Shmot and Vaerah 2021
1According to the Ramban the stories in early Shmot were not independent stories but rather followed closely and were directly connected to those at the end of Bereishis. What the Ramban may be referring to are the striking parallels between the story of Joseph’s experiences with his family and the story of the enslavement of the Jewish nation. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son and demonstrated success in the all important area of father son relationship. This compares to the success and growth of the Jewish nation. “And the children of Israel multiplied and were extremely successful”. Joseph engendered jealousy and the ensuing hatred from the brothers. Compare this with “And the Egyptians hated (Vayakutzu) the Bnei Yisrael”. Another parallel is the brother’s; “Let us kill Joseph and cover his blood”. This compares to Pharaoh’s directive to the midwives,” If it is a son kill him on the spot” and to “Pharaoh commanded his entire nation to cast all the sons into the Nile”. We read “What profit is there from killing Joseph? Let’s sell him into slavery”. We recognize the obvious parallel to the gradual enslavement of the Jewish nation and the economic benefit of slavery. The brothers’ mistreatment of Joseph came back at them in Egypt in the book of Shmot as a form of “payment in kind”. (Midah Keneged Midah)
2The Egyptians received their payment in kind as well during the plagues. They forgot Joseph and his good work. Instead of honoring this memory Pharaoh enslaved his family. The plagues were brought against the Egyptian nation for “forgetting in kind!” When we read that the staff of Moshe swallowed the staffs of the Egyptian sorcerers we are reminded of Pharaoh’s dream where the skinny cows swallowed the fat cows. When we read about the Nile turning into blood we understand that it was in response to the drowning of the Jewish baby boys into the Nile. Moshe warned Pharaoh about the coming of the frogs (Exodus Chapter 7 vs. 28) while reminding Pharaoh of his past behaviors:
3“The river will swarm with frogs “and the Jews multiplied and swarmed (Vayishretzu)” (Ch 1 vs 7)
4and they (the frogs) will rise up ”and they (the Jews) will rise up and leave”(Ch 1 vs. 10)
5and come into your homes, Jewish boys bodies were used to build the homes of the Egyptians and of the enslavement of the Jews to build generally and to the hatred of having Jews in their homes
6into your bedrooms and on your beds a reference to the bedroom sins associated with the Egyptians and a subtle reference to the wife of Potifar
7and in the houses of your slaves even the slaves mistreated the Israelites
8and in your nation “behold the nation of Israel” (Ch 1 vs. 9)
9and in your ovens and your kneading troughs.” The ovens and mixing troughs used to form and bake bricks
10The Egyptian Magicians were able to perform the first 2 plagues. The Jews were being rebuked saying that they were not without their own guilt in the sale of Joseph. “and the brothers dipped the coat into the blood of a goat showing it to their father saying “do you recognize this coat” The loss to Jacob of his favored son resulted in a sadness that penetrated the household of Jacob’s family the same way the frogs penetrated every corner of the Egyptian household. In fact the IBN Ezra says that the first 3 plagues affected the Jews equally, they too were required to dig for water and they too had frogs and lice.
11Against this backdrop Moshe and Aaron as brothers were the perfect pair for the redemption. Unlike Joseph’s brothers, when Moshe is taken into Pharaoh’s palace his family remained in close contact with him. Because of this connection when the time came Moshe rose up and killed the Egyptian to save his brother. The love between Moshe and Aaron was without jealousy. This, despite Moshe’s being the chosen one and Aaron being his spokesperson. This was the leadership to unite the people and bring them together as a people and then and only then were they able to leave the prison of Mitzrayim, the land with no options. Dedicated to the memory of Joel Shulman A’H