It's not just about historical record; it's about understanding the nature of arrogance and divine justice.

The book of Exodus tells us, "Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had spoken." (Exodus 7:13–15). But Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on Exodus, dives deeper. It asks, what kind of hardened was his heart?

The text points out that God says to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn [kaved]." Now, kaved can mean stubborn, but it also has connotations of heaviness, of anger. Shemot Rabbah makes a fascinating connection: "He is angry. Just as the liver [kaved] becomes angry... so, too, this one's heart became like a liver; he does not understand, he is a fool."

Wait, the liver? Yes! Ancient understanding saw the liver as the seat of anger, as we even see in Berakhot 61b. So Pharaoh's stubbornness wasn't just about defiance; it was rooted in a deep, foolish anger, a refusal to see reason. And what do you do with a fool? "As anger rests in the bosom of fools," says Ecclesiastes 7:9. You correct them.

Shemot Rabbah continues, "With what do you chastise the fool? With a staff, as it is stated: 'A rod to the back of fools' (Proverbs 26:3)." And who has a staff? Moses! "Moses, too, chastised Pharaoh with a staff, as it is stated: 'and the staff that was transformed into a serpent [you shall take in your hand].'" The very symbol of God's power, meant to humble Pharaoh.

But there's another layer here. The Midrash offers a different interpretation of that word kaved. "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn [kaved]" – the Holy One blessed be He said to him: "Wicked one, with the expression with which you honored yourself... with the same expression I will be honored at your expense." The Midrash is playing on the fact that kaved also sounds like kavod, which means honor. Pharaoh sought honor through his defiance, but God would ultimately gain honor through Pharaoh's defeat. As it says, "When I have gained honor [behikavedi] through Pharaoh" (Exodus 14:18).

And then there’s this almost humorous detail: "Go to Pharaoh in the morning; behold, he goes out to the water." Why specifically in the morning? Shemot Rabbah explains that Pharaoh, in his arrogance, "would boast and assert that he was a deity and did not need to relieve himself." So he would sneak out in the morning to do his business in private! The text says, "Catch him in the morning when he needs to relieve himself." Expose the lie of his divinity!

And what should Moses take with him? "And the staff that was transformed into a serpent you shall take in your hand" – "so that he will be afraid of it." A constant reminder of the power he defied.

So, what does it all mean? It's not just a story about a stubborn king. It's a lesson about the dangers of unchecked ego, the foolishness of pride, and the inevitable triumph of truth. Pharaoh's story reminds us that true honor isn't found in self-deception, but in humility and recognizing the power greater than ourselves. And sometimes, even a little bit of snake magic can help drive that point home.