This is the first time that Pharaoh specifically allowed them to go out. What difference did it make to him who was going?
Ramban: Initially, he intended the important men to go - the leaders, the elders and the policemen. Then, when Moshe informed him that they all had to go to participate in the festival, including the children, he became angry and retorted that the grown-up men may leave, but not the women and children under any circumstances, since their presence is not needed for bringing sacrifices.
Remarkably, at this point, even Pharaoh expressed a willingness to send out the Jews. Why specifically now?
Maharal: He had just been warned about a Makah tantamount to death; refer to 10:7:0.1:1; and to 7:14:7:2 and 7:14:4:3.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Va'Yushav [Es Moshe v'Es Aharon]' - They were returned via a messenger; they sent after them, and brought them back to Pharaoh. "What is Rashi adding with all this?
Gur Aryeh: The verb "Va'Yushav" is in Huf'al form - i.e. that they were caused to return by others. But if so, the term "Es" (indicting a direct object) does not fit here! Rashi tells us to insert the Hif'il (causative) verb "ve'Heshivum," thus, '... and they brought back Es Moshe v'Es Aharon to Pharaoh.' 1
Gur Aryeh: Why is the term "Es" even necessary here? I might have thought that it was not through a messenger sent by Pharaoh, but rather by some servant who brought them back of his own volition. (Take note that Gur Aryeh's text of Rashi seems to have been in the singular, 'he sent after them, and he brought them back.' Most editions of Rashi have the plural, 'they sent... they brought;' which indeed sounds like it was the servants as a whole who sent for them - and not Pharaoh himself. (CS))
