Shemot
Vaera, Aliyah 4 וארא, רביעי
Part of: VaeraVaera, Aliyah 4Chapter 7Chapter 8Petuchah, Exodus 7:8Petuchah, Exodus 7:26Setumah, Exodus 7:14Setumah, Exodus 7:19
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Shemot 7
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹֽר׃
Adonoy said to Moshe and Aharon, saying:
Adonoy said to Moshe and Aharon, saying:
כִּי יְדַבֵּר אֲלֵכֶם פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר תְּנוּ לָכֶם מוֹפֵת וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן קַח אֶֽת־מַטְּךָ וְהַשְׁלֵךְ לִפְנֵֽי־פַרְעֹה יְהִי לְתַנִּֽין׃
“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Give yourselves [credibility by displaying] a marvel;’ you [Moshe] should then say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and throw it down before Pharaoh.’ It will become a serpent.’”
“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Give yourselves [credibility by displaying] a marvel;’ you [Moshe] should then say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and throw it down before Pharaoh.’ It will become a serpent.’”
Rashi
וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֶל־פַּרְעֹה וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אַהֲרֹן אֶת־מַטֵּהוּ לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה וְלִפְנֵי עֲבָדָיו וַיְהִי לְתַנִּֽין׃
Moshe and Aharon came to Pharaoh and they did exactly as Adonoy commanded [them]. Aharon threw his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a serpent.
Moshe and Aharon came to Pharaoh and they did exactly as Adonoy commanded [them]. Aharon threw his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a serpent.
Rashi
לתנין. נחש:
A serpent. [לְתַנִּין means] a serpent.
וַיִּקְרָא גַּם־פַּרְעֹה לַֽחֲכָמִים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ גַם־הֵם חַרְטֻמֵּי מִצְרַיִם בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם כֵּֽן׃
Pharaoh too called [his] wise men and magicians. The sorcerers of Egypt also did likewise with their magic art.
Pharaoh too called [his] wise men and magicians. The sorcerers of Egypt also did likewise with their magic art.
Rashi
בלהטיהם בְּלַחֲשֵׁיהוֹן, ואין לו דמיון במקרא, ויש לדמות לו לַהַט הַחֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת (בראשית ג, כד), דומה שהיא מתהפכת על ידי לחש:
With their magic art. [Onkelos translates it as] בְּלַחֲשֵׁיהוֹן — “with their magic.” There is no comparable word [to בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם] in Scripture. However, one may compare to it: “the לַהַט of the rotating sword,” for it appears to rotate [as if] by magic.
וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ אִישׁ מַטֵּהוּ וַיִּהְיוּ לְתַנִּינִם וַיִּבְלַע מַטֵּֽה־אַהֲרֹן אֶת־מַטֹּתָֽם׃
When each man threw down his rod they (the rods) became serpents, and Aharon’s rod swallowed their rods.
When each man threw down his rod they (the rods) became serpents, and Aharon’s rod swallowed their rods.
Rashi
ויבלע מטה אהרן. מאחר שחזר ונעשה מטה בלע את כלן (שבת צז):
Aharon’s rod swallowed. After it became a rod again, did it swallow all the rest.
וַיֶּֽחֱזַק לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
Pharaoh’s heart [remained] hard and he did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had foretold.
Pharaoh’s heart [remained] hard and he did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had foretold.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה כָּבֵד לֵב פַּרְעֹה מֵאֵן לְשַׁלַּח הָעָֽם׃
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Pharaoh’s heart is heavy [unmoved]. He refuses to let the people go.
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Pharaoh’s heart is heavy [unmoved]. He refuses to let the people go.
Rashi
כבד. תרגומו יַקִּיר, ולא אתיקר, מפני שהוא שם דבר, כמו כִּי כָּבֵד מִמְּךָ הַדָּבָר (שמות יח, יח):
Is heavy. The correct version of Onkelos is יַקִּיר — is hard and not אִתְיַקַּר — hardened, because it is an adjective as in: “the thing is too hard for you.”
לֵךְ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה בַּבֹּקֶר הִנֵּה יֹצֵא הַמַּיְמָה וְנִצַּבְתָּ לִקְרָאתוֹ עַל־שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר וְהַמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר־נֶהְפַּךְ לְנָחָשׁ תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃
Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out to the water, and stand there to meet him by the bank of the river. The rod that was turned into a snake, take in your hand.
Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out to the water, and stand there to meet him by the bank of the river. The rod that was turned into a snake, take in your hand.
Rashi
הנה יצא המימה. לנקביו, שהיה עושה עצמו אלוה, ואומר שאינו צריך לנקביו, ומשכים ויוצא לנילוס ועושה שם צרכיו (שמו"ר ט, ז):
When he goes out to the water — to relieve himself, for he made claims to be a god and said that he did not need to relieve himself. He would arise early and go out to the Nile and there relieve himself.
וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים שְׁלָחַנִי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר שַׁלַּח אֶת־עַמִּי וְיַֽעַבְדֻנִי בַּמִּדְבָּר וְהִנֵּה לֹא־שָׁמַעְתָּ עַד־כֹּֽה׃
Say to him, “Adonoy, God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say [to you], ‘Send out My people that they may worship Me in the wilderness. Behold, thus far you have not listened.
Say to him, “Adonoy, God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say [to you], ‘Send out My people that they may worship Me in the wilderness. Behold, thus far you have not listened.
Rashi
עד כה. עד הנה. ומדרשו, עד שתשמע ממני מכת בכורות, שאפתח בה בכה כֹּה אָמַר ה' כֲַּחצֹת הַלַּיְלָה:
Thus Far. [The plain meaning of עַד כֹּה is:] thus far. But its midrashic explanation is: “until you will hear [the word כֹּה] from Me at the killing of the first-born, which I will begin with the word כֹה: [viz.] “כֹּה — Thus did Hashem say at midnight.”
כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה בְּזֹאת תֵּדַע כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מַכֶּה ׀ בַּמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדִי עַל־הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר בַּיְאֹר וְנֶהֶפְכוּ לְדָֽם׃
This is what Adonoy has said, ‘By this you will know that I am Adonoy. Behold, with the rod that is in my hand, I will strike the water of the river and it will turn into blood.
This is what Adonoy has said, ‘By this you will know that I am Adonoy. Behold, with the rod that is in my hand, I will strike the water of the river and it will turn into blood.
Rashi
ונהפכו לדם. לפי שאין גשמים יורדים במצרים, ונילוס עולה ומשקה את הארץ, ומצרים עובדים לנילוס, לפיכך הלקה את יראתם ואחר כך הלקה אותם:
It will turn into blood. Since rain does not fall in Egypt and the Nile rises and irrigates the land, and the Egyptians worship the Nile, He therefore struck their god [first] and afterwards struck them.
וְהַדָּגָה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹר תָּמוּת וּבָאַשׁ הַיְאֹר וְנִלְאוּ מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִן־הַיְאֹֽר׃ {ס}
The fish that is in the river will die, and the river will become polluted. The Egyptians will weary themselves [trying to purify] drinking water from the river.’”
The fish that is in the river will die, and the river will become polluted. The Egyptians will weary themselves [trying to purify] drinking water from the river.’”
Rashi
ונלאו מצרים. לבקש רפואה למי היאור שיהיו ראויין לשתות:
The Egyptians will weary themselves — [attempting] to find a cure so that the waters of their river should be fit to drink.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵֽה־יָדְךָ עַל־מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם עַֽל־נַהֲרֹתָם ׀ עַל־יְאֹרֵיהֶם וְעַל־אַגְמֵיהֶם וְעַל כׇּל־מִקְוֵה מֵימֵיהֶם וְיִֽהְיוּ־דָם וְהָיָה דָם בְּכׇל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּבָעֵצִים וּבָאֲבָנִֽים׃
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and extend your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers, over their canals, over their lakes, and over every place where their water is gathered, and it [the water] will become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, [even] in [vessels] of wood and [vessels] of stone.”
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and extend your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers, over their canals, over their lakes, and over every place where their water is gathered, and it [the water] will become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, [even] in [vessels] of wood and [vessels] of stone.”
Rashi
אמר אל אהרן. לפי שהגין היאור על משה כשנשלך לתוכו, לפיכך לא לקה על ידו לא בדם ולא בצפרדעים, ולקה על ידי אהרן:
Say to Aharon. Since the river protected Moshe when he was thrown into it, therefore it was not struck by him, neither at the plague of blood nor at the plague of frogs, but was struck by Aharon.
נהרותם. הם נהרות המושכים כעין נהרות שלנו:
The rivers. [נְהָרוֹת] are the flowing rivers, just like our rivers.
יאוריהם. הם בריכות נגרים העשויות בידי אדם משפת הנהר לשדות, ונילוס מימיו מתברכים ועולה דרך היאורים ומשקה השדות:
Their canals. [יְאוֹרִים] are man-made irrigation canals that extend from the river’s edge to the fields. The waters of the Nile rise [periodically] and travel by way of the canals to irrigate the fields.
אגמיהם. קבוצת מים שאינן נובעין ואין מושכין, אלא עומדין במקום אחד, וקורין לו אשטנ"ק:
Their lakes. [אֲגַם is] a gathering of waters that do not spring up or flow but are stationary in one place, and called [in Old French] estanc.
בכל ארץ מצרים. אף במרחצאות ובאמבטאות שבבתים:
Throughout all the land of Egypt. Also in their bathhouses and the baths in their homes.
ובעצים ובאבנים. מים שבכלי עץ ובכלי אבן:
In the wood and stones. [Meaning] the water in the wooden vessels and the stone vessels.
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר ׀ צִוָּה יְהֹוָה וַיָּרֶם בַּמַּטֶּה וַיַּךְ אֶת־הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר בַּיְאֹר לְעֵינֵי פַרְעֹה וּלְעֵינֵי עֲבָדָיו וַיֵּהָפְכוּ כׇּל־הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹר לְדָֽם׃
Moshe and Aharon did exactly as Adonoy commanded them. He [Aharon] lifted the rod and struck the water in the river before the eyes of Pharaoh and before the eyes of his [Pharaoh’s] servants, and all the water of the river turned into blood.
Moshe and Aharon did exactly as Adonoy commanded them. He [Aharon] lifted the rod and struck the water in the river before the eyes of Pharaoh and before the eyes of his [Pharaoh’s] servants, and all the water of the river turned into blood.
וְהַדָּגָה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹר מֵתָה וַיִּבְאַשׁ הַיְאֹר וְלֹא־יָכְלוּ מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִן־הַיְאֹר וַיְהִי הַדָּם בְּכׇל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
The fish that were in the river died, and the river became so polluted that the Egyptians were unable to drink the water from the river. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
The fish that were in the river died, and the river became so polluted that the Egyptians were unable to drink the water from the river. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן חַרְטֻמֵּי מִצְרַיִם בְּלָטֵיהֶם וַיֶּחֱזַק לֵב־פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא־שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָֽה׃
The sorcerers of Egypt did likewise with their magic art. Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened and he did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had spoken.
The sorcerers of Egypt did likewise with their magic art. Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened and he did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had spoken.
Rashi
בלטיהם. לחש שאומרין אותו בלט ובחשאי. ורבותינו אמרו, בלטיהם מעשה שדים, בלהטיהם מעשה כשפים (סנהדרין סז:):
With their magic art. [בְּלָטֵיהֶם refers to a] magical incantation which is said (בַּלָט) secretly and in a (לַחַשׁ) whisper. Our Sages say: בְּלָטֵיהֶם refers to works of demons, whereas בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם (v. 11) refers to witchcraft.
ויחזק לב פרעה. לומר על ידי מכשפות אתם עושים כן, תבן אתם מכניסין לָעֲפָרִיִּים (מנחות פה.) עיר שכולה תבן, אף אתם מביאין מכשפות למצרים שכולה כשפים:
Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened — by claiming, “You are doing this through witchcraft, you are importing straw to Efarayim — a city that is full of straw, you, too, are bringing witchcraft to Egypt which is full of witchcraft.”
וַיִּפֶן פַּרְעֹה וַיָּבֹא אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ וְלֹא־שָׁת לִבּוֹ גַּם־לָזֹֽאת׃
Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and paid no attention even to this [miracle].
Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and paid no attention even to this [miracle].
Rashi
גם לזאת. למופת המטה שנהפך לתנין ולא לזה של דם:
Even to this. [I.e., neither] to the wonder of the rod that turned into a serpent, neither to this [wonder] of the blood.
וַיַּחְפְּרוּ כׇל־מִצְרַיִם סְבִיבֹת הַיְאֹר מַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת כִּי לֹא יָֽכְלוּ לִשְׁתֹּת מִמֵּימֵי הַיְאֹֽר׃
The Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, for they could not drink from the waters of the river.
The Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, for they could not drink from the waters of the river.
וַיִּמָּלֵא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים אַחֲרֵי הַכּוֹת־יְהֹוָה אֶת־הַיְאֹֽר׃ {פ}
Seven full days [passed] after Adonoy had struck the river.
Seven full days [passed] after Adonoy had struck the river.
Rashi
וימלא. מנין שבעת ימים שלא שב היאור לקדמותו, שהיתה המכה משמשת רביע חדש, ושלשה חלקים היה מעיד ומתרה בהם (שמו"ר ט, יב):
[Seven] full [days passed]. [וַיִמָּלֵא refers to] the number of seven days that the river did not revert to its original condition. For each plague functioned for a quarter of a month, and for three quarters [of a month] he would caution and warn them.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בֹּא אֶל־פַּרְעֹה וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה שַׁלַּח אֶת־עַמִּי וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy has said, “Send out my people so they may worship Me.
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy has said, “Send out my people so they may worship Me.
וְאִם־מָאֵן אַתָּה לְשַׁלֵּחַ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נֹגֵף אֶת־כׇּל־גְּבוּלְךָ בַּֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃
If you refuse to send [them,] behold I will plague all your borders [territories] with frogs.
If you refuse to send [them,] behold I will plague all your borders [territories] with frogs.
Rashi
ואם מאן אתה. ואם סרבן אתה. מאן כמו ממאן, מסרב, אלא כינה האדם על שם המפעל, כמו שָׁלֵו (איוב טז, יב) וְשֹׁקֵט (ירמיה מח, יא), סַר וְזָעֵף (מלכים ־א כ, מג):
If you refuse. [וְאִם מָאֵן אַתָּה means:] If you are a refuser מָאֵן meaning the same as מְמָאֵן “one who refuses”) or מְסָרֵב — “one who refuses.” [The difference being] only that it is describing a person based on an ongoing action, similar to שָׁלֵו — “a person at ease,” [or] שָׁקֵט — “a person serene” [or] סַר וְזָעֵף — “a person with anger.”
נגף את כל גבולך. מכה, וכן כל לשון מגפה אינו לשון מיתה אלא לשון מכה, וכן וְנָגְפוּ אִשָּׁה הָרָה (שמות כא, כב) אינו לשון מיתה, וכן וּבְטֶרֶם יִתְנַגְּפוּ רגליכם (ירמי' יג, טז), פֶּן תִּגֹּף בָּאֶבֶן רַגְלֶךָ (תהלים צא, יב), וּלְאֶבֶן נֶגֶף (ישעי' ח, יד):
I will plague all of your borders. [נֹגֵף means] striking a blow. Similarly, every form of the word מַגֵּפָה does not [necessarily] refer to killing, but, rather, refers to striking. Similarly, “They will strike (וְנָגְפוּ) a pregnant woman” does not refer to killing. Similarly, “Before your feet (יִתְנַגְּפוּ) strike against something,” [or] “Lest your feet (תִּגּוֹף) strike a stone,” [or] “And as a stumbling stone.”
וְשָׁרַץ הַיְאֹר צְפַרְדְּעִים וְעָלוּ וּבָאוּ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבַחֲדַר מִשְׁכָּבְךָ וְעַל־מִטָּתֶךָ וּבְבֵית עֲבָדֶיךָ וּבְעַמֶּךָ וּבְתַנּוּרֶיךָ וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
The river will swarm with frogs. They will emerge and come into your house, into your bedroom, and on your bed, into the houses of your servants and your people, into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.
The river will swarm with frogs. They will emerge and come into your house, into your bedroom, and on your bed, into the houses of your servants and your people, into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.
Rashi
ועלו. מן היאור:
They will emerge — from the river.
בביתך. ואחר כך בבתי עבדיך, הוא התחיל בעצה תחלה, ויאמר אל עמו, וממנו התחילה הפורענות (סוטה יא. — שמו"ר י, ד):
Into your house — and afterwards in your servants’ houses. [Since] he initiated the plan at the beginning: “He said to his nation” (1, 9), therefore the punishment began with him.
וּבְכָה וּֽבְעַמְּךָ וּבְכׇל־עֲבָדֶיךָ יַעֲלוּ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִֽים׃
Upon you and upon your people and upon all your servants the frogs will emerge.
Upon you and upon your people and upon all your servants the frogs will emerge.
Rashi
ובכה ובעמך. בתוך מעיהם נכנסים ומקרקרין:
Upon you and upon your people. They would enter their intestines and croak.
Shemot 8
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן נְטֵה אֶת־יָדְךָ בְּמַטֶּךָ עַל־הַנְּהָרֹת עַל־הַיְאֹרִים וְעַל־הָאֲגַמִּים וְהַעַל אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Extend your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams and over the lakes, and bring up the frogs upon the land of Egypt.’”
Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Extend your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams and over the lakes, and bring up the frogs upon the land of Egypt.’”
וַיֵּט אַהֲרֹן אֶת־יָדוֹ עַל מֵימֵי מִצְרָיִם וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ וַתְּכַס אֶת־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Aharon extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog emerged and covered the land of Egypt.
Aharon extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog emerged and covered the land of Egypt.
Rashi
ותעל הצפרדע. צפרדע אחת היתה, והיו מַכִּין אותה והיא מתזת נחילים נחילים, זהו מדרשו (שמו"ר י, ה). ופשוטו יש לומר, שרוץ הצפרדעים קורא לשון יחידות, וכן ותהי הכנם, הרחישה גדוליר"א בלע"ז, ואף ותעל הצפרדע גרינולי"רא בלע"ז
And the frog emerged. There was [only] one frog and [when] they struck at it it would split apart into various teeming swarms. That is its midrashic explanation. But as to its plain meaning, it may be said [that] the swarming of the frogs is referred to in the singular. Similarly וַתְּהִי הַכִּנָּם — [lit.] “There was lice” [referring to] the swarming. Pedoliere, in Old French — swarming lice, so, too וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ [is translated as] grenoilliere in Old French — a swarm of frogs.
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים בְּלָטֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
The sorcerers did likewise with their magic art, and made the frogs emerge upon the land of Egypt.
The sorcerers did likewise with their magic art, and made the frogs emerge upon the land of Egypt.
וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה לְמֹשֶׁה וּֽלְאַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמֶר הַעְתִּירוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָה וְיָסֵר הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים מִמֶּנִּי וּמֵֽעַמִּי וַאֲשַׁלְּחָה אֶת־הָעָם וְיִזְבְּחוּ לַיהֹוָֽה׃
Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon and said, “Pray to Adonoy, and let Him remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send the people to sacrifice to Adonoy.”
Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon and said, “Pray to Adonoy, and let Him remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send the people to sacrifice to Adonoy.”
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לְפַרְעֹה הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי לְמָתַי ׀ אַעְתִּיר לְךָ וְלַעֲבָדֶיךָ וּֽלְעַמְּךָ לְהַכְרִית הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִים מִמְּךָ וּמִבָּתֶּיךָ רַק בַּיְאֹר תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה׃
Moshe said to Pharaoh, “Glorify yourself at my expense. [Exactly for] when shall I pray for you, and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and from your houses, remaining only in the river.”
Moshe said to Pharaoh, “Glorify yourself at my expense. [Exactly for] when shall I pray for you, and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and from your houses, remaining only in the river.”
Rashi
התפאר עלי. כמו הֲיִתְפָּאֵר הַגַרְזֶן עַל הַחֹצֵב בֹּו (ישעי' י, טו), משתבח לומר אני גדול ממך ונטי"ר בלע"ז, וכן התפאר עלי, השתבח להתחכם ולשאול דבר גדול ולומר שלא אוכל לעשותו:
Glorify yourself at my expense. As in: (הֲיִתְפָּאֵר) “Should the axe boast to the one who chops with it?” [הֲיִתְפָּאֵר meaning:] boasting by saying, “I am greater than you.” Wanter in Old French — to boast. This, too, is the meaning of הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי: “You boast of your cleverness by asking [me to perform] something difficult and then saying that I will be unable to do it.”
למתי אעתיר לך. את אשר אעתיר לך היום על הכרתת הצפרדעים, למתי תרצה שיכרתו, ותראה אם אשלים דברי למועד שתקבע לי. אלו נאמר מתי אעתיר, היה משמע מתי אתפלל, עכשיו שנאמר למתי, משמע אני היום אתפלל עליך שיכרתו הצפרדעים לזמן שתקבע עלי, אמור לאיזה יום תרצה שיכרתו. אעתיר העתירו והעתרתי, ולא נאמר אעתר עתרו ועתרתי, מפני שכל לשון עתר הרבות פלל הוא, וכאשר יאמר הרבו ארבה והרביתי לשון הפעיל, כך יאמר, אעתיר העתירו והעתרתי דברים, ואב לכולם וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם עָלַי דִּבְרֵיכֶם (יחזקאל לה, יג), הרביתם:
[Exactly for] when shall I pray for you. I will pray for you today for the destruction of the frogs — by when do you wish them destroyed so that you may see whether I will fulfill my promise at the appointed time you will set for me.” Had it said: מָתַי אַעְתִּיר [without the ל' prefix], it would have meant: “When shall I pray?” But, now that it says לְמָתַי [with the ל' prefix], it means: “I shall pray for you today that the frogs be destroyed by whatever time you may set for me. Just say by which day you want them destroyed.” The words אַעְתִּיר (this verse), הַעְתִּירוּ (v. 4) and וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי (v. 25) [are in the הִפְעִיל form] and not: אֶעְתַּר, עִתְרוּ, וְעָתַרְתִּי [in the קַל form], because wherever a form of עָתֹר appears it denotes a great deal of praying. And just as it says: אַרְבֶּה, הַרְבּוּ, וְהִרְבֵּיתִי terms denoting to cause to do, so, too, does it say אַעְתִּיר, הַעְתִּירוּ, וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי [referring to an increase of] words. The main proof of all this is [the verse:] “וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם your words about me,” [וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם meaning] you have increased.
וַיֹּאמֶר לְמָחָר וַיֹּאמֶר כִּדְבָרְךָ לְמַעַן תֵּדַע כִּי־אֵין כַּיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
[Pharaoh] said, “By tomorrow.” [Moshe] said, “As you say. You will then know that there is none like Adonoy, our God.
[Pharaoh] said, “By tomorrow.” [Moshe] said, “As you say. You will then know that there is none like Adonoy, our God.
Rashi
ויאמר למחר. התפלל היום שיכרתו למחר:
He [Pharaoh] said by tomorrow. [I.e.] “Pray today that they be destroyed by tomorrow.”
Where next
Keep reading
- Vaera, Aliyah 3
- Vaera, Aliyah 5
- Vaera Parsha
מופת. אות, להודיע שיש צורך (צרוך) במי ששולח אתכם:
A marvel. A sign to make it known that there is power in the One Who sends you.