שמות, פרק ח׳, פסוק כ״ג

Moses stands before Pharaoh, laying out both the practical and spiritual requirements for the Israelites to leave. The core of his message is a demand for complete separation from Egypt and absolute obedience to the instructions of God.

The insistence on traveling a three-day distance into the wilderness is primarily a matter of physical separation from the Egyptians [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Geographically, this specific timeframe reflects a practical reality, as it would take the Israelites until the second day of their journey just to reach the edge of the wilderness and set up camp [חזקוני]. Beyond the physical distance, the wilderness serves a profound spiritual purpose. It is the designated place where God will give the people His laws and teach them exactly how to serve Him [ביאור יש״ר].

Moses' declaration that the people will worship exactly as they are told carries several layers of meaning. On a practical level, it establishes that God alone will dictate which animals are to be sacrificed and in what quantities [אבן עזרא, ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Tactically, Moses phrases his demand carefully to avoid committing to a specific type of offering. By not explicitly mentioning sheep, which the Egyptians consider deeply offensive, he leaves room for the possibility of sacrificing cattle if God later commands it. This prevents him from being caught in a contradiction as events unfold [העמק דבר]. Ultimately, Moses is taking a firm and unyielding stance against the Egyptian ruler. He makes it clear that the Israelites will serve God entirely on His terms, completely rejecting any conditions or limitations Pharaoh might try to impose [קאסוטו].