Pharaoh Laughs at the Staff That Swallowed the Sorcerers

(Exodus 7:9-12) "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, Produce a wonder for yourselves." This is what Scripture says, "A fool gives full vent to his spirit" (Proverbs 29:11) - this is Pharaoh. When Moses and Aaron went to him, he said to them, "Produce a wonder for yourselves." Immediately Aaron cast down his staff. At that moment Pharaoh laughed at them. He said to them, "Why do you imagine that you have come to make sport of me? I am not afraid of these things. All of Egypt is full of sorcery. You are bringing straw to Ofarayim [a town full of straw], gold to Rekem [a place rich in gold]." It is not written here "and Pharaoh called," but rather "and Pharaoh too called." Rabbi Levi said: he called to his wife and said to her, "See how the Jews have come to make sport of me!" From where do we know this? As it is said, "and she gave also to her husband" (Genesis 3:6). What is written? "And Aaron's staff swallowed their staffs." Thus, "A fool gives full vent to his spirit" - this is Pharaoh; "but a wise man holds it back" (Proverbs 29:11) - this is Moses.