At the decisive moment before the great confrontation in Egypt, the leaders of the Israelites stood completely ready for their mission. After initial hesitations, Moses and Aaron accepted their roles with total submission to the will of God. The primary approach among commentators is that this moment serves as a broad introduction to all the actions, signs, and plagues that follow. It establishes that from this point onward, the two men fully executed their mission. Moses ceased claiming that he lacked eloquence and stopped trying to evade the task, fully embracing the responsibility alongside Aaron [אברבנאל].
Their execution of the mission was defined by absolute precision. They maintained the exact order of operations given to them, with Moses speaking first as God's messenger and Aaron translating his words [ספורנו, הכתב והקבלה]. They followed specific oral instructions that guided them on how to conduct themselves during these miraculous events [העמק דבר]. By adding nothing and subtracting nothing from their orders, they demonstrated a certain passivity, functioning purely as conduits and messengers to carry out God's will [ביאור שטיינזלץ, ספורנו, הכתב והקבלה]. They did all of this despite the mortal danger of confronting a powerful king like Pharaoh, revealing their profound dedication [חזקוני].
Beyond sheer precision, their actions were characterized by deep inner commitment and swiftness. They understood their instructions perfectly and acted with complete sincerity. Their sole motivation was the Divine command itself, entirely free of any ulterior motives. Upon receiving God's word, they did not delay, but hurried to fulfill it immediately [אור החיים].
The manner in which they carried out these commands also reflects how the practical duties of the upcoming plagues would be divided between them. Much of the time, they acted individually, with three plagues initiated by Aaron, three by Moses, and three by God Himself. Yet they also operated in direct partnership, most notably during the plague of boils, which was the only strike executed by Moses and Aaron working closely together [שפתי כהן].