שמות, פרק י׳, פסוק ט״ז

The overwhelming devastation of the locusts brings the Egyptian king to a sudden breaking point. For a brief moment, his intense distress overcomes his deep-seated pride [ביאור יש״ר]. Seized by panic, he sends messengers to urgently summon the Hebrew leaders [אבן עזרא] and delivers his most comprehensive confession yet, acknowledging his offenses against both the Creator and His representatives [קאסוטו].

Commentators offer different explanations for what prompted this sudden, frantic rush. One perspective suggests an economic motive, viewing the king's haste as a desperate attempt to save whatever remained of Egypt's agriculture. He needed the destruction to stop before the swarms could devour the very roots of the crops [ספורנו] or strip the bark off the trees, ruining them forever [העמק דבר]. Alternatively, the rush was driven by a genuine fear for human life. Once the vegetation was entirely consumed, the swarms began invading homes. The king grew terrified that the rotting insects would produce a stench leading to a fatal plague [מלבי״ם], or that the locusts would physically attack the Egyptians' eyes, resulting in a bizarre and gruesome death [שפתי כהן, צאינה וראינה]. This profound terror heavily influences his manner of speaking, as his sheer panic causes him to erratically switch between singular and plural phrasing [ברכת אשר על התורה].

In his confession to God, the ruler admits his guilt in refusing to release the Israelites and in treating God's honor with contempt [רלב״ג, העמק דבר]. However, another view suggests that his admission is actually an acknowledgment of God's kindness, recognizing that God sent warnings to give him an opportunity to turn away from his evil path [חזקוני].

The king then extends his apology directly to the two leaders. The primary approach among commentators is that he is addressing his own crude behavior from just moments before the plague began, when he publicly humiliated them and chased them out of his palace. Realizing he had violated the universal laws of royalty that demand respect for ambassadors—especially those representing God—he begs for their forgiveness so they might agree to pray on his behalf [מלבי״ם]. Yet, even in this sweeping apology, a glaring omission remains: he asks forgiveness only from the leaders, completely ignoring the Israelites. The enslaved people were so utterly worthless in his eyes that his ego prevented him from humbling himself to apologize to them [קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. Ultimately, even in a moment of complete surrender, the king desperately clings to the last shreds of his dignity [קאסוטו].