Branches, meaning that he sent with them the sparks of holiness which they had refined and elevated during their stay in Mitzrayim.
Fruit and fruit branches: This refers to a concept in Chassidus where Pharaoh whose name is spelled with the letters of the word Oref, meaning the back of the neck, alludes to his spiritual source in the upper spiritual world of Tohu, which is the back side of HaShem’s will. This is why Pharaoh says, ‘I don’t know HaShem’, he is vitalised by those who transgress HaShem’s will. He is sustained from a level higher than HaShem’s will, which is the infinite light of the world of ‘Tohu’ which comes down by way of falling, concealment and being covered over. The light of the world of Tohu sends down ‘Fruit and fruit branches’ which represent the lights of the world of Tohu, in order to elevate the people, and just like a seed which is planted in the earth first rots and then sprouts forth with fruit and fruit branches, so too the B’nei Yisroel through their servitude in Mitzrayim developed a sense of ‘Bittul’ - of self-nullification- (like a seed which rots) with which they refined and purified the lost sparks and elevated them back up to holiness (like sprouting forth), and those sparks of holiness are the power that the B’nei Yisroel need in order to ascend to a level of ‘Bechol Me’odechoh’ whereby they can then go out of Mitzraim and receive the Torah.
In Mitzrayim: Implying that Pharaoh did not have the ability to drive the Yidden out for the very reasons that we discussed previously; because the servitude had indeed already finished, and the B’nei Yisroel had free will. So why does the Possuk say that he sent them out? because the Possuk is telling us that Pharaoh sent out the sparks with the people.
Straightforward: The Pirush HaPoshut, in the Possuk’s most simple form, without changing the meaning of any words, or themes in the verse but with the simple understanding that it was Pharaoh who sent out the B’nei Yisroel from Mitzrayim.
