Why does the Pasuk refer to Pharaoh seeing that there was relief, rather than that the plague had terminated?
Seforno: Because the plague had not completely ended, since a. the Tzefarde'im had died, leaving piles of dead putrid frogs scattered over the entire land, and b. dangerous crocodiles remained in the Nile. 1
Maharal: Refer to 8:11:1.1:1.
Refer also to 10:19:1:2*. See also Keli Yakar and Oznayim la'Torah.
"Pharaoh saw that there was relief;" the Torah writes similarly in the aftermath of Barad (9:34) as well. Why is this not said by the other Makos as well?
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 33, p. 125): In Makas Tzefarde'a, what frightened Pharaoh was mainly the deafening noise (Shemos Rabah 10). Regarding Barad, the text makes this explicit - "Enough of the sounds of G-d, and the hail!" (9:28). Since this was the case, as soon as the horrible noises stopped, Pharaoh felt as if the Makah never was.
Why does the Torah use the expression "v'Hachbed Es Libo"?
Seforno and Rashbam: Pharaoh had to exert himself 1 not to capitulate to Hashem's demands - a. on account of the frogs (crocodiles - Seforno) that still remained in the Nile (posing a threat on the people - Seforno) and b. on account of the unbearable stench that filled the entire land.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "Hachbed - In Pa'ol form, as in 'Haloch v'Naso'a' (Bereishis 12:9)." What is Rashi explaining?
Gur Aryeh: The verb is not a command (Tzivui), but rather in the infinitive (Makor) - Pharaoh hardened his heart not just once, but continuously.
