שמות, פרק י׳, פסוק כ״ה

In response to Pharaoh's attempt to dictate the terms of the exodus by demanding the Israelites leave their flocks behind, Moses delivers a firm and expansive counter-demand. He makes it clear that not only will the Israelites take all their own property, but Pharaoh himself will be forced to provide animals for the service of God. Moses mirrors Pharaoh's own language to heighten the contrast between the Egyptian king's current stubborn refusal and his inevitable future surrender [קאסוטו]. The implication is that allowing the Israelites' livestock to go is not enough; Pharaoh will have to contribute from his own herds [רש״י, מזרחי, גור אריה].

This demand to accept sacrifices from a wicked and impure king raises a significant dilemma. One approach suggests that Moses never actually intended to take Pharaoh's animals, as the sacrifice of the wicked is considered an abomination. Instead, his statement was a rhetorical exaggeration meant to emphasize that the impending plagues would become so unbearable that Pharaoh would eventually beg to surrender all his possessions as a ransom for his life [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך]. Similarly, this demand can be viewed as a sharp rebuke. Moses was telling Pharaoh that if he had truly internalized God's wonders, he would have initiated the offering of sacrifices to save himself from death. However, because Pharaoh remained stubborn, Moses settled for simply taking the Israelites' own flocks [ביאור יש״ר].

The primary approach among commentators, however, is that Pharaoh was genuinely required to provide animals so the Israelites could offer them on his behalf to stop the plagues [אבן עזרא, חזקוני]. During the plague of thick darkness, Pharaoh refrained from praying, believing it to be futile, and therefore desperately needed the Israelites to intercede for him [חזקוני]. This dynamic ultimately materialized during the exodus when Pharaoh cried out, begging the Israelites to bless him as well [העמק דבר, אבן עזרא הקצר].

To resolve the issue of accepting sacrifices from a wicked person, another explanation posits that Pharaoh would simply give the animals as an absolute gift to the Israelites. They would then offer the sacrifices for themselves, not on Pharaoh's behalf [אור החיים]. A more practical concern may have also driven Moses' demand. Because the Egyptians were steeped in immorality and suspected of bestiality, the Israelites' flocks that lived among them were at risk of being disqualified for altar service. Therefore, Moses demanded that Pharaoh supply pure, acceptable animals from his own specially guarded royal herds [פרדס יוסף].

A distinction is made regarding the specific types of offerings requested. Burnt offerings refer to sacrifices completely consumed on the altar, a practice familiar to humanity since the days of Noah. Conversely, peace offerings are sacrifices meant to be eaten, a tradition introduced by Jacob that later spread to other nations [ברכת אשר על התורה]. This introduces another complication, as tradition dictates that non-Jews may only bring burnt offerings, not peace offerings. To resolve this, some explain that the term for peace offerings in this context does not refer to formal altar sacrifices, but rather to animals designated for slaughter for festive meals [תורה תמימה, רש״ר הירש]. Alternatively, if Pharaoh gave the animals as a complete gift to the Israelites, there was no restriction preventing the Israelites from offering them as peace offerings [אור החיים].