Exodus 8:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Once the plague had ended and the swarms of flies disappeared, Pharaoh went back on his promise and refused to release the people.

It is likely, as previously mentioned, that many were misled into believing that Moses had exhausted his abilities and could not effect further change. It is significant that in verse 27 of chapter 10, just before the devastating judgment upon the firstborn, the Lord Himself tightened Pharaoh’s resolve; his unfaithfulness, as both a man and a leader, warranted increasingly severe judgments. In those final, decisive moments, he even lost his capacity for rational thought and discernment. Ultimately, although Pharaoh later resisted letting the Israelites leave, it is probable that once he reluctantly consented, Moses swiftly commanded preparations for their exodus. The people had grown accustomed to gathering and were equipped with their livestock and possessions, ready for a hasty departure. The Fifth Execution