Exodus 11: Almost Famous

וַיִּתֵּ֧ן הֹ אֶת־חֵ֥ן הָעָ֖ם בְּעֵינֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם גַּ֣ם ׀ הָאִ֣ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֗ה גָּד֤וֹל מְאֹד֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּעֵינֵ֥י עַבְדֵֽי־פַרְעֹ֖ה וּבְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם“God disposed Egyptians favorably for the people. Moreover, Moshe himself was much esteemed in the land of Egypt amongst Pharaoh’s servants and among the people.” (Verse 3). This verse is ambiguous. It can be read as “God disposed Egyptians favorably for the Israelite people. Moreover, Moshe himself was much esteemed in the land of Egypt amongst Pharaoh’s servants and among the Israelite people.” Or “God disposed Egyptians favorably for the Israelite people. Moreover, Moshe himself was much esteemed in the land of Egypt amongst Pharaoh’s servants and among the Egyptian people.” Ibn Ezra points out this verse is God fulfilling his promise from chapter 3: 21- “And I will dispose the Egyptians favorably toward this people, so that when you go, you will not go away empty-handed.” וְנָתַתִּ֛י אֶת־חֵ֥ן הָֽעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה בְּעֵינֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָיָה֙ כִּ֣י תֵֽלֵכ֔וּן לֹ֥א תֵלְכ֖וּ רֵיקָֽם׃ He interprets the people in the second half of the verse to be the Egyptians. In his reading, the verse speaks completely about the change of heart that the Egyptians have towards Moses and the Israelites. Ramban disagrees. He explains that the people in the second half of the verse are the people of Israel who had also doubted Moshe since the beginning of his charge to free them. Ramban’s reading make sense that word “nation” “Am” would mean the same thing when used in the same verse. Ibn Ezra focuses on the thematic parallelism in the verse. Egyptians find favor for the people in the first half and for Moses in the second half. There are two important differences between the first half of the verse and the second that may help explain this disagreement. The first has to do with Moshe. In the first half, God seems to be intervening in order to change the minds of the Egyptians to favor the Israelites, this is akin to God’s emotional intervention with Pharoah hardening his heart. But the second half of the verse seems to be an organic affirmation by the servants of Pharoah and the nation. The second has to do with Pharoah’s servants. In the first half of the verse, the entire Egyptian nation finds favor in the Israelites, but in the second half of the verse, the servants of Pharoah are listed separately. Why would Pharoh’s servants be listed separately when referring to Moshe but not to the people? Moshe had two oppositions to his station. One was the people of Israel and two were the political elite of Egypt. Moshe began the book as the step adopted son of Pharaoh and possible brother of the current Pharaoh. He then kills an Egyptian and runs away. When he returns he’s not loved. But now throughout the plagues the people of Egypt do not fear him, but they respect him. Perhaps they are wistful for a different timeline, where this “son” of Pharaoh becomes king, frees the Israelites, and saves the nation.