Parashas Shemos · Side page (no TT primary unit)
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֒ בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֙ לָשׁ֣וּב מִצְרַ֔יְמָה רְאֵ֗ה כׇּל־הַמֹּֽפְתִים֙ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֣מְתִּי בְיָדֶ֔ךָ וַעֲשִׂיתָ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַאֲנִי֙ אֲחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָעָֽם׃
And GOD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the marvels that I have put within your power. I, however, will stiffen his heart so that he will not let the people go.
Shemos Rabbah 5:6 / Ramban parallels in Chazal — EXTRA.
ואני אחזק את לבו —\ldots משפט הוא לפני שאבדו דרור בחפשיותם.
English: “And I will strengthen his heart” — \ldots it is justice before Me, for they had already lost their freedom by their own choices.
Custom
Chazal situate the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart within a framework of prior free choices that are then reinforced.