Rashi and the Ibn Ezra both cite the Midrash Mechilta where Baal Zefon is identified as the one great Egyptian idol which survived the plagues. Hirot might refer to the Egyptian idol Horus, or the word may be a derivation of the word herut, the Hebrew for freedom. The Israelites are now standing at the cross-roads between idolatry and freedom, between the demonic and the divine. I believe both issues may be clarified when we ponder yet a third curiosity. What this brings to mind is a most mordant vignette of Mendele Mokher S'farim, in which he describes a scene of a Russian Cossack taunting a number of Jews to dance in front of him without clothes.
Idolatry is predicated upon the fundamental impatience of the people.
Judaism entered the world with an entirely different message. Hence, the Book of Exodus opens not only by demonstrating Moses' ability to free himself from the seduction of Egyptian high society but also by G-d attempting to convince Moses to believe in himself and in his ability to inspire and influence his nation and the world. Remove your hand and recognize your ability to act and accomplish - and the healthy flesh will be restored.