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Ramban on Exodus 10:17/רמב"ן על שמות י׳:י״ז

אוְטַעַם שָׂא נָא חָטָאתִי דֶּרֶךְ כָּבוֹד לְמֹשֶׁה, כִּי הוּא אֱלֹהִים לְפַרְעֹה (שמות ז':א') וְגָדוֹל מְאֹד בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם (שמות י"א:ג'). וְהַעְתִּירוּ אֶל ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, לִשְׁנֵיהֶם, כִּי כֵן יֹאמַר פַּרְעֹה בְּכָל פַּעַם דֶּרֶךְ מוּסָר, כִּי יוֹדֵעַ פַּרְעֹה כִּי מֹשֶׁה הוּא הַמַּעְתִּיר, כִּי כֵן אָמַר לוֹ "לְמָתַי אַעְתִּיר לְךָ" (שמות ח':ח'), "וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי אֶל ה'" (שם כה), "אֶפְרֹשׂ אֶת כַּפַּי אֶל ה'" (שם ט כט), כִּי לֹא יְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה בָּזֶה לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, שֶׁלֹּא יוֹצִיא שֶׁקֶר מִפִּיו:

1NOW THEREFORE FORGIVE, I PRAY THEE, MY SIN. This is an expression of respect to Moses [on the part of Pharaoh] since Moses was in G-d’s stead to Pharaoh,⁵⁰ and very great in the land of Egypt.⁵¹ [Hence Pharaoh addressed this appeal to Moses alone, as the singular verb sa (forgive) indicates, for the king knew of the extraordinary position of Moses, as explained.] And entreat ye the Eternal your G-d. He addressed this appeal to both Moses and Aaron. He respectfully spoke thus every time [that he asked for prayer on his behalf]⁵² (pray ye) in the plural. although Pharaoh knew that Moses alone was the one who prayed, for so he told him: Against what time shall I entreat for thee;⁵³, 8:5. And I will entreat the Eternal;⁵⁴, Verse 25. I will spread forth my hands to the Eternal.⁵⁵, 9:29. Moses did not say it in the plural, [i.e., “we shall entreat”], so that he should not utter a falsehood, [but Pharaoh nevertheless addressed himself to both as an expression of respect].