40لَعَلَّنا نَتَّبِعُ السَّحَرَةَ إِن كانوا هُمُ الغالِبينَMuhammad Asadso that we might follow [in the footsteps of] the sorcerers if it is they who prevail?"1There is no doubt that these "sorcerers" were priests of the official Amon cult, in which magic played an important role. Thus, their victory over Moses would constitute a public vindication of the state religion.