Bearing in mind the Pasuk in Mishlei, "Zevach Resha'im To'evah" (Mishlei 21:27), why did Moshe want Pharaoh to give them animals to sacrifice on his behalf?
Ramban: He never intended to carry out what he said. 1 He was merely pointing out that Hashem was making heavy demands of them, and that they were therefore obligated to take every last animal with them. 2
Abarbanel: He did not; Moshe said this in astonishment. Refer to 10:26:151:2.
Yashresh Ya'akov (beg. Parshas Bo): He meant that their own animals would be for obligations - Chata'os and Ashamos, whereas what the Egyptians gave them they would offer as Nedavos of Shelamim 3 and Olah. 4
Ri Ibn Shu'iv (Parshas Bo, DH uv'Emes): Through Makas Bechoros, fear entered Pharaoh's heart and he recognized the Emes of Hashem - and he was no longer considered a Rasha 5 (until he recanted).
Oznayim la'Torah: Not only did Moshe ask Pharaoh to provide them with Korbanos, but, according to the Gemara in Avodah Zarah 24a, 6 when, upon Yisrael's departure from Egypt, Pharaoh said "Gam Tzonechem Gam Bekarchem Kechu... " (12:32), this included the Zevachim and Olos that Yisrael would bring on his behalf.
As the following Pasuk (10:26) indicates. In any event, Hashem was out to cause Pharaoh anguish, not atonement. See Ramban.
Rav Chavel in his footnotes, however, cites the Gemara (Avodah Zarah 24a) which takes on that Moshe did in fact, intend to sacrifice the animals that Pharaoh would give him, and a Midrash which states that he wanted Pharaoh to give him animals to sacrifice on his behalf.
Refer to 10:25:1.1:1 and note.
'Zevach Resha'im To'evah' only applies to the Korban of a Rasha. If a Nochri Tzadik donates a Shelamim, he gives it to a Yisrael who offers it and eats it in his own name (Rambam Hil. Ma'aseh ha'Korbanos 3:3, based on Menachos 73b).
He announced, 'You were my slaves, now you are Hashem's slaves!' (Yerushalmi Pesachim 5:8). If a total Rasha repented even in his heart, he is considered a Tzadik (Kidushin 49b). (PF). It is surprising to say that this applies to Nochrim.
Seeing as until Matan Torah, Yisrael did not bring Shelamim, only Olos - like Nochrim, how could Moshe say to Pharaoh "Atah Titen b'Yadeinu Zevachim"?
Zevachim 116a: The Olos were for Korbanos; the Zevachim were to eat. 1
See Torah Temimah note 3, who elaborates. However Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan translate "Zevachim" as 'Shelamim.' Perhaps they do not concur with the Gemara in Zevachim.
Why did Moshe ask Pharaoh to provide animals before stating, "v'Gam Mikneinu Yelech Imanu" (10:26)?
Oznayim la'Torah: Since they only asked to go into the desert to serve Hashem because 'the Egyptians would stone them if they slaughtered sheep in their presence,' there would have been no point in sending Yisrael into the desert without animals. Pharaoh must therefore have meant that he would provide them with a certain number of sheep and cattle to sacrifice. 1 In reply to which, Moshe said that not only would Pharaoh give them animals to sacrifice, but that they would also take out their own animals with them. 2
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'You too will give' - Not only will our flocks come with us, but you will also give us from your own [flocks]." Isn't this clear; how might I have mis-understood this?
Gur Aryeh: The verse cannot mean, 'Even you, Pharaoh, will [personally] hand us' our own flocks. The flocks of Bnei Yisrael will be mentioned in the next verse, "And also our own flocks will come with us" (10:26). Rather, it must mean, 'You, Pharaoh, will also give to us from your own flocks."
Rashi writes: "... You will also give us from your own [flocks]." But if so, it goes without saying that the Bnei Yisrael's flocks will go along as well! So why is the next verse (10:26) needed?
Gur Aryeh: Perhaps Pharaoh would say, if I am providing you with animals for sacrifice, you do not need to take along all of your animals, and certainly no more than are normally needed for sacrifice. Moshe needed to add that all of our flocks would have to go, for we could not know the required amount in advance(10:26).
