| 1The Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, stretch forth your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the ponds, and bring up the frogs on the land of Egypt." |
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אוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־משֶׁה֒ אֱמֹ֣ר אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֗ן נְטֵ֤ה אֶת־יָֽדְךָ֙ בְּמַטֶּ֔ךָ עַל־הַ֙נְּהָרֹ֔ת עַל־הַיְאֹרִ֖ים וְעַל־הָֽאֲגַמִּ֑ים וְהַ֥עַל אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| 2And Aaron stretched forth his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. |
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בוַיֵּ֤ט אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ עַ֖ל מֵימֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם וַתַּ֨עַל֙ הַצּפַרְדֵּ֔עַ וַתְּכַ֖ס אֶת־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| and the frogs came up. Heb. וַתַּעַל הַצְפַרְדֵעַ, literally, and the frog came up. It was one frog, and they [the Egyptians] hit it, and it split into many swarms of frogs. This is its midrashic interpretation (Tanchuma, Va’era 14); for its simple meaning, it can be said that the swarming of the frogs is referred to as singular, and likewise, “and the lice were (וַתְּהִי הַכִּנָם) ” (verse 13), the swarming, pedoiliyere in Old French, swarming of lice, and also וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּע, grenoylede in Old French, swarming of frogs. |
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וַתַּעַל הַצּפַרְדֵּעַ.
צְפַרֵדַּע אַחַת הָיְתָה וְהָיוּ מַכִּין אוֹתָהּ וְהִיא מַתֶּזֶת נְחִילִים נְחִילִים, זֶהוּ מִדְרָשׁוֹ (סנהדרין ס"ז). וּפְשׁוּטוֹ יֵשׁ לוֹמַר, שֵׁרוּץ הַצְפַרְדְּעִים קוֹרֵא לְשׁוֹן יְחִידוּת; וְכֵן וַתְּהִי הַכִּנָּם – הָרְחִישָׁה, פדולייר"א בְּלַעַז, וְאַף ותעל הצפרדע – גרינולייר"א בְּלַעַז:
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| 3And the necromancers did likewise with their secret rites, and they brought up the frogs on the land of Egypt. |
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גוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֥ן הַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֖ים בְּלָֽטֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּֽעֲל֥וּ אֶת־הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| 4Thereupon, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let out the people [of Israel] so that they may sacrifice to the Lord." |
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דוַיִּקְרָ֨א פַרְעֹ֜ה לְמשֶׁ֣ה וּלְאַֽהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַעְתִּ֣ירוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְיָסֵר֙ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים מִמֶּ֖נִּי וּמֵֽעַמִּ֑י וַֽאֲשַׁלְּחָה֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וְיִזְבְּח֖וּ לַֽיהֹוָֽה: |
| 5And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Boast [of your superiority] over me. For when shall I entreat for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and from your houses, [that] they should remain only in the Nile? " |
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הוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֣ה לְפַרְעֹה֘ הִתְפָּאֵ֣ר עָלַי֒ לְמָתַ֣י | אַעְתִּ֣יר לְךָ֗ וְלַֽעֲבָדֶ֨יךָ֙ וּלְעַמְּךָ֔ לְהַכְרִית֙ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים מִמְּךָ֖ וּמִבָּתֶּ֑יךָ רַ֥ק בַּיְאֹ֖ר תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה: |
| Boast [of your superiority] over me. Heb. הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי, similar to “Shall the axe boast (הִיִתְפָּאֵר) over the one who hews with it” (Isa. 10:15). It praises itself, saying, “I am greater than you,” vanter in Old French. Similarly, הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי, [Moses says to Pharaoh,] “you praise yourself by acting cleverly and asking a difficult thing and saying that I will be unable to do it.” |
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הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי.
כְּמוֹ "הֲיִתְפָּאֵר הַגַּרְזֶן עַל הַחֹצֵב בּוֹ" (ישעיהו י') – מִשְׁתַּבֵּחַ לוֹמַר אֲנִי גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ, ונטי"ר בְּלַעַז. וְכֵן הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי – הִשְׁתַּבֵּחַ לְהִתְחַכֵּם וְלִשְׁאֹל דָּבָר גָּדוֹל, וְלוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ:
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| For when shall I entreat for you. Heb. לְמָתַי. That which I will entreat for you today regarding the extermination of the frogs [tell me,] when do you wish them to be exterminated? And you will see whether I fulfill my words for the time that you set for me. If it were stated, מָתַי אַעְתִּיר it would mean “When shall I pray?” Now that it says, לְמָתַי [and thus it means:] Today I will pray for you that the frogs will be exterminated at the time that you set for me. Tell me, on which day do you want them to be exterminated? [The Torah uses three words:] אַעְתִּיר, I will entreat; הַעְתִּירוּ ((verse 4), entreat (command form); וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי (verse 25), and I will entreat [all in the “hiph’il,” causative conjugation], and it does not say, אֶעְתַּר, עִתְרוּ, and וְעָתַרְתִּי [in the “kal,” simple conjugation], because every expression of עתר means to pray very much, and just as one says אַרְבֶּה, I will increase, הַרְבּוּ, increase [command form], וְהִרְבֵּיתִי, and I will increase, in the “hiph’il” conjugation, so does one say: אַעְתִּיר, I will increase, הַעְתִּירוּ (verse 4), increase [command form] וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי (verse 25), and I will increase words, and the “father” [i.e., the main proof] of them all is: “הַעְתַּרְתֶּם your words” (Ezek. 35:13), you have multiplied. |
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לְמָתַי אַעְתִּיר לְךָ.
אֶת אֲשֶׁר אַעְתִּיר לְךָ הַיּוֹם עַל הַכְרָתַת הַצְפַרְדְּעִים, לְמָתַי תִּרְצֶה שֶׁיִּכָּרְתוּ? וְתִרְאֶה אִם אַשְׁלִים דְּבָרִי לַמּוֹעֵד שֶׁתִּקְבַּע לִי. אִלּוּ נֶאֱמַר "מָתַי" אַעְתִּיר, הָיָה מַשְׁמָע מָתַי אֶתְפַּלֵּל, עַכְשָׁו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לְמָתַי", מַשְׁמָע אֲנִי הַיּוֹם אֶתְפַּלֵּל עָלֶיךָ, שֶׁיִּכָּרְתוּ הַצְפַרְדְּעִים לִזְמַן שֶׁתִּקְבַּע עָלַי; אֱמֹר לְאֵיזֶה יוֹם תִּרְצֶה שֶׁיִּכָּרְתוּ אַעְתִּיר העתירו, והעתרתי וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶעְתַּר, עִתְרוּ, וְעָתַרְתִּי, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכָּל לְשׁוֹן עתר הַרְבּוֹת פֶּלֶל הוּא, וְכַאֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר אַרְבֶּה, הַרְבּוּ, וְהִרְבֵּיתִי, לְשׁוֹן מַפְעִיל, כָּךְ יֹאמַר אַעְתִּיר, הַעְתִּירוּ, וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי דְּבָרִים; וְאָב לְכֻלָּם "וְהַעְתַּרְתֶּם עָלַי דִּבְרֵיכֶם" (יחזקאל ל"ה) – הִרְבֵּיתֶם:
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| 6And he [Pharaoh] said, "For tomorrow." And he [Moses] said, "As you say, in order that you should know that there is none like the Lord, our God. |
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ווַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְמָחָ֑ר וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ כִּדְבָ֣רְךָ֔ לְמַ֣עַן תֵּדַ֔ע כִּי־אֵ֖ין כַּֽיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ: |
| And he [Pharaoh] said, “For tomorrow”. Pray today that they should be exterminated tomorrow. |
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וַיֹּאמֶר לְמָחָר.
הִתְפַּלֵּל הַיּוֹם, שֶׁיִּכָּרְתוּ לְמָחָר:
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| 7And the frogs will depart from you and from your houses and from your servants and from your people; only in the Nile will they remain." |
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זוְסָר֣וּ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֗ים מִמְּךָ֙ וּמִבָּ֣תֶּ֔יךָ וּמֵֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ וּמֵֽעַמֶּ֑ךָ רַ֥ק בַּיְאֹ֖ר תִּשָּׁאַֽרְנָה: |
| 8And Moses and Aaron went away from Pharaoh, and Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh. |
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חוַיֵּצֵ֥א משֶׁ֛ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן מֵעִ֣ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיִּצְעַ֤ק משֶׁה֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה עַל־דְּבַ֥ר הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֥ם לְפַרְעֹֽה: |
| And Moses and Aaron went away from Pharaoh, and Moses cried out. immediately that they be destroyed on the morrow. |
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וַיֵּצֵא וַיִּצְעַק.
מִיָּד, שֶׁיִּכָּרְתוּ לְמָחָר:
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| 9And the Lord did according to Moses' word, and the frogs died from the houses, from the courtyards, and from the fields. |
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טוַיַּ֥עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֖ה כִּדְבַ֣ר משֶׁ֑ה וַיָּמֻ֨תוּ֙ הַֽצְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים מִן־הַבָּתִּ֥ים מִן־הַֽחֲצֵרֹ֖ת וּמִן־הַשָּׂדֹֽת: |
| 10They gathered them into many heaps, and the land stank. |
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יוַיִּצְבְּר֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם חֳמָרִ֣ם חֳמָרִ֑ם וַתִּבְאַ֖שׁ הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| many heaps. Heb. חֳמָרִם חֳמָרִם, many piles, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: דְּגוֹרִין, heaps. |
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חֳמָרִם חֳמָרִם.
צִבּוּרִים צִבּוּרִים, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, דְּגוֹרִין – גַּלִּין:
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| 11When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had spoken. |
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יאוַיַּ֣רְא פַּרְעֹ֗ה כִּ֤י הָֽיְתָה֙ הָֽרְוָחָ֔ה וְהַכְבֵּד֙ אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה: |
| he hardened his heart. Heb. וְהַכְבֵּד. It is the infinitive form, like “continually traveling” (הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ) (Gen. 12:9); “and similarly, and slew (וְהַכּוֹת) the Moabites” (II Kings 3:24); “and by inquiring (וְשָׁאוֹל) of God on his behalf” (I Sam. 22:13); “striking and wounding (הכֵּה וּפָצֹעַ)” (I Kings 20:37). |
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וְהַכְבֵּד אֶת־לִבּוֹ.
לְשׁוֹן פָּעוֹל הוּא, כְּמוֹ "הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ" (בראשית י"ב), וְכֵן "וְהַכּוֹת אֶת מוֹאָב" (מלכים ב ג׳:כ״ד), "וְשָׁאוֹל לוֹ בֵאלֹהִים" (שמואל א כ״ב:י״ג), "הַכֵּה וּפָצֹעַ" (מלכים א כ'):
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| as the Lord had spoken. Now at what point did He speak? “But Pharaoh will not hearken to you” (Exod. 7:4). |
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כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה'.
וְהֵיכָן דִּבֵּר? וְלֹא יִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיכֶם פַּרְעֹה:
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| 12The Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch forth your staff and strike the dust of the earth, and it shall become lice throughout the entire land of Egypt.' " |
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יבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־משֶׁה֒ אֱמֹר֙ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן נְטֵ֣ה אֶת־מַטְּךָ֔ וְהַ֖ךְ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהָיָ֥ה לְכִנִּ֖ם בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| Say to Aaron. It was inappropriate for the dust to be smitten through Moses since it had protected him when he slew the Egyptian and had hidden him in the sand. [Therefore,] it was smitten through Aaron [instead]. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 14, Exod. Rabbah 10:7] |
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אֱמֹר אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן.
לֹא הָיָה הֶעָפָר כְּדַאי לִלְקוֹת עַל יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה, לְפִי שֶׁהֵגֵן עָלָיו כְּשֶׁהָרַג אֶת הַמִּצְרִי וַיִּטְמְנֵהוּ בַּחוֹל, וְלָקָה עַל יְדֵי אַהֲרֹן (שמות רבה):
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| 13They did so, and Aaron stretched forth his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and the lice were upon man and beast; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout the entire land of Egypt. |
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יגוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֗ן וַיֵּט֩ אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן אֶת־יָד֤וֹ בְמַטֵּ֨הוּ֙ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתְּהִי֙ הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּֽאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה כָּל־עֲפַ֥ר הָאָ֛רֶץ הָיָ֥ה כִנִּ֖ים בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| and the lice were. The swarming, pedoiliee in Old French, the swarming of lice. [This accounts for the singular verb form.] |
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וַתְּהִי הַכִּנָּם.
הָרְחִישָׁה, פדוליר"א בְּלַעַז:
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| 14And the necromancers did likewise with their secret rites to bring out the lice, but they could not, and the lice were upon man and beast. |
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ידוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֨ן הַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֧ים בְּלָֽטֵיהֶ֛ם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־הַכִּנִּ֖ים וְלֹ֣א יָכֹ֑לוּ וַתְּהִי֙ הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּֽאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה: |
| to bring out the lice. To create them (another version: to bring them out) from someplace else. |
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לְהוֹצִיא אֶת־הַכִּנִּים.
לִבְרֹאתָם וּלְהוֹצִיאָם מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר:
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| but they could not. Because a demon has no power over a creature smaller than a barleycorn. — [from Sanh. 67b, Tanchuma, Va’era 14, Exod. Rabbah 10:7] |
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וְלֹא יָכֹלוּ.
שֶׁאֵין הַשֵּׁד שׁוֹלֵט עַל בְּרִיָּה פְּחוּתָה מִכַּשְּׂעוֹרָה (סנהדרין ס"ז):
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| 15So the necromancers said to Pharaoh, "It is the finger of God," but Pharaoh's heart remained steadfast, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had spoken. |
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טווַיֹּֽאמְר֤וּ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּם֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֶצְבַּ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִ֑וא וַיֶּֽחֱזַ֤ק לֵֽב־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֣ע אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה: |
| It is the finger of God. This plague is not through sorcery; it is from the Omnipresent. — [from Exod. Rabbah 10:7] |
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אֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים הִוא.
מַכָּה זוֹ אֵינָהּ עַל יְדֵי כְשָׁפִים, מֵאֵת הַמָּקוֹם הִיא (שמות רבה):
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| as the Lord had spoken. “But Pharaoh will not hearken to you” (Exod. 7:4). |
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כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה'.
וְלֹא יִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיכֶם פַּרְעֹה:
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| 16And the Lord said to Moses, "Arise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, behold, he is going out to the water, and you shall say to him, 'So said the Lord, "Let My people go out and serve Me. |
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טזוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם בַּבֹּ֨קֶר֙ וְהִתְיַצֵּב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה הִנֵּ֖ה יוֹצֵ֣א הַמָּ֑יְמָה וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שַׁלַּ֥ח עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי: |
| 17For if you do not let My people go, behold, I will incite against you and against your servants and against your people and in your houses a mixture of noxious creatures, and the houses of Egypt will be filled with the mixture of noxious creatures, as well as the land upon which they are. |
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יזכִּ֣י אִם־אֵֽינְךָ֘ מְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ אֶת־עַמִּי֒ הִנְנִי֩ מַשְׁלִ֨יחַ בְּךָ֜ וּבַֽעֲבָדֶ֧יךָ וּבְעַמְּךָ֛ וּבְבָתֶּ֖יךָ אֶת־הֶֽעָרֹ֑ב וּמָ֨לְא֜וּ בָּתֵּ֤י מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָרֹ֔ב וְגַ֥ם הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֥ם עָלֶֽיהָ: |
| incite against you. Heb. מַשְׁלִיחַ בְּךָ, incite against you. Similarly, “and the tooth of beasts I will incite (אִשַׁלַּח) against them” (Deut. 32:24), an expression of inciting, antiziyer in Old French, to incite, to set upon. — [from Jonathan] |
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מַשְׁלִיחַ בְּךָ.
מְגָרֶה בְךָ, וְכֵן "וְשֶׁן בְּהֵמוֹת אֲשַׁלַּח בָּם" (דברים ל"ב), לְשׁוֹן שִׁסּוּי, אינציט"ר בְּלַעַז:
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| a mixture of noxious creatures. [which includes] all species of wild beasts, snakes, and scorpions in a mixture, and they were destroying among them [i.e., among the Egyptians]. There is a reason [given] for this matter in the Aggadah, [i.e.,] for each plague, why this one and why that one. Following a king’s war strategy did He come upon them [the Egyptians], according to the order of a kingdom when it besieges a city. First they [the King’s army] destroy its [the city’s] springs, and then they blow and sound rams’ horns to frighten them and confuse them; thus did the frogs croak and make noise, etc., as is stated in the Midrash of Rabbi Tanchuma (Bo 4). |
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אֶת־הֶֽעָרֹב.
כָּל מִינֵי הַחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת וּנְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא, וְהָיוּ מַשְׁחִיתִים בָּהֶם; וְיֵשׁ טַעַם בַּדָּבָר בָּאַגָּדָה בְּכָל מַכָּה וּמַכָּה לָמָּה זוֹ וְלָמָּה זוֹ; בְּטַכְסִיסֵי מִלְחֲמוֹת מְלָכִים בָּא עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּסֵדֶר מַלְכוּת כְּשֶׁצָּרָה עַל עִיר, בַּתְּחִלָּה מְקַלְקֵל מַעְיְנוֹתֶיהָ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ תּוֹקְעִין עֲלֵיהֶם וּמְרִיעִין בַּשּׁוֹפָרוֹת לְיָרְאָם וּלְבַהֲלָם, וְכֵן הַצְפַרְדְּעִים מְקַרְקְרִים וְהוֹמִים וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּמִדְרַשׁ רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא (פ' בא):
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| 18And I will separate on that day the land of Goshen, upon which My people stand, that there will be no mixture of noxious creatures there, in order that you know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. |
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יחוְהִפְלֵיתִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ גּ֗שֶׁן אֲשֶׁ֤ר עַמִּי֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עָלֶ֔יהָ לְבִלְתִּ֥י הֱיֽוֹת־שָׁ֖ם עָרֹ֑ב לְמַ֣עַן תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| And I will separate. Heb. וְהִפְלֵיתִי, and I will set apart. Similarly, “And the Lord will set apart (וְהִפְלָה) ” (Exod. 9:4), and similarly, “it is not separated (נִפְלֵאת) from you” (Deut. 30:11); it is [not] set apart and separated from you. — [from Onkelos] |
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וְהִפְלֵיתִי.
וְהִפְרַשְׁתִּי, וְכֵן "וְהִפְלָה ה'" (שמות ט'), וְכֵן "לֹא נִפְלֵאת הִיא מִמְּךָ" (דברים ל') – לֹא מֻבְדֶּלֶת וּמֻפְרֶשֶׁת הִיא מִמְּךָ:
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| in order that you know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. Although My Shechinah is in heaven, My decree is fulfilled in the lower worlds. — [from Onkelos] |
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לְמַעַן תֵּדַע כִּי אֲנִי ה' בְּקֶרֶב הָאָֽרֶץ.
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשְּׁכִינָתִי בַּשָּׁמַיִם גְּזֵרָתִי מִתְקַיֶּמֶת בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים:
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| 19And I will make a redemption between My people and your people; this sign will come about tomorrow." ' " |
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יטוְשַׂמְתִּ֣י פְדֻ֔ת בֵּ֥ין עַמִּ֖י וּבֵ֣ין עַמֶּ֑ךָ לְמָחָ֥ר יִֽהְיֶ֖ה הָאֹ֥ת הַזֶּֽה: |
| And I will make a redemption. which will set apart My people from your people. |
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וְשַׂמְתִּי פְדֻת.
שֶׁיַּבְדִּיל בֵּין עַמִּי וּבֵין עַמְּךָ:
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| 20The Lord did so, and a heavy mixture of noxious creatures came to Pharaoh's house and his servants' house, and throughout the entire land of Egypt, the land was destroyed because of the mixture of noxious creatures. |
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כוַיַּ֤עַשׂ יְהֹוָה֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיָּבֹא֙ עָרֹ֣ב כָּבֵ֔ד בֵּ֥יתָה פַרְעֹ֖ה וּבֵ֣ית עֲבָדָ֑יו וּבְכָל־אֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֛יִם תִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֥י הֶעָרֹֽב: |
| The land was destroyed. the land was destroyed [as Onkelos translates] the land was destroyed. |
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תִּשָּׁחֵת הָאָרֶץ.
נִשְׁחֶתֶת הָאָרֶץ, אִתְחַבָּלַת אַרְעָא:
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| 21Thereupon, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and he said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in the land." |
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כאוַיִּקְרָ֣א פַרְעֹ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה וּלְאַֽהֲרֹ֑ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְכ֛וּ זִבְח֥וּ לֵאלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם בָּאָֽרֶץ: |
| Go, sacrifice… in the land. in your place, and do not go into the desert. |
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זִבְחוּ לֵאלֹֽהֵיכֶם בָּאָֽרֶץ.
בִּמְקוֹמְכֶם וְלֹא תֵלְכוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר:
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| 22But Moses said, "It is improper to do that, for we will sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to God our Lord. Will we sacrifice the deity of the Egyptians before their eyes, and they will not stone us? |
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כבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֗ה לֹ֤א נָכוֹן֙ לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת כֵּ֔ן כִּ֚י תּֽוֹעֲבַ֣ת מִצְרַ֔יִם נִזְבַּ֖ח לַֽיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ הֵ֣ן נִזְבַּ֞ח אֶת־תּֽוֹעֲבַ֥ת מִצְרַ֛יִם לְעֵֽינֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א יִסְקְלֻֽנוּ: |
| the abomination of the Egyptians. Heb. תּוֹעִבַת מִצְרַיִם, the deity of the Egyptians, like “and for Milcom, the abomination of the children of Ammon” (II Kings 23:13), but for the Jews, [Scripture] calls it an abomination. It may also be explained in another manner: the abomination of the Egyptians - our slaughtering is a hateful thing to the Egyptians, for we are slaughtering their deity. |
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תּֽוֹעֲבַת מִצְרַיִם.
יִרְאַת מִצְרַיִם, כְּמוֹ "וּלְמִלְכֹּם תּוֹעֲבַת בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן" (מלכים ב כ״ג:י״ג), וְאֵצֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ תּוֹעֵבָה; וְעוֹד יֵשׁ לוֹמַר בְּלָשׁוֹן אַחֵר, תועבת מצרים, דָּבָר שָׂנאוּי הוּא לְמִצְרַיִם זְבִיחָה שֶׁאָנוּ זוֹבְחִים, שֶׁהֲרֵי יִרְאָתָם אָנוּ זוֹבְחִים:
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| and they will not stone us. This is a question. |
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וְלֹא יִסְקְלֻֽנוּ.
בִּתְמִיהָ:
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| 23Let us go [for] a three day journey in the desert and sacrifice to the Lord, our God, as He will say to us." |
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כגדֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים נֵלֵ֖ךְ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְזָבַ֨חְנוּ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר יֹאמַ֥ר אֵלֵֽינוּ: |
| 24Pharaoh said, "I will let you go out, and you will sacrifice to the Lord, your God, in the desert, but do not go far away; entreat [Him] on my behalf." |
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כדוַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֗ה אָֽנֹכִ֞י אֲשַׁלַּ֤ח אֶתְכֶם֙ וּזְבַחְתֶּ֞ם לַֽיהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר רַ֛ק הַרְחֵ֥ק לֹֽא־תַרְחִ֖יקוּ לָלֶ֑כֶת הַעְתִּ֖ירוּ בַּֽעֲדִֽי: |
| 25Moses said, "Behold, I am going away from you, and I will entreat the Lord, and the mixture of noxious creatures will depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow. Only let Pharaoh not tease anymore, by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord." |
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כהוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָֽנֹכִ֜י יוֹצֵ֤א מֵֽעִמָּךְ֙ וְהַעְתַּרְתִּ֣י אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְסָ֣ר הֶֽעָרֹ֗ב מִפַּרְעֹ֛ה מֵֽעֲבָדָ֥יו וּמֵֽעַמּ֖וֹ מָחָ֑ר רַ֗ק אַל־יֹסֵ֤ף פַּרְעֹה֙ הָתֵ֔ל לְבִלְתִּי֙ שַׁלַּ֣ח אֶת־הָעָ֔ם לִזְבֹּ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה: |
| tease. Heb. הָתֵל, [like] לְהָתֵל, to tease. [The literal translation is: let Pharaoh stop teasing.] |
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הָתֵל.
כְּמוֹ לְהָתֵל:
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| 26So Moses went away from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. |
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כווַיֵּצֵ֥א משֶׁ֖ה מֵעִ֣ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיֶּעְתַּ֖ר אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה: |
| and entreated the Lord. Heb. וַיֶעְתַּר, he exerted himself in prayer. Similarly, if [Scripture] meant to say וַיַעְתִּיר, it could have said it, and that would mean that he increased [words] in prayer. Now, however, because it uses the וַיִפְעַל form, it means that he exerted himself to pray [devoutly]. |
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וַיֶּעְתַּר אֶל־ה'.
נִתְאַמֵּץ בִּתְפִלָּה, וְכֵן אִם בָּא לוֹמַר וַיַּעְתִּיר, הָיָה יָכוֹל לוֹמַר, וּמַשְׁמָע וַיַּרְבֶּה בִּתְפִלָּה, וּכְשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר בִּלְשׁוֹן וַיִּפְעַל, מַשְׁמָע וַיִּרְבֶּה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל:
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| 27And the Lord did according to Moses' word, and He removed the mixture of noxious creatures from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one was left. |
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כזוַיַּ֤עַשׂ יְהֹוָה֙ כִּדְבַ֣ר משֶׁ֔ה וַיָּ֨סַר֙ הֶֽעָרֹ֔ב מִפַּרְעֹ֖ה מֵֽעֲבָדָ֣יו וּמֵֽעַמּ֑וֹ לֹ֥א נִשְׁאַ֖ר אֶחָֽד: |
| and He removed the mixture of noxious creatures. But they did not die as the frogs had died, for had they [the creatures] died, they [the Egyptians] would have derived benefit from the [animals’] hides. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 14] |
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וַיָּסַר הֶֽעָרֹב.
וְלֹא מֵתוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁמֵּתוּ הַצְפַרְדְּעִים, שֶׁאִם מֵתוּ הָיָה לָהֶם הֲנָאָה בְּעוֹרוֹתָם (תנחומא):
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| 28But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. |
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כחוַיַּכְבֵּ֤ד פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ גַּ֖ם בַּפַּ֣עַם הַזֹּ֑את וְלֹ֥א שִׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָעָֽם: |
| this time also. Although he said, “I will let you go out,” he did not keep his promise. |
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גַּם בַּפַּעַם הַזֹּאת. אף על פי שאמר (פסוק כד) אנכי אשלח אתכם, לא קיים הבטחתו: |
