שמות, פרק י׳, פסוק כ״ז

Following the terrifying weight of the plague of darkness, the negotiations between Moses and the Egyptian ruler reach an absolute dead end. As the final blow approaches, the ruler's stubbornness takes on a new, deeply internal, and complex nature. God intervened by granting him the internal strength to withstand the overwhelming fear of the recent disaster, ensuring the historical process would reach its intended purpose [העמק דבר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This newfound resolve had physical roots as well; as the heavy darkness slowly began to lift, a false sense of security washed over him [רש ר הירש]. Furthermore, God fortified his mind by allowing him to convince himself that he had already agreed to the original divine command to let the people go. In his mind, the new demand to take the flocks and herds was nothing more than a fabricated plot invented by Moses himself [מלבי״ם].

The nature of the ruler's refusal underwent a significant psychological shift at this stage. Some commentators suggest this change actually points to a slight softening in his stance. While he was previously entirely opposed to the idea of releasing the Israelites, the immense suffering he endured brought him to a more balanced position. He was now open to negotiation, but he simply could not accept the strict demands to take all the property [הכתב והקבלה, קאסוטו]. On the other hand, a different approach views this shift as a severe deepening of his rebellion. While earlier refusals might have been purely external with a hesitant heart, his rejection was now absolute and rooted deep within his core [מלבי״ם]. Having seen all his logical arguments crumble in the face of undeniable miracles, his resistance was no longer based on intellectual stubbornness. Instead, it stemmed from a deep, natural hatred and disgust for the very idea of freeing the Israelites [ביאור יש״ר].

He made a firm, uncompromising decision to defy God's word, even if it cost him his own life [אור החיים]. Driven by this absolute resolve, he attempted a strategic maneuver. Realizing that every previous disaster had only struck after a clear warning, he decided to banish Moses from his presence and cut off all contact. He mistakenly believed that if Moses could not see his face to issue a warning, the cycle of destruction would simply halt, sparing him from any further ruin [אור החיים].