Viewing Pharaoh as a political king

After Moshe and Aharon are reunited and they convince the nation of Israel that they were sent by G-d to redeem them, they declare before Pharoah, “Send My nation to celebrate for me in the wilderness!” Pharaoh refuses, denying G-d’s divinity, causing Moshe and Aharon to say, “The G-d of the Hebrews has called upon us, so let us go on a three day journey to bring offerings to our G-d, lest we be smitten by a plague or by the sword.”

The two verses which follow this show Pharaoh’s response, but they are introduced with a subtle difference.

The King of Egypt said to them, “Moshe and Aharon, why are you distracting the people from their work? Get back to your own business!’ (5:4)

Pharaoh said, “The peasants are becoming more numerous, and you want them to take a vacation from their labors!” (5:5)

First the King of Egypt, then Pharaoh, each one says something different. It would not be farfetched for the king of Egypt to make two different statements; why does he need to be introduced twice, and each time a different way, after Moshe and Aharon do not respond to his words in verse 4?

Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch says verse 4 was the king speaking to Moshe and Aharon personally. You’re using this “G-d-talk” to disturb people. The king is having a premonition to the famous line uttered by Wesley at his capture in “The Princess Bride” – “We are men of action, lies do not become us.” Don’t bring some ridiculous unheard of G-d into a conversation on whom to worship. This is the king talking to those who have taken the role of leaders, it is a political conversation between the top diplomats of each nation.