וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה ע֣וֹד נֶ֤גַע אֶחָד֙ אָבִ֤יא עַל־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְעַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֕ן יְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּ֑ה כְּשַׁ֨לְּח֔וֹ כָּלָ֕ה גָּרֵ֛שׁ יְגָרֵ֥שׁ אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּֽה׃
E Hashem disse a Moshe: "Ainda trarei uma praga sobre Paroh e sobre Mitzrayim; depois disso, ele vos enviará daqui. Quando ele vos enviar, ele expulsará completamente todos vós deste lugar.
Shemot Rabbah
“I will harden his heart” – in order to administer their sentence.
“You shall say to Pharaoh: So said the Lord: My son, My firstborn, Israel” (Exodus 4:22).
“You shall say to Pharaoh: So said the Lord: My son…” – the Holy One blessed be He revealed to him that Pharaoh will not let Israel go until the plague of the firstborn; therefore, it was not necessary for the verse to inform him of it later.8When God said to Moses: “One more blow I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterward he will send you forth from here” (Exodus 11:1), He did not specify what that blow would be. However, Moses knew that if it was the last blow it must be the plague of the firstborn, and he warned Pharaoh accordingly (Exodus 11:5). What is “My son, My firstborn, Israel”? It is a reference to Jacob their ancestor, who purchased the birthright from Esau so he would be able to serve God.9The firstborn were initially designated to perform sacrificial rites in service of God. Israel is another name for Jacob. You shall say to him: “Let My son go, and he will serve Me” (Exodus 4:23). He said to him: ‘If you prevent My firstborn from serving Me, I will prevent your firstborn from serving you, as I will kill them all.’
“You shall say to Pharaoh: So said the Lord: My son, My firstborn, Israel” (Exodus 4:22).
“You shall say to Pharaoh: So said the Lord: My son…” – the Holy One blessed be He revealed to him that Pharaoh will not let Israel go until the plague of the firstborn; therefore, it was not necessary for the verse to inform him of it later.8When God said to Moses: “One more blow I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterward he will send you forth from here” (Exodus 11:1), He did not specify what that blow would be. However, Moses knew that if it was the last blow it must be the plague of the firstborn, and he warned Pharaoh accordingly (Exodus 11:5). What is “My son, My firstborn, Israel”? It is a reference to Jacob their ancestor, who purchased the birthright from Esau so he would be able to serve God.9The firstborn were initially designated to perform sacrificial rites in service of God. Israel is another name for Jacob. You shall say to him: “Let My son go, and he will serve Me” (Exodus 4:23). He said to him: ‘If you prevent My firstborn from serving Me, I will prevent your firstborn from serving you, as I will kill them all.’
Shemot Rabbah
Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – that is what is written: “You shall say to Pharaoh: So said the Lord: Israel is My firstborn son. I have said to you: Let My son go, and he will serve Me; and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your firstborn son.” (Exodus 4:22–23). May the name of the Holy One blessed be He be exalted, as He “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Regarding Abraham it says: “Also that nation, whom they will serve, I will judge [dan]” (Genesis 15:14). What is dan? The plague of the firstborn, which is called an affliction [nega], as it is stated: “One further affliction [nega] [will I bring upon Pharaoh and Egypt; afterward he will send you forth from this]” (Exodus 11:1). What is: “I [anokhi] will judge?”62The question is about the use of the word anokhi for the first person singular. The Holy One blessed be He said: “I will exact retribution from them with the plague of the firstborn, as it is stated: “Behold, I [anokhi] will kill your firstborn son.” The Holy One blessed be He passed this sign to Abraham, and Abraham to Isaac, Isaac to Jacob, Jacob to Levi, Levi to Kehat, Kehat to Amram, and Amram to Moses. Moses kept it as he proceeded. What is: “Israel is My firstborn son?” Rabbi Ḥiyya said: Sons whose fathers blessed them with their actions. That is Abraham as it is stated: “Blessed is Abram to God the Most High” (Genesis 14:19). Alternatively: “Israel is My firstborn son” – sons of he who took the birthright.63A reference to Jacob, who bought the birthright from Esau. See Genesis 25:29–34. Alternatively: “Israel is My firstborn son” – the Holy One blessed be He said to the wicked Pharaoh: ‘Do you not know how much I value the firstborn, as I wrote in My Torah: “Do not work your firstborn ox” (Deuteronomy 15:19). Anyone who works it is beaten, and you extended your hand against My firstborn; justice demands that you will be beaten.’
The Holy One blessed be He brought ten plagues upon him corresponding to the ten trials with which Abraham was tested and he withstood them all. He brought them through Moses and through Aaron and by Himself. This is analogous to a king against whom ten provinces rebelled. He took with him two generals and went and conquered them. The king said: If I record them [the victories] in my name, how can I accord them honor? If I record them in their names, I exclude myself. Rather, I will divide them into three,64Three provinces for each of them. and there is one extra, and I will divide it among the three of us. Thus, the plague of boils was performed by the three of them. What does it say regarding the boils: “Upon the magicians [baḥartumim]” (Exodus 9:11), is defective,65It is without a yod, as though baḥartumam is written, meaning their magician. meaning that it afflicted their angel on high, so they would have no ability to resist.
He brought ten plagues upon them like a military campaign.66See Tanḥuma, Bo 4. The frogs were especially hard on them, as it is stated: “Frogs that destroyed them” (Psalms 78:45), as they wounded their bodies and castrated them [the Egyptians], as it is stated: “And into your bedchamber, and onto your bed” (Exodus 7:28). The frogs said to them: ‘The image of their God67The Egyptians had tried to prevent Israel from procreating, and having children is, as it were, reproducing the image of God. is nullified, and yours [your ability to procreate] remains intact?’ Therefore: “That destroyed them [vatashḥitem],” as it says: “And he spilled it [veshiḥet] on the ground” (Genesis 38:9).68Referring to Onan, who spilled his seed on the ground rather than procreate with Tamar. From where [is the proof] that they [the frogs] spoke [medabberot]: “Regarding [al devar] the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” (Exodus 8:8).
Moreover, He brought upon them the plague of wild beasts [arov], because they were all intermingled [me’urbavin]; one man consorted with ten women, and ten men consorted with one woman; therefore, He brought a mixture [irbuvya]69Irbuvya and me’urbavin are from the same root as arov. upon them.
When the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “One further affliction [nega] will I bring upon Pharaoh” (Exodus 11:1), Moses said: The sign has arrived [higia]. “One was Abraham” (Ezekiel 33:24) – behold, it is the affliction of the “one”.70Abraham is described as one, and the fact that God said “one further affliction” rather than simply: A further affliction, alluded to the fact that it was the plague that Abraham had been told about. Since they [Israel] were firstborn, He therefore killed the firstborn, as it is stated: “Behold, I will kill your firstborn son” (Exodus 4:23). That is the sign to Abraham: “I will judge” (Genesis 15:14)
Another matter: Why is Israel called “My firstborn son”? Because it is written in the Torah: “Rather, he shall acknowledge the firstborn son of the hated, giving him a double portion” (Deuteronomy 21:17); so too, Israel inherits two worlds, this world and the World to Come. That is why the Holy One blessed be He gave the secret of [calculating the waxing and waning of] the moon to Israel, that they should count on its basis, but the idolaters count on the basis of the sun; that is to say, just as the sun rules only during the day, so too, they rule only in this world, and just as the sun is made of fire, so, they are destined to be punished in it, as it is stated: “Behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace” (Malachi 3:19). And just as the moon is seen during the day and at night, so, Israel rules in this world and in the World to Come. And just as the moon is made of light, so, Israel inherits the light, as it is stated: “Light is sown for the righteous” (Psalms 97:11), and it says: “Arise, shine, for your light has arrived” (Isaiah 60:1). That is why it says: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – it shall be yours, because you are of the same type [as the moon].
The Holy One blessed be He brought ten plagues upon him corresponding to the ten trials with which Abraham was tested and he withstood them all. He brought them through Moses and through Aaron and by Himself. This is analogous to a king against whom ten provinces rebelled. He took with him two generals and went and conquered them. The king said: If I record them [the victories] in my name, how can I accord them honor? If I record them in their names, I exclude myself. Rather, I will divide them into three,64Three provinces for each of them. and there is one extra, and I will divide it among the three of us. Thus, the plague of boils was performed by the three of them. What does it say regarding the boils: “Upon the magicians [baḥartumim]” (Exodus 9:11), is defective,65It is without a yod, as though baḥartumam is written, meaning their magician. meaning that it afflicted their angel on high, so they would have no ability to resist.
He brought ten plagues upon them like a military campaign.66See Tanḥuma, Bo 4. The frogs were especially hard on them, as it is stated: “Frogs that destroyed them” (Psalms 78:45), as they wounded their bodies and castrated them [the Egyptians], as it is stated: “And into your bedchamber, and onto your bed” (Exodus 7:28). The frogs said to them: ‘The image of their God67The Egyptians had tried to prevent Israel from procreating, and having children is, as it were, reproducing the image of God. is nullified, and yours [your ability to procreate] remains intact?’ Therefore: “That destroyed them [vatashḥitem],” as it says: “And he spilled it [veshiḥet] on the ground” (Genesis 38:9).68Referring to Onan, who spilled his seed on the ground rather than procreate with Tamar. From where [is the proof] that they [the frogs] spoke [medabberot]: “Regarding [al devar] the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” (Exodus 8:8).
Moreover, He brought upon them the plague of wild beasts [arov], because they were all intermingled [me’urbavin]; one man consorted with ten women, and ten men consorted with one woman; therefore, He brought a mixture [irbuvya]69Irbuvya and me’urbavin are from the same root as arov. upon them.
When the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “One further affliction [nega] will I bring upon Pharaoh” (Exodus 11:1), Moses said: The sign has arrived [higia]. “One was Abraham” (Ezekiel 33:24) – behold, it is the affliction of the “one”.70Abraham is described as one, and the fact that God said “one further affliction” rather than simply: A further affliction, alluded to the fact that it was the plague that Abraham had been told about. Since they [Israel] were firstborn, He therefore killed the firstborn, as it is stated: “Behold, I will kill your firstborn son” (Exodus 4:23). That is the sign to Abraham: “I will judge” (Genesis 15:14)
Another matter: Why is Israel called “My firstborn son”? Because it is written in the Torah: “Rather, he shall acknowledge the firstborn son of the hated, giving him a double portion” (Deuteronomy 21:17); so too, Israel inherits two worlds, this world and the World to Come. That is why the Holy One blessed be He gave the secret of [calculating the waxing and waning of] the moon to Israel, that they should count on its basis, but the idolaters count on the basis of the sun; that is to say, just as the sun rules only during the day, so too, they rule only in this world, and just as the sun is made of fire, so, they are destined to be punished in it, as it is stated: “Behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace” (Malachi 3:19). And just as the moon is seen during the day and at night, so, Israel rules in this world and in the World to Come. And just as the moon is made of light, so, Israel inherits the light, as it is stated: “Light is sown for the righteous” (Psalms 97:11), and it says: “Arise, shine, for your light has arrived” (Isaiah 60:1). That is why it says: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – it shall be yours, because you are of the same type [as the moon].
Shemot Rabbah
“It was at midnight, and the Lord smote all firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle” (Exodus 12:29).
“It was at midnight” – that is what is written: “Who fulfills the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers” (Isaiah 44:26). Rabbi Abahu says: “Who fulfills the word of His servant,” this [servant] is Moses, as it is stated: “My servant Moses is not so, [he is trusted in all My house]” (Numbers 12:7). How did He fulfill [the word of Moses]? When He brought the plague of darkness upon them, Pharaoh began screaming: “Go serve the Lord; only your flocks and your herds will remain…” (Exodus 10:24). Moses said to him: ‘By your life, “no hoof will remain”’ (Exodus 10:26). What is “hoof”? Even an animal which belongs entirely to an Egyptian, but it has one hoof that belongs to an Israelite, he will not leave it. “As we will take from them” (Exodus 10:26) – after saying: “As we will take from them,” he then said: “And we will not know with what we will serve the Lord” (Exodus 10:26). You, who are flesh and blood, people die if they violate your commands, and if you issue an edict and say: ‘Collect for me such and such,’ the world will be able to fulfill your edict; however, we, perhaps God will say to us, ‘sacrifice an offering of two hundred and ten years’1During all those years we did not sacrifice any offerings. – that is: “And we will not know.”
Pharaoh said to him: ‘Until when will you enter here? “Go from me, beware, do not see my face anymore”’ (Exodus 10:28). Moses said to him: “You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore” (Exodus 10:29).The Holy One blessed be He said: What do I still need to inform Pharaoh? It is one plague. Immediately, God rushed to him, as it were, and entered into Pharaoh’s palace on Moses’s behalf, who said to him: “I will not see your face anymore,” so he would not be found to be a liar. You find that the Holy One blessed be He spoke to Moses in Pharaoh’s palace only at that time. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “As I leave the city, I will spread my hands to the Lord” (Exodus 9:29).2Moses did not want to pray in Pharaoh’s palace or even in the city, due to the presence of idols there. Similarly, God did not speak to Moses there. See Shemot Rabba 12:5 and 15:5. But now, the Holy One blessed be He rushed and spoke with Moses, as it is stated: “One more plague I will bring upon Pharaoh…” (Exodus 11:1).
When Moses heard, he rejoiced and was exalted, as it is stated: “Moreover the man Moses was very great” (Exodus 11:3). He began shouting publicly: “So said the Lord: About midnight, [I will emerge in the midst of Egypt]” (Exodus 11:4). “You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore.” ‘I will not come to you anymore, but you will come to me. This general that is standing with you, and this prefect of yours, and all the officers of your palace, will come to me with you, requesting of me, and prostrating themselves to me, so that we will depart from here, as it is written: “All these, your servants, will come down to me, and prostrate themselves to me, saying: [Go out, you and all the people that follow you]” (Exodus 11:8). He did not want to say “you will prostrate yourself to me” as a show of deference to the kingdom.
When midnight arrived, as Moses had said, immediately: “it was at midnight, and the Lord smote all the firstborn” – therefore [the verse states], “Who fulfills the word of His servant.” “And performs the counsel of His messengers,” for [God] consulted with Abraham concerning this matter. When? It was when the kings came and [Abraham] pursued them, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘It is sufficient for you [to pursue them] until midnight. Come let us divide the night between Me and you,’ as it is stated: “And he divided the night between them” (Genesis 14:15).3This phrase is commonly translated: “He divided himself against them by night,” but the midrash is offering an alternate interpretation. Once the hour arrived, the counsel was complete;4Once midnight arrived on the night of the plague of the firstborn, God completed the plan He had discussed with Abraham. that is: “it was at midnight” – that is what is written: “And performs the counsel of His messengers.”
“It was at midnight” – that is what is written: “Who fulfills the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers” (Isaiah 44:26). Rabbi Abahu says: “Who fulfills the word of His servant,” this [servant] is Moses, as it is stated: “My servant Moses is not so, [he is trusted in all My house]” (Numbers 12:7). How did He fulfill [the word of Moses]? When He brought the plague of darkness upon them, Pharaoh began screaming: “Go serve the Lord; only your flocks and your herds will remain…” (Exodus 10:24). Moses said to him: ‘By your life, “no hoof will remain”’ (Exodus 10:26). What is “hoof”? Even an animal which belongs entirely to an Egyptian, but it has one hoof that belongs to an Israelite, he will not leave it. “As we will take from them” (Exodus 10:26) – after saying: “As we will take from them,” he then said: “And we will not know with what we will serve the Lord” (Exodus 10:26). You, who are flesh and blood, people die if they violate your commands, and if you issue an edict and say: ‘Collect for me such and such,’ the world will be able to fulfill your edict; however, we, perhaps God will say to us, ‘sacrifice an offering of two hundred and ten years’1During all those years we did not sacrifice any offerings. – that is: “And we will not know.”
Pharaoh said to him: ‘Until when will you enter here? “Go from me, beware, do not see my face anymore”’ (Exodus 10:28). Moses said to him: “You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore” (Exodus 10:29).The Holy One blessed be He said: What do I still need to inform Pharaoh? It is one plague. Immediately, God rushed to him, as it were, and entered into Pharaoh’s palace on Moses’s behalf, who said to him: “I will not see your face anymore,” so he would not be found to be a liar. You find that the Holy One blessed be He spoke to Moses in Pharaoh’s palace only at that time. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “As I leave the city, I will spread my hands to the Lord” (Exodus 9:29).2Moses did not want to pray in Pharaoh’s palace or even in the city, due to the presence of idols there. Similarly, God did not speak to Moses there. See Shemot Rabba 12:5 and 15:5. But now, the Holy One blessed be He rushed and spoke with Moses, as it is stated: “One more plague I will bring upon Pharaoh…” (Exodus 11:1).
When Moses heard, he rejoiced and was exalted, as it is stated: “Moreover the man Moses was very great” (Exodus 11:3). He began shouting publicly: “So said the Lord: About midnight, [I will emerge in the midst of Egypt]” (Exodus 11:4). “You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore.” ‘I will not come to you anymore, but you will come to me. This general that is standing with you, and this prefect of yours, and all the officers of your palace, will come to me with you, requesting of me, and prostrating themselves to me, so that we will depart from here, as it is written: “All these, your servants, will come down to me, and prostrate themselves to me, saying: [Go out, you and all the people that follow you]” (Exodus 11:8). He did not want to say “you will prostrate yourself to me” as a show of deference to the kingdom.
When midnight arrived, as Moses had said, immediately: “it was at midnight, and the Lord smote all the firstborn” – therefore [the verse states], “Who fulfills the word of His servant.” “And performs the counsel of His messengers,” for [God] consulted with Abraham concerning this matter. When? It was when the kings came and [Abraham] pursued them, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘It is sufficient for you [to pursue them] until midnight. Come let us divide the night between Me and you,’ as it is stated: “And he divided the night between them” (Genesis 14:15).3This phrase is commonly translated: “He divided himself against them by night,” but the midrash is offering an alternate interpretation. Once the hour arrived, the counsel was complete;4Once midnight arrived on the night of the plague of the firstborn, God completed the plan He had discussed with Abraham. that is: “it was at midnight” – that is what is written: “And performs the counsel of His messengers.”