But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you
Regard not what they said, nor answer the demand they made, or obey the command of God delivered by them to him: this the Lord apprised them of, that they might not be discouraged, and conclude their labour would be in vain, their attempts fruitless, and they should never gain their point, but spend their time, and expose themselves to danger to no purpose: that I may lay mine hand upon Egypt;
the inhabitants of Egypt, smiting them with one plague after another, and particularly with the last, slaying their firstborn; every plague was a stroke of his hand, and an effect of his mighty power and vengeance, and more especially that: and bring forth mine armies;
the children of Israel consisting of 600,000 men, besides women and children, ( Exodus 12:37 ) which, divided into twelve tribes, made twelve fine armies, 50,000 men in a tribe or army upon an average: and my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
the word "and" need not be supplied; if any supplement is necessary, the word "even" would be better, since this clause is added by way of explanation, showing who are meant by the armies of the Lord, his people to be brought out: by great judgments;
inflicted upon the Egyptians.