Exodus 10:28
And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
The threat was spoken after three days of thick darkness lay over Egypt while Israel had light in their dwellings. The Egyptians were not merely deprived of light but were left in a very oppressive atmosphere that made breathing difficult, while the Hebrews enjoyed a pure atmosphere and light. That darkness exposed that Egypt's gods could not control light or the elements. It stood against the worship of Isis and Osiris and displayed Jehovah's supremacy in acting to destroy idolatry and free Israel.
The immediate occasion was Moses courageously insisting that not a hoof of cattle be left behind. That stand annoyed Pharaoh's haughty pride and provoked his anger. Pharaoh ordered Moses to get away from him and forbade him from coming into his presence again. He threatened that Moses and Aaron would die if they appeared before him again, that in the day Moses saw his face he would die.
The outburst belongs to Pharaoh's slow, compelled yielding to the requirements of the God of Heaven, which was very hard for the proud idolatrous king. He yielded a little while under most grievous affliction and took back what he granted when affliction was removed. He yielded no more than dreadful visitations of wrath compelled, and persisted in rebellion after Egypt was ruined. His concessions were only partial: after first allowing sacrifice in Egypt and then allowing only the men to go, and after Egypt was nearly destroyed by locusts allowing children and wives to go also, he still refused to let the cattle go. Moses and Aaron told him beforehand the nature and effect of each plague that would follow refusal, and every plague came exactly as told, yet he would not yield fully.
With his idolatrous priests he opposed Moses' request to the last, choosing to receive plagues rather than submit to God. He showed no remorse while his whole kingdom lay under miraculous judgments, even though the people desired that the Hebrews be permitted to leave Egypt. The threat reveals blinded rebellion, for in contending against Moses and Aaron Pharaoh was contending not merely against men but against the mighty Jehovah, Maker of heaven and earth, who had multiplied signs and wonders. Moses answered that he would see Pharaoh's face no more. He stood without fear because his faith had grown strong by witnessing God's works, and his firm trust in God lifted him above fear of the king's threat.
The death threat was empty, for God who could save or destroy would preserve the lives of His chosen servants even if Pharaoh tried to kill them, even by slaying the king of Egypt. Moses had obtained favor with the people as a very wonderful man whom the king would not dare to harm. Despite the ban and death threat, Moses still had one more message from God for the rebellious king. So he firmly walked into Pharaoh's presence and stood fearlessly before him to declare God's word as His final warning, trusting in God's greater power.
The verse leads to one more dreadful plague more severe than any before it, in which the angel of God would slay the firstborn. Moses related the nature and effect of that coming plague to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians and to the Israelites. It connects this final conflict with that night so terrible to the Egyptians and so glorious to the people of God when the solemn ordinance of the Passover was instituted.