The counselors of Pharaoh stood aghast. The nation had sustained great loss in the death of their cattle. Many of the people had been killed by the hail. The forests were broken down and the crops destroyed. They were fast losing all that had been gained by the labor of the Hebrews. The whole land was threatened with starvation. Princes and courtiers pressed about the king and angrily demanded, "How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?"

Faraos rådgivere var forfærdede. Folket havde lidt store tab, da kvæget døde. Mange mennesker var blevet dræbt af haglene. Skovene var hærget og kornet ødelagt. De var ved at miste alt, hvad der var vundet ved hebræernes arbejde. Hele landet truedes af hungersnøden. Fyrster og hoffolk samledes om kongen og spurgte i vrede: "Hvor længe skal denne mand styrte os i ulykke? Lad dog disse mennesker rejse og lad dem dyrke Herren deres Gud! Har du endnu ikke indset, at Ægypten går til grunde?"