Let the LORD be so with] The words of Pharaoh savour of much distemper, and little sense: the passion of anger is said to be a short furie: he was long angry, and so did (a great while) like a furious mad-man: and as he did so, so he sometimes spake, he knew not what: and what he meant in this speech is hard to say: it may be he wished that God had no more good will to them, then himselfe had, that as he was unwilling to let them goe, so God would be unwilling to goe with them: or it may be, he might (by way of derision) taunt them for their trust in God, for their deliverance, as if he would doe no more for them, then himselfe would doe: and he would not let them goe with their little ones (but with their men onely at the most, vers. 11.) and therefore that God either would not or could not, worke their full deliverance out of his hands. This was either his hope, or the desire of his heart. for evill is before you] That is, though you make a pretence of sacrifice, you have some evill plot, or purpose to effect; or some evill is before you to way-lay you, and light upon you: at least he thought they meant wholly to quit themselves from his service, as Chap. 1. 10. and therefore he would have kept their little ones as pledges for their returne: and he threatens them, if they persist in such a purpose, to prevent the performance of it, by some surprisall of their persons.