Pesach 2020

1The plagues were split into three sections of three each. A warning preceded the first and second plagues of each set. For the first plague of each of the three sets blood, beasts, and hail, Moshe was told to go down to Pharaoh at the river’s edge and to warn him there. (Although not mentioned in the warning over hail, the pasuk clearly means for Moshe to go down to the river (“go early in the morning etc”) For the second plague of the each of the three sets frogs, pestilence, and locusts Moshe was told to “come to Pharaoh” and warn him. Presumably the place of warning was in the palace. The palace was public and therefore was stronger, more forceful. The third set of plagues, lice, boils, and darkness came with no warning. The third plague was punishment for not heeding the first two plagues. In each case the third plague was both physically and psychologically painful.

2The three groupings each represented a different element of slavery and its effect:

3The first group of three plagues focused on letting people be free to worship and on making Egypt aware of the Creator.

4Blood - Hashem the deity of the Hebrews has sent me to you saying “send out my nation and they will worship me in the desert. And behold you have not heeded until now. Now says Hashem “With this you will know that I am Hashem etc.”

5Frogs - Now says Hashem “send out my nation and they will worship me”.

6Lice – no warning

7The second set continued the aspect of worship and divine awareness with the added message of the unique relationship between Hashem and His people!

8Beasts - Now says Hashem “send out my nation and they will worship me”. Added: I will differentiate between Goshen and the rest of Egypt, in order that you should know that I am Hashem in the land.

9Pestilence - Now says Hashem “send out my nation and they will worship me”.

10“you still hold on to them.” Preventing them from the worship, (again)“Behold the hand of G-d will be against the animals a very heavy pestilence.” Egyptians worshipped animals so their death was a punishment in kind.

11The theme of differentiation between Israel and Egypt was added: “And G-d will differentiate between the Jewish owned cattle and the Egyptian owned cattle.”And Pharaoh sent out to check whether or not it happened that the Jewish owned cattle survived“

12Boils – no warning

13Note the effect of the boils on the Egyptian magicians who reemerged after having remained in the background since back in the plague of lice where they proclaimed “it is the finger of Elokim” They were unable to stand before Paraoh as opposed to Moshe and Aaron who were unaffected. It further emphasized differentiation.

14The next set of plagues was for others:

15Hail – “Now says Hashem the deity of the Hebrews, send out my nation and they will worship Me. This time I’m sending all my plagues into the hearts of you and your servants and your people in order that you will know there is none like Me. I could have destroyed you all with Pestilence but saved you so you would recognize Me and let My Name be known throughout the land. (Presumably Canaan and elsewhere) While you still keep my nation as prisoners I am going to rain upon you tomorrow a great hailstorm such as was never seen before since the beginning of time.” The plague of hail was designed to send fear into the hearts of the dwellers of Canaan.

16Locust - “In order for you to tell your children and grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians and the signs that I placed there, and you will know that I am Hashem.” From this point forward the focus moved away from Pharaoh and onto the children of Israel.

17Darkness- Darkness came with no warning. In darkness the Israelites were able to peek into the homes of the Egyptians (Presumably had the Egyptians been warned they could have hidden their possessions away into locked rooms and closets). The same space that was dark for the Egyptians was light for the Israelites. (Continuing the theme of distinguishing between Israel and Egypt) The plague made it possible to fulfill Hashem’s commitment to Abraham that his descendants would to exit with great wealth.

18First born – This plague was actually anticipated or introduced back in Parshat Shmot. Chapter 4 Verse 22 “So says Hashem; my son, my first born is the nation of Israel. Therefore I say to you to send out my people that they may worship me, but you have refused to send them out, behold I will kill your first born.” The death of Egyptian first born was predicted and described far in advance of the actual event. The nation of Israel is the first born of Hashem. Pharaoh and his people enslaved them in effect kidnapping an entire nation. The result was that Pharaoh and Egypt lost all their first born sons. What does the pasuk mean by describing the Jewish nation as the firstborn of Hashem? To be the first born of Hashem is to carry the burden of any typical first born child. It is common for the parents to place all their wishes and hopes onto the first born, (that is why the first born inherits the double portion to compensate for this burden.) Being the firstborn of Hashem has its own burden; Hashem expects more from the Jew. It is our job to bring Hashem and His values into this world. To imprison and enslave a Jew is to prevent the Jew from bringing Hashem’s message into the world. Moshe told Pharaoh “Just as you have denied Hashem his first born aspirations so your first born and all the associated aspirations will be eliminated. That is the plague of the first born. Have a joyous and safe Pesach