Ramban on Shemos 5:3

English: LEST HE FALL UPON US WITH PESTILENCE. “Moshe and Aharon wanted to say [to Pharaoh], ‘Lest He fall upon thee,’ but they showed respect to royalty.” Thus the language of Rashi. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra explained: “‘ Lest He fall upon us; that is, including us Israelites, also you Pharaoh and all Egypt.’ Therefore when the Egyptians saw the slaying of the firstborn, they said, ‘We are all dead men,’ 320 Further, 12:33. for the words of Moshe now became clear to them when he said, Lest he fall upon us with pestilence , and therefore they drove them to go to sacrifice [to Hashem].” This explanation of Ibn Ezra is not correct, for Moshe and Aharon were not commanded to say that Israel too would share in the punishment of pestilence or sword if they would not sacrifice [to Hashem], 321 Only the Egyptians were to suffer that punishment if they failed to permit the Israelites to go to worship the Eternal. and Moshe and Aharon would by no means change anything in the mission of Hashem. By way of the Truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], this is the secret of the offerings, 322 See Ramban on Genesis 4:3 (Vol. I, p. 88, and Note 423). as they constitute a redemption from punishment, for before Him goeth t