By: Rabbi Shlomo Katz
We read near the beginning of our Parashah that Moshe spoke Hashem’s words to Bnei Yisrael, “but they did not heed Moshe, because of shortness of breath and hard work.” R’ Tzaddok Hakohen Rabinowitz z”l (1823-1900; Chassidic Rebbe in Lublin, Poland) explains this verse in light of the Midrash Rabbah, which records that, when the young Moshe lived in Pharaoh’s palace, he convinced Pharaoh that slaves work more efficiently when they are given one day of rest each week. Pharaoh instructed Moshe to implement this idea, and Moshe arranged for Bnei Yisrael to have Shabbat as a day off. Later, at the end of last week’s parashah, we read that Pharaoh decreed (5:9), “Let the work be heavier upon the men and let them engage in it; and let them not pay attention to false words,” i.e., he took away their day of rest so they would have no time to think about redemption. R’ Tzaddok writes: Shabbat itself is a source of Emunah / faith.
Thus, when Shabbat was taken away from Bnei Yisrael, their Emunah was lost as well.
This requires explanation, however, for Moshe Rabbeinu himself attributed the initial failure of his mission to his having a speech impediment (“aral sefatayim”). R’ Tzaddok notes that Moshe used different words to describe his speech impediment in last week’s Parashah (“kevad peh”). Hashem had already promised to heal that condition, but now Moshe’s speech was impeded for a different reason. As Bnei Yisrael’s leader, his ability to speak effectively to Pharaoh was proportional to the level of Bnei Yisrael’s Emunah. That, as noted, was tied to their Shabbat observance. (Pri Tzaddik: Va’era 7)
“Elokim spoke to Moshe and said to him, ‘I am Hashem. I appeared to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Yaakov as Kel Shakkai, but with My Name Y-K-V-K I did not make Myself known to them’.” (6:2-3)
R’ David Tevel z”l (1792-1861; rabbi of Minsk, Belarus) explains as follows: At the end of last week’s Parashah, Moshe exclaimed (5:23), “From the time I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he did evil to this people, and You did not rescue Your people.” Moshe was wondering: What is giving Pharaoh the courage to resist Hashem’s warnings and reject the signs that I performed? Moshe concluded: According to the natural order that G-d created, a nation cannot be subdued until its guardian angel is subdued. Pharaoh’s stargazers have told him that the angel of Egypt has not been subdued; therefore, Pharaoh is confident that Egypt cannot be subdued either. Thus, Moshe’s question at the end of last week’s Parashah meant: Since the guardian angel of Egypt has not yet been subdued, what is the point of my going to Pharaoh? Why did You send me?
R’ David Tevel continues: In our verse, Hashem explains to Moshe why his reasoning is incorrect. It is true, says Hashem, that I created a natural order to which the gentile nations are subject. Within that system, each nation has a guardian angel, and no nation can subdue another nation unless the former nation’s guardian angel first subdues the latter nation’s guardian angel. That natural order is alluded to by the Divine Name “Shakkai” (Shin-Dalet-Yud), one of the Divine Names that indicates that G-d is the Master of nature. When He reveals Himself as Shakkai, G-d can cause a nation’s guardian angel to be subdued, which, in turn, allows that nation’s downfall to occur “naturally.”
But, says Hashem, I have another Name, “Y-K-V-K.” When I reveal Myself by that Name, the rules of nature no longer apply. Likewise, the rule that a nation’s guardian angel must fall before the nation itself falls is not in effect when I reveal Myself by the Name Y-K-V-K. Therefore, it is irrelevant that Pharaoh saw that Egypt’s guardian angel was still at the height of its power; I will still subdue Egypt and take Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt. (Derashot Bet David, Drush 12:40)
“The fish that is in the water shall die . . .” (7:18)
R’ Eliezer David Gruenwald z”l (1867-1928; Hungarian rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva) asks: Why was this included in Moshe’s warning to Pharaoh? Obviously, if the Nile turns to blood, all of the fish will die!
He explains: Pharaoh’s magicians ostensibly mimicked the plague and turned water to blood. However, what they actually did was an illusion; the water did not turn to blood but just looked like blood. Anticipating that, Moshe warned Pharaoh, “When I turn the Nile to blood, it will be the real thing and the fish will die.” (Keren L’David)
“Egypt could not drink water from the River, and the blood was throughout the land of Egypt.” (7:21)
Midrash Rabbah relates that even if an Egyptian and one of Bnei Yisrael drank from the same cup, the Egyptian would find the liquid to be blood, while the Jew would have water.
R’ Yaakov Aryeh Guterman z”l (1792-1874; Chassidic Rebbe in Radzymin, Poland) notes that this miracle involving water foreshadowed the splitting of the Yam Suf. He writes: The Gematria of “Mayim” / “water” equals 91 (40+10+40, plus 1 to represent the whole word). This is equal to the combined Gematria of the Divine Name “Y-K-V-K” (a Name that denotes Divine mercy) plus the Divine Name spelled “Aleph-Dalet-Nun-Yud” (a Name that denotes Divine justice). Both in the case of the Plague of Blood and in the case of the Splitting of the Sea, the water was an instrument of mercy to Bnei Yisrael and an instrument of justice to the Egyptians. (Bikkurei Aviv)
“‘Entreat Hashem — there has been an overabundance of G-dly thunder and hail . . .’
“Moshe said to him, “When I leave the city I shall spread out my hands to Hashem; the thunder will cease and the hail will no longer be . . .’
“Moshe . . . stretched out his hands to Hashem; the thunder and hail ceased and rain did not reach the earth.
“Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder ceased, and he continued to sin; and he made his heart stubborn, he and his servants.” (9:28-29, 33-24)
Why, in fact, did Pharaoh continue to sin? R’ Shlomo Kluger z”l (1784-1869; rabbi of Brody, Galicia) explains:
Pharaoh seems to have been more afraid of the thunder than of the hail; thus, he asked Moshe (verse 28) to pray first that the thunder stop and only then the hail. Moshe agreed to Pharaoh’s request (verse 29) and Hashem accepted Moshe’s prayer (verse 33).
