Following the initial display of power before the Egyptian ruler, it becomes clear that miracles alone will not secure the freedom of the Israelites. God reveals the internal state of the empire's leader to Moses, outlining the necessity of the plagues to come. This revelation ensures Moses does not mistakenly believe the initial sign convinced the king [אברבנאל]. Although the ruler recognized the clear difference between a divine act and mere sorcery, he remained silent rather than explicitly refusing. God clarifies that this silence is not a sign of agreement, but rather proof of a closed mind and absolute rejection [אור החיים, ספורנו]. Alternatively, this message serves to reassure Moses: while the king refuses to release the people, he will no longer actively harm them or increase the burden of their slavery as he did in the past [אלשיך].
The central issue remains the severe heaviness of the king's heart. Commentators debate the exact nature of this condition. One perspective views this hardening as a completed process that has already taken place [אבן עזרא, מזרחי, אוהב גר]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that this heaviness represents a constant, unchanging state of stubbornness rather than a single past event [רש״י, רשב״ם, גור אריה, קאסוטו, נתינה לגר]. Conceptually, this heaviness is a massive negative burden. The king's mind is weighed down by sin, anger, and false arguments against divine truth and justice [הכתב והקבלה, ביאור יש״ר]. Furthermore, while righteous individuals consciously govern their emotions and desires, the Egyptian ruler is entirely controlled by his closed heart, a defining hallmark of the wicked [אלשיך].
To illustrate the sheer foolishness of this defiance, commentators share a parable about a lion, a fox, and a donkey traveling together. When the arrogant donkey demanded a toll from the lion, the king of the beasts, the lion killed him and ordered the fox to sort the remains. The fox secretly ate the donkey's heart. When the lion asked where the heart of the foolish beast was, the fox replied that if the donkey truly possessed a heart, it never would have demanded a tax from the king. Similarly, the Egyptian leader's arrogant stand against the King of Kings proves he has completely lost his senses and lacks any true understanding [הדר זקנים, שפתי כהן]. Blocked from listening and clinging to the false claims of his burdened mind, he absolutely refuses to release the Israelites [ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This entrenched defiance justifies bringing the first plague without any prior warning. God acts decisively to publicly expose the king's refusal, ensuring no one can mistakenly claim that he would have changed his ways if only given another chance [מלבי״ם, לבוש האורה].