<b>When Pharaoh shall speak unto you (Exod. 7:9).</b> Scripture says elsewhere: <i>A fool spendeth all his spirit; but a wise man stilleth it within him</i> (Prov. 29:11). That is, the fool says everything he has to say at one time, while quarreling with his neighbor, and the wise man eventually is able to refute him. <i>A fool spendeth all his spirit</i> refers to the wicked Pharaoh, while <i>a wise man stilleth it within him</i> alludes to Moses and Aaron, as it is written: <i>But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods</i> (Exod. 7:12). <i>Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron</i>, etc. (Exod. 7:9). Aaron will perform all the miracles while you stand by like a prince who instructs the elders and they do it. Hence the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses at the bush: <i>He shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him in God’s stead</i> (ibid. 4:16).
<i>And Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and they did so</i> (ibid. 7:10). Aaron should have entered first inasmuch as he was the elder. Why did Moses enter first? Because he was more famous in Egypt, both in the eyes of Pharaoh’s slaves and in the eyes of the people. <i>And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh … and Aaron cast down his rod</i>, smiting him with the first plague. After speaking to Pharaoh, he brought on the second plague. He performed magical feats in his presence, but he (Pharaoh) would not pay heed to them. God said to Moses: <i>Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn</i> (<i>kabed</i>), <i>he refuseth to let the people go</i> (ibid., v. 14). Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, exclaimed: Wretch! With the very expression that tells of your stubbornness (<i>kabed</i>), I will glorify Myself (<i>mitkabed</i>) over you, as it is said: <i>And the Egyptian shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten Me honor upon Pharaoh</i> (ibid. 14:18).