In the previous episode, Pharaoh had allowed only the men to leave, which is why he failed to prevent the plague of locusts. Here, he softens a bit and agrees to let the children go, but the sheep and cattle must stay behind (24). This decision is driven by the new punishment that has struck the country: darkness. However, Moses remains steadfast in his demands: everything—men, women, children, and all livestock—must depart (25f). The final words of the dialogue between Pharaoh and Moses foreshadow the end of this series of signs and wonders, culminating in the death of all Egypt’s firstborns and the Israelites’ liberation.