Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Exodo 7:10

GET YOU TO YOUR BURDENS. If we follow the simple interpretation of Scripture, reference here is to the work for the king,³³⁴Rashi’s interpretation, mentioned further on in the text, is: “Go to your work which you have to do at home, etc.” Now although Ramban will later agree with this explanation of Rashi, his point here is that in line with the simple meaning of Scripture, “the burdens” are a reference to the labors imposed upon them as slaves. since Moses and Aaron were part of the [Hebrew] people for at this time they came before him with all the people. But he did not listen to them and commanded them: “Return you all to the work.” Later when Moses and Aaron returned before Pharaoh and he said to them, Show a wonder for you,³³⁵Further, 7:9. and they did so, they appeared to him like the magicians, sorcerers, and wise men, and he showed them respect. Still later, when the plagues began coming upon him, he was in dread fear of them.
It appears furthermore that not all the children of Israel worked all the time for Pharaoh in mortar and in brick,³³⁶Above, 1:14. for in that case they would have filled the whole land of Egypt with cities. Rather, they worked in levies, and he pressed his yoke upon them by taking many of the Israelites [into his labors].

“It shall turn into a serpent” [7:9]. The Holy One said to Moses. If Pharaoh would desire a sign from you, take the staff and throw it before Pharaoh and it will become a snake. Bahya asks here. Why did it become a snake and not something else? The explanation is that Pharaoh is compared to the snake that spoke ill about the Holy One and caused Adam to sin. So too was Pharaoh who said, who is God that I should listen to Him? Therefore, the Holy One ordered them to make a snake. That is to say, Pharaoh will also be paid his reward as the snake was paid. Just like a snake is always crooked and is never straight, so too is Pharaoh who never keeps his word. Once he says that he will send Israel, when the plague hurts him. As soon as the plague was ended, he retracted and did not want to send Israel.¹⁰Bahya, Exodus, 7:10.

אשר תעשה בו את האותות, "the one with which you will perform the miracles." This may be a reference to the staff with which Aaron performed such miracles as turning it into a snake (7,10). According to the Zohar we have just quoted that staff became known as "the staff of Aaron;" G'd had commanded Aaron also to have his staff ready at all times. According to Targum Yonathan 2,21 the staff was made of sapphire and no one was able to even move it except Moses. Accordingly, the very fact that Moses could "take" it was a miracle in itself. The words וזה לך האות therefore meant that no one but Moses would be able to handle the staff.