| 1The Lord said to Moses: "Come to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order that I may place these signs of Mine in his midst, |
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אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה בֹּ֖א אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כִּֽי־אֲנִ֞י הִכְבַּ֤דְתִּי אֶת־לִבּוֹ֙ וְאֶת־לֵ֣ב עֲבָדָ֔יו לְמַ֗עַן שִׁתִ֛י אֹֽתֹתַ֥י אֵ֖לֶּה בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ: |
| The Lord said to Moses: Come to Pharaoh: and warn him. |
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וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל־משֶׁה בֹּא אֶל־פַּרְעֹה:
וְהַתְרֵה בוֹ:
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| that I may place: Heb. שִׁתִי, lit., My placing, that I may place. — [after the targumim] |
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שיתי:
שׂוּמִי – שֶׁאָשִׁית אֲנִי:
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| 2and in order that you tell into the ears of your son and your son's son how I made a mockery of the Egyptians, and [that you tell of] My signs that I placed in them, and you will know that I am the Lord." |
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בוּלְמַ֡עַן תְּסַפֵּר֩ בְּאָזְנֵ֨י בִנְךָ֜ וּבֶן־בִּנְךָ֗ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִתְעַלַּ֨לְתִּי֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְאֶת־אֹֽתֹתַ֖י אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֣מְתִּי בָ֑ם וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה: |
| I made a mockery: Heb. הִתְעַלַלְתִּי, I mocked, like “Because you mocked (הִתְעַלַלְתְּ) me” (Num. 22:29); “Will it not be just as He mocked (הִתְעַלֵל) them” (I Sam. 6:6), stated in regard to Egypt. It is not an expression meaning a “deed and acts (מַעִלָלִים),” however, for were that so, He would have written עוֹלַלְתִּי, like “and deal (וְעוֹלֵל) with them as You have dealt (עוֹלַלְתָּ) with me” (Lam. 1:22); “which has been dealt (עוֹלֵל) to me” (Lam. 1:12). |
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הִתְעַלַּלְתִּי:
שָׂחַקְתִּי, כְּמוֹ "כִּי הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ בִּי" (במדבר כ"ב), "הֲלֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר הִתְעוֹלֵל בָּהֶם" (שמואל א' ו'), הָאָמוּר בְּמִצְרַיִם, וְאֵינוֹ לְשׁוֹן פּוֹעֵל וּמַעֲלָלִים, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב עוֹלַלְתִּי, כְּמוֹ "וְעוֹלֵל לָמוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר עוֹלַלְתָּ לִי" (איכה א'), "אֲשֶׁר עוֹלַל לִי" (שם):
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| 3So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and said to him, "So said the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, and they will worship Me. |
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גוַיָּבֹ֨א משֶׁ֣ה וְאַֽהֲרֹן֘ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה֒ וַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים עַד־מָתַ֣י מֵאַ֔נְתָּ לֵֽעָנֹ֖ת מִפָּנָ֑י שַׁלַּ֥ח עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי: |
| to humble yourself: Heb. לֵעָנֹת, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, לְאִתְכְּנָעָא, and it is derived from עָנִי. You have refused to be humble and meek before Me. |
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לֵֽעָנֹת:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, "לְאִתְכְּנָעָא", וְהוּא מִגִּזְרַת עָנִי – מֵאַנְתָּ לִהְיוֹת עָנִי וְשָׁפָל מִפָּנַי:
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| 4For if you refuse to let [them] go, behold, tomorrow I am going to bring locusts into your borders. |
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דכִּ֛י אִם־מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ אֶת־עַמִּ֑י הִֽנְנִ֨י מֵבִ֥יא מָחָ֛ר אַרְבֶּ֖ה בִּגְבֻלֶֽךָ: |
| 5And they will obscure the view of the earth, and no one will be able to see the earth, and they will eat the surviving remnant, which remains for you from the hail, and they will eat all your trees that grow out of the field. |
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הוְכִסָּה֙ אֶת־עֵ֣ין הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְאֹ֣ת אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאָכַ֣ל | אֶת־יֶ֣תֶר הַפְּלֵטָ֗ה הַנִּשְׁאֶ֤רֶת לָכֶם֙ מִן־הַבָּרָ֔ד וְאָכַל֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָעֵ֔ץ הַצֹּמֵ֥חַ לָכֶ֖ם מִן־הַשָּׂדֶֽה: |
| the view of the earth: Heb. עֵין הָאָרֶץ, the view of the earth. |
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אֶת־עֵין הָאָרֶץ:
אֶת מַרְאֵה הָאָרֶץ:
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| and no one will be able: Heb. יוּכַל lit., and will not be able. The seer [will not be able] to see the earth, but [the text] speaks briefly. |
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וְלֹא יוּכַל:
הָרוֹאֶה לראת את הארץ, וְלָשׁוֹן קְצָרָה דִּבֵּר:
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| 6And your houses and the houses of all your servants and the houses of all the Egyptians will be filled, which your fathers and your fathers' fathers did not see since the day they were on the earth until this day.' " [Therewith,] he turned and left Pharaoh. |
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ווּמָֽלְא֨וּ בָתֶּ֜יךָ וּבָתֵּ֣י כָל־עֲבָדֶ֘יךָ֘ וּבָתֵּ֣י כָל־מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־רָא֤וּ אֲבֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ וַֽאֲב֣וֹת אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ מִיּ֗וֹם הֱיוֹתָם֙ עַל־הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַיִּ֥פֶן וַיֵּצֵ֖א מֵעִ֥ם פַּרְעֹֽה: |
| 7Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this one be a stumbling block to us? Let the people go and they will worship their God. Don't you yet know that Egypt is lost?" |
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זוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֩ עַבְדֵ֨י פַרְעֹ֜ה אֵלָ֗יו עַד־מָתַי֙ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה זֶ֥ה לָ֨נוּ֙ לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ שַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְיַֽעַבְד֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֑ם הֲטֶ֣רֶם תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֥י אָֽבְדָ֖ה מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| Don’t you yet know: Heb. הִטֶרֶם תֵּדַע, do you not know yet that Egypt is lost?-[Rashi and Rashbam from targumim] |
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הֲטֶרֶם תֵּדַע:
הַעוֹד לֹא יָדַעְתָּ כִּי אָבְדָה מִצְרַיִם:
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| 8[Thereupon,] Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go, worship the Lord your God. Who and who are going?" |
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חוַיּוּשַׁ֞ב אֶת־משֶׁ֤ה וְאֶת־אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לְכ֥וּ עִבְד֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם מִ֥י וָמִ֖י הַהֹֽלְכִֽים: |
| were brought back: They were brought back by a messenger, whom they [the Egyptians] sent after them, and they returned them to Pharaoh. |
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וַיּוּשַׁב:
הוּשְׁבוּ עַל יְדֵי שְׁלִיחַ, שֶׁשָּׁלְחוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וֶהֱשִׁיבוּם אֶל פַּרְעֹה:
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| 9Moses said, "With our youth and with our elders we will go, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our cattle we will go, for it is a festival of the Lord to us." |
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טוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֔ה בִּנְעָרֵ֥ינוּ וּבִזְקֵנֵ֖ינוּ נֵלֵ֑ךְ בְּבָנֵ֨ינוּ וּבִבְנוֹתֵ֜נוּ בְּצֹאנֵ֤נוּ וּבִבְקָרֵ֨נוּ֙ נֵלֵ֔ךְ כִּ֥י חַג־יְהֹוָ֖ה לָֽנוּ: |
| 10So he [Pharaoh] said to them, "So may the Lord be with you, just as I will let you and your young children out. See that evil is before your faces. |
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יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם יְהִ֨י כֵ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם וְאֶת־טַפְּכֶ֑ם רְא֕וּ כִּ֥י רָעָ֖ה נֶ֥גֶד פְּנֵיכֶֽם: |
| just as I will let you… out: and surely I will not let the flocks and the cattle out as you said. |
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כַּֽאֲשֶׁר אֲשַׁלַּח אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת־טַפְּכֶם:
אַף כִּי אֲשַׁלַּח גַּם אֶת הַצֹּאן וְאֶת הַבָּקָר כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם:
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| See that evil is before your faces: [Understand this] as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it. I have [also] heard an Aggadic midrash, however [which explains the passage as follows]: There is a star named Ra’ah [i.e., רָעָה meaning evil]. Pharaoh said to them [Moses and Aaron], “With my astrology I see that star ascending toward you in the desert [where you would like to go], and that is a sign of blood and slaughter.” When the Israelites sinned with the calf, and the Holy One, blessed be He, sought to kill them, Moses said in his prayer, “Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With Ra’ah He took them out…?’” (Exod. 32:12) This is what he [Pharaoh] said to them, “See that Ra’ah [evil] is opposite your faces,” [implying that their blood would be shed in the desert]. Immediately, “The Lord repented of the Ra’ah [the sign of the star]” (Exod. 32:14), and He turned the bloodshed [symbolized by this star] into the blood of the circumcision, for Joshua [in fact] circumcised them. This is the meaning of what is said: “This day I have rolled away the reproach of the Egyptians from you” (Josh. 5:9), for they were saying to you, “We see blood over you in the desert.” -[from Midrash Shir Hashirim, Wertheimer 1:2] |
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רְאוּ כִּי רָעָה נֶגֶד פְּנֵיכֶֽם:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁ אַגָדָה שָׁמַעְתִּי, כּוֹכָב אֶחָד יֵשׁ שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ רָעָה, אָמַר לָהֶם פַּרְעֹה, רוֹאֶה אֲנִי בָּאִצְטַגְנִינוּת שֶׁלִּי אוֹתוֹ כוֹכָב עוֹלֶה לִקְרַאתְכֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְהוּא סִימַן דָּם וַהֲרִיגָה; וּכְשֶׁחָטְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעֵגֶל וּבִקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהָרְגָם, אָמַר מֹשֶׁה בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ, לָמָּה יֹאמְרוּ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר "בְּרָעָה" הוֹצִיאָם (שמות ל"ב), זוֹ הִיא שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם, רְאוּ כִּי רָעָה נֶגֶד פְּנֵיכֶם; מִיָּד וַיִּנָּחֶם ה' עַל הָרָעָה וְהָפַךְ אֶת הַדָּם לְדַם מִילָה, שֶׁמָּל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹתָם, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּ' "הַיּוֹם גַּלּוֹתִי אֶת חֶרְפַּת מִצְרַיִם מֵעֲלֵיכֶם" (יהושע ה'), שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לָכֶם, דָּם אָנוּ רוֹאִין עֲלֵיכֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר:
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| 11Not so; let the men go now and worship the Lord, for that is what you request." And he chased them out from before Pharaoh. |
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יאלֹ֣א כֵ֗ן לְכ֙וּ נָ֤א הַגְּבָרִים֙ וְעִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אֹתָ֖הּ אַתֶּ֣ם מְבַקְשִׁ֑ים וַיְגָ֣רֶשׁ אֹתָ֔ם מֵאֵ֖ת פְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה: |
| Not so: as you have said [that you want] to take the young children with you, but let the men go and worship the Lord. — [from Jonathan] |
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לֹא כֵן:
כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם לְהוֹלִיךְ הַטַּף עִמָּכֶם, אֶלָּא לכו הגברים ועבדו את ה':
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| for that is what you request: ([meaning] that worship) you have requested until now, [telling me,] “Let us offer and sacrifice to our God” (Exod. 5:8), and young children do not usually offer up sacrifices. — [from Exod. Rabbah 13:5] |
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כִּי אֹתָהּ אַתֶּם מְבַקְשִׁים:
כִּי אוֹתָהּ בִּקַּשְׁתֶּם עַד הֵנָּה – נִזְבְּחָה לֵאלֹהֵינוּ, וְאֵין דֶּרֶךְ הַטַּף לִזְבֹּחַ:
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| And he chased them out: This is elliptical, for it does not specify who the chaser was. |
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וַיְגָרֶשׁ אותם:
הֲרֵי זֶה לָשׁוֹן קָצָר וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ מִי הַמְגָרֵשׁ:
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| 12The Lord said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, and they will ascend over the land of Egypt, and they will eat all the vegetation of the earth, all that the hail has left over." |
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יבוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה נְטֵ֨ה יָֽדְךָ֜ עַל־אֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ בָּֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה וְיַ֖עַל עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְיֹאכַל֙ אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב הָאָ֔רֶץ אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁאִ֖יר הַבָּרָֽד: |
| for the locusts: For the plague of the locusts. |
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בָּֽאַרְבֶּה:
בִּשְׁבִיל מַכַּת הָאַרְבֶּה:
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| 13So Moses stretched forth his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord led an east wind in the land all that day and all the night. [By the time] it was morning, the east wind had borne the locusts. |
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יגוַיֵּ֨ט משֶׁ֣ה אֶת־מַטֵּ֘הוּ֘ עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ וַֽיהֹוָ֗ה נִהַ֤ג רֽוּחַ־קָדִים֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ כָּל־הַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וְכָל־הַלָּ֑יְלָה הַבֹּ֣קֶר הָיָ֔ה וְר֨וּחַ֙ הַקָּדִ֔ים נָשָׂ֖א אֶת־הָֽאַרְבֶּֽה: |
| the east wind: The east wind bore the locusts because it [the east wind] came opposite it [the locust swarm], for Egypt is southwest [of Israel], as is explained elsewhere (Num. 34:3).] |
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וְרוּחַ הַקָּדִים:
רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית נָשָׂא אֶת הָאַרְבֶּה, לְפִי שֶׁבָּא כְּנֶגְדוֹ, שֶׁמִּצְרַיִם בִּדְרוֹמִית מַעֲרָבִית הָיְתָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר:
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| 14The locusts ascended over the entire land of Egypt, and they alighted within all the border[s] of Egypt, very severe; before them, there was never such a locust [plague], and after it, there will never be one like it. |
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ידוַיַּ֣עַל הָֽאַרְבֶּ֗ה עַ֚ל כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיָּ֕נַח בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֣וּל מִצְרָ֑יִם כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד לְ֠פָנָ֠יו לֹא־הָ֨יָה כֵ֤ן אַרְבֶּה֙ כָּמֹ֔הוּ וְאַֽחֲרָ֖יו לֹ֥א יִֽהְיֶה־כֵּֽן: |
| and after it, there will never be one like it: And the one [the locust plague] that took place in the days of Joel, about which it is said: “the like of which has never been” (Joel 2:2), [from which] we learn that it was more severe than that of [the plague in the days of] Moses-namely because that one was [composed] of many species [of locusts] that were together: arbeh, yelek, chasil, [and] gazam; but [the locust plague] of Moses consisted of only one species [the arbeh], and its equal never was and never will be. |
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וְאַֽחֲרָיו לֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־כֵן:
וְאוֹתוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בִימֵי יוֹאֵל שֶׁנֶּ' "כָּמוֹהוּ לֹא נִהְיָה מִן הָעוֹלָם" (יואל ב'), לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהָיָה כָּבֵד מִשֶּׁל מֹשֶׁה. (אוֹתוֹ שֶׁל יוֹאֵל הָיָה) עַל יְדֵי מִינִין הַרְבֵּה, שֶׁהָיוּ יַחַד אַרְבֶּה, יֶלֶק, חָסִיל, גָּזָם, אֲבָל שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה לֹא הָיָה אֶלָּא מִין אֶחָד, וְכָמוֹהוּ לֹא הָיָה וְלֹא יִהְיֶה:
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| 15They obscured the view of all the earth, and the earth became darkened, and they ate all the vegetation of the earth and all the fruits of the trees, which the hail had left over, and no greenery was left in the trees or in the vegetation of the field[s] throughout the entire land of Egypt. |
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טווַיְכַ֞ס אֶת־עֵ֣ין כָּל־הָאָ֘רֶץ֘ וַתֶּחְשַׁ֣ךְ הָאָ֒רֶץ֒ וַיֹּ֜אכַל אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב הָאָ֗רֶץ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־פְּרִ֣י הָעֵ֔ץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹתִ֖יר הַבָּרָ֑ד וְלֹֽא־נוֹתַ֨ר כָּל־יֶ֧רֶק בָּעֵ֛ץ וּבְעֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| no greenery: Heb. יֶרֶק, green leaf, verdure in French. |
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כָּל־יֶרֶק:
עָלֶה יָרֹק, וירדו"רא בְּלַעַז:
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| 16Pharaoh hastened to summon Moses and Aaron, and he said, "I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. |
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טזוַיְמַהֵ֣ר פַּרְעֹ֔ה לִקְרֹ֖א לְמשֶׁ֣ה וּלְאַֽהֲרֹ֑ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר חָטָ֛אתִי לַֽיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם וְלָכֶֽם: |
| 17But now, forgive now my sin only this time and entreat the Lord your God, and let Him remove from me just this death." |
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יזוְעַתָּ֗ה שָׂ֣א נָ֤א חַטָּאתִי֙ אַ֣ךְ הַפַּ֔עַם וְהַעְתִּ֖ירוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם וְיָסֵר֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י רַ֖ק אֶת־הַמָּ֥וֶת הַזֶּֽה: |
| 18So he [Moses] left Pharaoh and entreated the Lord, |
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יחוַיֵּצֵ֖א מֵעִ֣ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיֶּעְתַּ֖ר אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 19and the Lord reversed a very strong west wind, and it picked up the locusts and thrust them into the Red Sea. Not one locust remained within all the border[s] of Egypt. |
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יטוַיַּֽהֲפֹ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֤ה רֽוּחַ־יָם֙ חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֔ד וַיִּשָּׂא֙ אֶת־הָ֣אַרְבֶּ֔ה וַיִּתְקָעֵ֖הוּ יָ֣מָּה סּ֑וּף לֹ֤א נִשְׁאַר֙ אַרְבֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֥וּל מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| west wind: Heb. רוּחַ-יָם, a west wind. — [from targumim] |
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רֽוּחַ־יָם:
רוּחַ מַעֲרָבִי:
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| into the Red Sea: I believe that the Red Sea was partly in the west, opposite the entire southern boundary, and also east of the land of Israel. Therefore, a west wind thrust the locusts into the Red Sea [which was] opposite it [the west wind]. Likewise, we find this [written] regarding the boundaries [of Israel] that it [the Red Sea] faces the east [of Israel], as it is said: “from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines” (Exod. 23:31). [This signifies] from east to west, because the sea of the Philistines was to the west, as it is said concerning the Philistines, “the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of Cherithites” (Zeph. 2:5). [Rashi is apparently referring to the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Eilat, which are both branches of the Red Sea and thus are included in the expression “Red Sea.” The latter is the eastern boundary of the Holy Land, while the Gulf of Suez is Egypt’s eastern boundary. Since the Philistines dwelt on the Mediterranean seacoast, the Red Sea mentioned in that context was surely the Gulf of Eilat. The Red Sea mentioned here is the Gulf of Suez, where the locusts were deposited.] |
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יָמָּה סּוּף:
אוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁיַּם סוּף הָיָה מִקְצָתוֹ בַּמַּעֲרָב, כְּנֶגֶד כָּל רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית, וְגַם בְּמִזְרָחָה שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְפִיכָךְ רוּחַ יָם תְּקָעוֹ לָאַרְבֶּה בְּיָמָּה סוּף כְּנֶגְדּוֹ. וְכֵן מָצִינוּ לְעִנְיַן תְּחוּמִין שֶׁהוּא פּוֹנֶה לְצַד מִזְרָח, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "מִיַּם סוּף וְעַד יָם פְּלִשְׁתִּים" (לקמן כג לא) מִמִּזְרָח לְמַעֲרָב, שֶׁיָּם פְּלִשְׁתִּים בַּמַּעֲרָב הָיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים "יוֹשְׁבֵי חֶבֶל הַיָּם גּוֹי כְּרֵתִים" (צפניה ב'):
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| Not one locust remained: Even the salted ones [locusts] which they [the Egyptians] had salted for themselves [to eat]. — [from Exod. Rabbah 13:7; Midrash Tanchuma, Va’era 14] |
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לֹא נִשְׁאַר אַרְבֶּה אֶחָד:
אַף הַמְּלוּחִים שֶׁמָּלְחוּ מֵהֶם:
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| 20But the Lord strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out. |
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כוַיְחַזֵּ֥ק יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שִׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| 21The Lord said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand toward the heavens, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, and the darkness will become darker." |
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כאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה נְטֵ֤ה יָֽדְךָ֙ עַל־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וִ֥יהִי ח֖שֶׁךְ עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְיָמֵ֖שׁ חֽשֶׁךְ: |
| and the darkness will become darker: Heb. וְיָמֵֹש חֹשֶׁךְ, [signifies] and the darkness will become darker upon them than the darkness of night, and the darkness of night will become even darker (וְיַאֲמִישׁ). |
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וְיָמֵשׁ חשֶׁךְ:
וְיַחֲשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהֶם חֹשֶׁךְ יוֹתֵר מֵחֶשְׁכּוֹ שֶׁל לַיְלָה, חֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁל לַיְלָה יַאֲמִישׁ וְיַחֲשִׁיךְ עוֹד:
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| will become darker: Heb. וְיָמֵשׁ, [should be interpreted] like וְיַאִמֵשׁ. There are many words which lack the “aleph;” since the pronunciation of the “aleph” is not so noticeable, Scripture is not particular about its absence, e.g., “and no Arab shall pitch his tent (יַהֵל) there” (Isa. 13:20), יַהֵל is] the same as וְיַאִהֵל; “For You have girded me (וַתַּזְרֵנִי) with strength” (II Sam. 22:40) is like וַתְּאַזְרֵנִי (Ps. 18:40). Onkelos, however, rendered it וְיָמֵשׁ as an expression of removal, similar to “He did not move (לֹא-יָמִישׁ) ” (Exod. 13:22): [Onkelos thus understands the verse to mean] “after the darkness of night turns away,” when it approaches the light of day. But [according to Onkelos] the context does not fit with the “vav” of וְיָמֵשׁ because it is written after “and there will be darkness” [and the darkness will turn away, and there will be darkness]. The Aggadic midrash (Exod. Rabbah 14:1-3) interprets it וְיָמֵשׁ as an expression [related to] “grope about (מְמַֹשֵשׁ) at noontime” (Deut. 28: 29), for it [the darkness] was doubled, redoubled, and thick to the degree that it was tangible. |
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וְיָמֵשׁ:
כְּמוֹ וְיַאֲמֵשׁ; יֵשׁ לָנוּ תֵבוֹת הַרְבֵּה חֲסֵרוֹת אָלֶ"ף, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין הֲבָרַת הָאָלֶ"ף נִכֶּרֶת כָּל כָּךְ, אֵין הַכָּתוּב מַקְפִּיד עַל חֶסְרוֹנָהּ, כְּגוֹן "וְלֹא יַהֵל שָׁם עֲרָבִי" (ישעיהו י"ג), כְּמוֹ לֹא יַאֲהֵל – לֹא יַטֶּה אָהֳלוֹ, וְכֵן "וַתַּזְרֵנִי חַיִל" (שמואל ב' כ"ב), כְּמוֹ וַתְּאַזְּרֵנִי; וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם לְשׁוֹן הֲסָרָה, כְּמוֹ לֹא יָמוּשׁ; "בָּתַר דְּיֶעְדֵּי קְבַל לֵילְיָא" – כְּשֶׁיַּגִּיעַ סָמוּךְ לְאוֹר הַיּוֹם; אֲבָל אֵין הַדִּבּוּר מְיֻשָּׁב עַל הַוָּי"ו שֶׁל וְיָמֵשׁ, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא כָתוּב אַחַר וִיהִי חֹשֶׁךְ. וּמִקְרָא אַחֵר פּוֹתְרוֹ לְשׁוֹן "מְמַשֵּׁשׁ בַּצָּהֳרַיִם" (דברים כ"ח), שֶׁהָיָה כָפוּל וּמְכֻפָּל וְעָב עַד שֶׁהָיָה בוֹ מַמָּשׁ:
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| 22So Moses stretched forth his hand toward the heavens, and there was thick darkness over the entire land of Egypt for three days. |
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כבוַיֵּ֥ט משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־יָד֖וֹ עַל־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְהִ֧י חֽשֶׁךְ־אֲפֵלָ֛ה בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם שְׁל֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים: |
| and there was thick darkness… for three days, etc.: Thick darkness in which they did not see each other for those three days, and another three days of darkness twice as dark as this, so that no one rose from his place. If he was sitting, he was unable to stand, and if he was standing, he was unable to sit. Now why did He bring darkness upon them [the Egyptians]? Because there were among the Israelites in that generation wicked people who did not want to leave [Egypt]. They died during the three days of darkness, so that the Egyptians would not see their downfall and say, “They too are being smitten like us.” Also, the Israelites searched [the Egyptians’ dwellings during the darkness] and saw their [own] belongings. When they were leaving [Egypt] and asked [for some of their things], and they [the Egyptians] said, “We have nothing,” he [the Israelite] would say to him, “I saw it in your house, and it is in such and such a place.” -[from Jonathan; Tanchuma, Bo 3; Tanchuma, Va’era 14; Tanchuma Buber, Bo 3] |
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וַיְהִי חֽשֶׁךְ־אפלה: שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִֽים:
חֹשֶׁךְ שֶׁל אֹפֶל, שֶׁלֹּא רָאוּ אִישׁ אֶת אָחִיו אוֹתָן ג' יָמִים. וְעוֹד שְׁלוֹשֶׁת יָמִים אֲחֵרִים חֹשֶׁךְ מֻכְפָּל עַל זֶה, שֶׁלֹּא קָמוּ אִישׁ מִתַּחְתָּיו – יוֹשֵׁב אֵין יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד, וְעוֹמֵד אֵין יָכוֹל לֵישֵׁב; וְלָמָּה הֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם חֹשֶׁךְ? שֶׁהָיוּ בְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר רְשָׁעִים וְלֹא הָיוּ רוֹצִים לָצֵאת, וּמֵתוּ בִשְׁלוֹשֶׁת יְמֵי אֲפֵלָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאוּ מִצְרִיִּים בְּמַפַּלְתָּם וְיֹאמְרוּ, אַף הֵם לוֹקִים כָּמוֹנוּ. וְעוֹד, שֶׁחִפְּשׂוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְרָאוּ אֶת כְּלֵיהֶם, וּכְשֶׁיָּצְאוּ וְהָיוּ שׁוֹאֲלִים מֵהֶן וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים אֵין בְּיָדֵנוּ כְלוּם, אוֹמֵר לוֹ, אֲנִי רְאִיתִיו בְּבֵיתְךָ, וּבְמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי הוּא (שמות רבה):
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| three days: Heb. שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים, a triad of days [a group of three consecutive days], terzeyne in Old French, and similarly, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים everywhere means a seteyne of days [a group of seven consecutive days]. |
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שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִֽים:
שִׁלּוּשׁ שֶׁל יָמִים, טרציינ"א בְּלַעַז, וְכֵן שִׁבְעַת יָמִים בְּכָל מָקוֹם שטיי"נא שֶׁל יָמִים:
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| 23They did not see each other, and no one rose from his place for three days, but for all the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings. |
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כגלֹֽא־רָא֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אָחִ֗יו וְלֹא־קָ֛מוּ אִ֥ישׁ מִתַּחְתָּ֖יו שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וּלְכָל־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָ֥יָה א֖וֹר בְּמֽוֹשְׁבֹתָֽם: |
| 24Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go! Worship the Lord, but your flocks and your cattle shall be left. Your young children may also go with you." |
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כדוַיִּקְרָ֨א פַרְעֹ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לְכוּ֙ עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה רַ֛ק צֹֽאנְכֶ֥ם וּבְקַרְכֶ֖ם יֻצָּ֑ג גַּם־טַפְּכֶ֖ם יֵלֵ֥ךְ עִמָּכֶֽם: |
| shall be left: Heb. יֻצָּג, lit., shall be placed. Shall be left in its place. |
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יֻצָּג:
יְהֵא מֻצָּג בִּמְקוֹמוֹ:
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| 25But Moses said, "You too shall give sacrifices and burnt offerings into our hands, and we will make them for the Lord our God. |
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כהוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֔ה גַּם־אַתָּ֛ה תִּתֵּ֥ן בְּיָדֵ֖נוּ זְבָחִ֣ים וְעֹלֹ֑ת וְעָשִׂ֖ינוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ: |
| You too shall give: Not only will our livestock go with us, but you too shall give [of your livestock or something else to sacrifice]. |
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גַּם־אַתָּה תִּתֵּן:
לֹא דַּיְּךָ שֶׁמִּקְנֵנוּ יֵלֵךְ עִמָּנוּ אֶלָּא גַּם מִשֶּׁלְּךָ תִּתֵּן:
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| 26And also our cattle will go with us; not a [single] hoof will remain, for we will take from it to worship the Lord our God, and we do not know how [much] we will worship the Lord until we arrive there." |
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כווְגַם־מִקְנֵ֜נוּ יֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֗נוּ לֹ֤א תִשָּׁאֵר֙ פַּרְסָ֔ה כִּ֚י מִמֶּ֣נּוּ נִקַּ֔ח לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַֽאֲנַ֣חְנוּ לֹֽא־נֵדַ֗ע מַה־נַּֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה עַד־בֹּאֵ֖נוּ שָֽׁמָּה: |
| hoof: Heb. פַּרְסָה, the sole of a foot, plante in French. — [from Targum Yerushalmi, Rome ms. cited by The Pentateuch with Rashi Hashalem] |
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פַּרְסָה:
פַּרְסַת רֶגֶל, פלנ"טא בְּלַעַז:
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| do not know how [much] we will worship-: How intense the worship will be. Perhaps He will ask for more than we have in our possession. — [from Exod. Rabbah 18:1] |
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לֹא נֵדַע מַה־נַּֽעֲבֹד:
כַּמָּה תִּכְבַּד הָעֲבוֹדָה, שֶׁמָּא יִשְׁאַל יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדֵנוּ:
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| 27The Lord strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he was unwilling to let them out. |
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כזוַיְחַזֵּ֥ק יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לְשַׁלְּחָֽם: |
| 28Pharaoh said to him, "Go away from me! Beware! You shall no longer see my face, for on the day that you see my face, you shall die!" |
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כחוַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ פַרְעֹ֖ה לֵ֣ךְ מֵֽעָלָ֑י הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֗ אַל־תֹּ֨סֶף֙ רְא֣וֹת פָּנַ֔י כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם רְאֹֽתְךָ֥ פָנַ֖י תָּמֽוּת: |
| 29[Thereupon,] Moses said, "You have spoken correctly; I shall no longer see your face." |
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כטוַיֹּ֥אמֶר משֶׁ֖ה כֵּ֣ן דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ לֹֽא־אֹסִ֥ף ע֖וֹד רְא֥וֹת פָּנֶֽיךָ: |
| You have spoken correctly: You have spoken appropriately, and you have spoken at the right time. It is true that I shall no longer see your face. — [from Mechilta on Exod. 12:31] |
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כֵּן דִּבַּרְתָּ:
יָפֶה דִּבַּרְתָּ וּבִזְמַנּוֹ דִּבַּרְתָּ. אֱמֶת שֶׁלֹּא אוֹסִיף עוֹד רְאוֹת פָּנֶיךָ (מכילתא ושמות רבה):
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