Exodus 10:24-27
24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord—only your flocks and herds will be detained. Even your families ▼ may go with you.” 25 But Moses said, “Will you also ▼▼tn B. Jacob (Exodus, 287) shows that the intent of Moses in using גַּם (gam) is to make an emphatic rhetorical question. He cites other samples of the usage in Num 22:33; 1 Sam 17:36; 2 Sam 12:14, and others. The point is that if Pharaoh told them to go and serve Yahweh, they had to have animals to sacrifice. If Pharaoh was holding the animals back, he would have to make some provision.
provide us ▼▼tn Heb “give into our hand.”
with sacrifices and burnt offerings that we may present them ▼▼tn The form here is וְעָשִּׂינוּ (veʿasinu), the Qal perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive—“and we will do.” But the verb means “do” in the sacrificial sense—prepare them, offer them. The verb form is to be subordinated here to form a purpose or result clause.
to the Lord our God? 26Our livestock must ▼▼tn This is the obligatory imperfect nuance. They were obliged to take the animals if they were going to sacrifice, but more than that, since they were not coming back, they had to take everything.
also go with us! Not a hoof is to be left behind! For we must take ▼▼tn The same modal nuance applies to this verb.
these animals ▼▼tn Heb “from it,” referring collectively to the livestock.
to serve the Lord our God. Until we arrive there, we do not know what we must use to serve the Lord.” ▼▼sn Moses gives an angry but firm reply to Pharaoh’s attempt to control Israel; he makes it clear that he has no intention of leaving any pledge with Pharaoh. When they leave, they will take everything that belongs to them.
27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to release them.
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