

• Who is the LORD
• Let my people go
• Hardening of the heart
• Signs and wonders
• The sea

Sent to Pharaoh, and told beforehand (Exodus 3:10–20; Exodus 4:21–23)

The LORD sends Moses to Pharaoh, says the king of Egypt will not give leave to go, and says he will harden his heart.

First audience and the burden increased (Exodus 5:1–23; Exodus 6:1)

Moses and Aaron ask for a feast in the wilderness; Pharaoh says he knows not the LORD, withdraws the straw and lays heavier work on the people, and Moses cries out to the LORD.

First audience and the burden increased

Moses and Aaron came and said, “Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1). “And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2).

“And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? get you unto your burdens” (Exodus 5:4). The same day he commanded the taskmasters: “Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves” (Exodus 5:7), and “Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words” (Exodus 5:9).

Moses returned to the LORD and said, “since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all” (Exodus 5:23). The answer: “Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land” (Exodus 6:1).

The rod and the river of blood (Exodus 7:8–25)

Aaron's rod becomes a serpent before Pharaoh and swallows the magicians' rods; the river is turned to blood, the magicians do likewise, and Pharaoh turns into his house and does not lay it to heart.

Frogs, lice and flies (Exodus 8:1–32)

Pharaoh asks Moses to entreat the LORD and promises release, but hardens his heart when relief comes; the magicians cannot bring forth lice and say it is the finger of God; at the flies he offers a limited release and hardens his heart again.

Frogs, lice and flies

When the frogs covered the land, “Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat Jehovah, that he take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto Jehovah” (Exodus 8:8). “But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them, as Jehovah had spoken” (Exodus 8:15).

At the lice, “the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not” (Exodus 8:18). “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken” (Exodus 8:19).

After the swarms of flies Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to Jehovah your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me” (Exodus 8:28). The LORD removed the flies, “there remained not one. And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go” (Exodus 8:31-32).

Murrain, boils and hail (Exodus 9:1–35)

The cattle of Egypt die and Israel's do not; the boils come upon the magicians; at the hail Pharaoh says he has sinned, and then sins yet more and hardens his heart.

Murrain, boils and hail

“And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he did not let the people go” (Exodus 9:7). After the boils, “Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, as Jehovah had spoken unto Moses” (Exodus 9:12).

Of the hail the LORD says to him, “in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth” (Exodus 9:16). Then “Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: Jehovah is righteous, and I and my people are wicked” (Exodus 9:27).

“And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go, as Jehovah had spoken by Moses” (Exodus 9:34-35).

Locusts and darkness (Exodus 10:1–29)

The LORD says he has hardened Pharaoh's heart; at the locusts Pharaoh asks forgiveness, then the LORD hardens his heart; after the darkness Pharaoh bids Moses see his face no more.

Locusts and darkness

“And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs in the midst of them” (Exodus 10:1). Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “let the men go, that they may serve Jehovah their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?” (Exodus 10:7), and he allowed only the men to go (Exodus 10:8-11).

After the locusts came, “Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against Jehovah your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once” (Exodus 10:16-17). The LORD turned a west wind that drove the locusts into the Red Sea. “But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go” (Exodus 10:20).

After three days of darkness Pharaoh said, “Go ye, serve Jehovah; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed” (Exodus 10:24), and Moses would not leave the cattle. “But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die” (Exodus 10:27-28).

The last plague announced (Exodus 11:1–10)

The LORD announces one plague more, the death of every firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh on his throne; Moses goes out from Pharaoh in hot anger, and the LORD hardens Pharaoh's heart.

The firstborn slain and Israel sent out (Exodus 12:29–36)

At midnight the LORD smites the firstborn of Egypt, and Pharaoh rises in the night, calls for Moses and Aaron, bids them go with their flocks and herds, and asks them to bless him also.

The pursuit to the sea (Exodus 14:1–9)

Told that the people have fled, Pharaoh and his servants have a change of heart; the LORD hardens his heart, and he takes six hundred chosen chariots, pursues, and overtakes Israel by the sea.

The sea and the song (Exodus 14:17–31; Exodus 15:4; Exodus 15:19)

The waters return and cover the chariots, the horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh; Israel sees the Egyptians dead on the shore, and the song at the sea names Pharaoh's chariots and host.

The sea and the song

The LORD said, “I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen” (Exodus 14:17). “And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen” (Exodus 14:23).

“And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them” (Exodus 14:28). “And Israel saw the great work which Jehovah did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah: and they believed in Jehovah, and in his servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31).

The song says, “Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea; And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea” (Exodus 15:4). Exodus records no word from Pharaoh at the sea and does not speak of him apart from his host.

The LORD (Exodus 3:10; Exodus 5:2; Exodus 14:4)

Pharaoh asked who the LORD was and said he knew him not; the LORD sent Moses to him, said he would harden his heart, and said he would get honor upon Pharaoh and his host.

Moses (Exodus 5:1; Exodus 7:1; Exodus 10:28–29)

Sent to Pharaoh, and made as God to him; Pharaoh bade him see his face no more.

Aaron (Exodus 7:2; Exodus 7:10; Exodus 12:31)

Moses' brother, who spoke to Pharaoh with him, cast down the rod before him, and was called with Moses on the night of the firstborn.

The magicians of Egypt (Exodus 7:11; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 8:18–19)

They did in like manner with their enchantments at the serpent, the blood and the frogs, but could not bring forth lice, and said it was the finger of God.

His servants (Exodus 9:34; Exodus 10:7; Exodus 14:5)

They were with him at the signs, hardened with him after the hail, and said to him that Egypt was destroyed.

The children of Israel (Exodus 5:2; Exodus 12:31; Exodus 14:8)

He said he would not let them go, laid heavier work upon them, sent them out at night, and pursued them to the sea.

Major sections

• Exodus 3–4
• Exodus 5–6
• Exodus 7–11
• Exodus 12:29–36
• Exodus 14–15

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