Exodus 10:8

8 And they called back Moses, and Aaron, to Pharao; and he said to them: Go, sacrifice to the Lord your God: who are they that shall go?

Exodus 10:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 10:8

And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh
Upon this motion of his ministers, messengers were sent to bring them in again:

and he said, go, serve the Lord your God;
as you have often desired:

but who are they that shall go?
or, "who and who" ^F6? for Pharaoh was unwilling that they should all go, but would have some retained as pledges of their return; for he was jealous of a design to get out of his country, and never return again, which he could not bear the thoughts of, even of losing such a large number of men he had under his power, and from whom he received so much profit and advantage by their labour.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (ymw ym) "qui et qui?" Pagninus, Montanus; "quis & quis?" Vatablus.

Exodus 10:8 In-Context

6 And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of thy servants, and of all the Egyptians: such a number as thy fathers have not seen, nor thy grandfathers, from the time they were first upon the earth, until this present day. And he turned himself away, and went forth from Pharao.

7 And Pharao’s servants said to him: How long shall we endure this scandal? let the men go to sacrifice to the Lord their God. Dost thou not see that Egypt is undone?

8 And they called back Moses, and Aaron, to Pharao; and he said to them: Go, sacrifice to the Lord your God: who are they that shall go?

9 Moses said: We will go with our young and old, with our sons and daughters, with our sheep and herds: for it is the solemnity of the Lord our God.

10 And Pharao answered: So be the Lord with you, as I shall let you and your children go: who can doubt but that you intend some great evil?