Just before the great campaign to free the Israelites from Egypt begins, God cuts through Moses’s hesitations and reshapes the leadership structure. Moses feels inadequate for the task, describing himself as a person unable to perform the basic, natural action expected of him [בכור שור]. In response, God officially appoints Aaron to serve as his brother’s voice and spokesman. Moving forward, the two men become full partners in their mission, standing together before both the Israelites and the Egyptian government [רש״י, שד״ל, מלבי״ם, רש״ר הירש, קאסוטו]. Even with this shared responsibility, Moses retains a higher level of prophecy, as God speaks with him face to face, setting his spiritual connection apart from Aaron’s [ברכת אשר].
The primary approach among commentators is that God’s charge to these new partners is not merely about the practical details of their mission, but rather how they must conduct themselves with everyone involved. When dealing with the Israelites, Moses and Aaron are instructed to lead with gentleness, patience, and mercy. They must carry the burden of the people without anger, even if the Israelites prove stubborn, refuse to listen, or are found immersed in idolatry [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, גור אריה, שפתי כהן, תולדות יצחק, אבן עזרא הקצר]. At the same time, they are commanded to show honor to Pharaoh. Despite the Egyptian king’s wickedness and the severe plagues God will soon bring upon him, the leaders must speak to Pharaoh with the respect appropriate for a royal ruler [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, משכיל לדוד, שפתי כהן, חנוכת התורה].
Other scholars offer a different perspective on this charge, suggesting that God is officially appointing Moses and Aaron as authorities over both the Israelites and Pharaoh. This newly granted power is designed to project strength and command awe, ensuring that the Israelites cannot refuse to leave and that Pharaoh will ultimately be forced to release them [ספורנו, אור החיים, הכתב והקבלה]. Alternatively, some suggest that the command involves specific legal warnings directed at the Israelites, such as demanding they separate themselves from idolatry [רבנו בחיי] or introducing early laws regarding the release of slaves [תורה תמימה, צפנת פענח].
The exact practical steps of how the leaders will bring the Israelites out of Egypt are not detailed at this moment. Instead, the narrative pauses to outline the lineage and family history of Moses and Aaron. Only after establishing this genealogy will the story resume to explain the practical instructions for confronting Pharaoh [רש״י, רמב״ן, מזרחי, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר].