A common misinterpretation of this verse arises from the archaic King James phrasing, where "entreated" is taken to mean the Egyptians and Pharaoh begged or repented after hardening their hearts, suggesting a model of stubbornness followed by voluntary submission; in reality, "entreated" means they were harshly treated or oppressed by God ("dealt wonderously" indicates miraculous severity), compelling their release of Israel only after devastating plagues, as detailed in Exodus. Another error is using it to argue that Pharaoh solely hardened his own heart first, ignoring the biblical interplay where both Pharaoh and God contribute to the hardening (e.g., Exodus 9:12), thus oversimplifying debates on divine sovereignty and human responsibility; the verse instead warns the Philistines against emulating Egypt's resistance, lest they face similar divine judgment before relenting.
I Samuel 6:6
King James Version (1769)
6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
The core truth of this verse emerges from the Philistine priests and diviners urging their leaders not to resist God's evident power, drawing a parallel to the Egyptians and Pharaoh who stubbornly hardened their hearts despite God's miraculous plagues, ultimately forcing them to release the Israelites. It underscores the futility and peril of defiant unbelief in the face of divine intervention, warning that ignoring God's "wonderfully" displayed sovereignty invites inevitable judgment and release of His purposes, calling for humble submission rather than prideful opposition.