| 1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, |
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אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר: |
| 2"Sanctify to Me every firstborn, every one that opens the womb among the children of Israel among man and among animals; it is Mine." |
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בקַדֶּשׁ־לִ֨י כָל־בְּכ֜וֹר פֶּ֤טֶר כָּל־רֶ֨חֶם֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּֽאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לִ֖י הֽוּא: |
| every one that opens the womb. Heb. פֶּטֶר כָּל-רֶחֶם, which opened the womb first, [פֶּטֶר meaning to open] as “in The beginning of strife is like letting out (פּוֹטֵר) water” (Prov. 17:14); “ יַפְטִירוּ בְשָׂפָה, they will open their lips” (Ps. 22:8). — [from Mechilta, targumim] |
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פֶּטֶר כָל־רֶחֶם.
שֶׁפָּתַח הָרֶחֶם תְּחִלָּה, כְּמוֹ: "פּוֹטֵר מַיִם רֵאשִׁית מָדוֹן" (משלי י"ז), וְכֵן "יַפְטִירוּ בְשָׂפָה" (תהלים כ"ב) – יִפְתְּחוּ שְׂפָתַיִם:
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| it is Mine. For Myself I have acquired them by smiting the firstborn of Egypt. — [from Mechilta] |
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לִי הֽוּא.
לְעַצְמִי קָנִיתִי, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהִכֵּיתִי בְכוֹרֵי מִצְרַיִם:
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| 3Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, when you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for with a mighty hand, the Lord took you out of here, and [therefore] no leaven shall be eaten. |
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גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֜ה אֶל־הָעָ֗ם זָכ֞וֹר אֶת־הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצָאתֶ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֨יִם֙ מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֔ים כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד הוֹצִ֧יא יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יֵֽאָכֵ֖ל חָמֵֽץ: |
| Remember this day. This teaches us that we are to mention the Exodus from Egypt daily. — [from Mechilta] |
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זָכוֹר אֶת־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
לִמֵּד, שֶׁמַּזְכִּירִין יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם בְּכָל יוֹם:
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| 4Today you are going out, in the month of spring. |
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דהַיּ֖וֹם אַתֶּ֣ם יֹֽצְאִ֑ים בְּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִֽיב: |
| in the month of spring. Now do we not know in what month they went out? [Early editions read: Now did they not know in what month they went out?] Rather, this is what he [Moses] said to them, “See the lovingkindness that He bestowed upon you, that He took you out in a month in which it is suitable to go out, when there is neither heat nor cold nor rain,” and so it says: “He takes the prisoners out at the most opportune time (בַּכּוֹשָׁרוֹת) ” (Ps. 68:7), in the month when it is best suited (כָּשֵׁר) to go out. — [from Mechilta] |
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בְּחֹדֶשׁ הָֽאָבִֽיב.
וְכִי לֹא הָיִינוּ יוֹדְעִין בְּאֵיזֶה חֹדֶשׁ? אֶלָּא כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם, רְאוּ חֶסֶד שֶׁגְּמַלְכֶם, שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם בְּחֹדֶשׁ שֶׁהוּא כָשֵׁר לָצֵאת, לֹא חַמָּה וְלֹא צִנָּה וְלֹא גְּשָׁמִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, "מוֹצִיא אֲסִירִים בַּכּוֹשָׁרוֹת" (תהלים ס"ח) – חֹדֶשׁ שֶׁהוּא כָשֵׁר לָצֵאת (מכילתא):
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| 5And it will come to pass that the Lord will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivvites, and the Jebusites, which He swore to your forefathers to give you a land flowing with milk and honey and you shall perform this service in this month. |
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הוְהָיָ֣ה כִֽי־יְבִֽיאֲךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֡ה אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַ֠כְּנַֽעֲנִ֠י וְהַֽחִתִּ֨י וְהָֽאֱמֹרִ֜י וְהַֽחִוִּ֣י וְהַיְבוּסִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֤ע לַֽאֲבֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ לָ֣תֶת לָ֔ךְ אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָ֑שׁ וְעָֽבַדְתָּ֛ אֶת־הָֽעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַזֶּֽה: |
| into the land of the Canaanites, etc.. Although [Scripture] enumerated [here] only five nations, it means all seven [of the nations], for they are all included in the [term] Canaanites, [even though] there was one of the families of Canaan that had only the name Canaanite. — [from Mechilta; Tanchuma, Bo 12] |
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אֶל־אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי וגו'.
וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא מָנָה אֶלָּא חֲמִשָּׁה עֲמָמִין, כָּל ז' גּוֹיִם בְּמַשְׁמָע, שֶׁכֻּלָּן בִּכְלַל כְּנַעֲנִי הֵם וְאַחַת מִמִּשְׁפְּחוֹת כְּנַעַן הָיְתָה שֶׁלֹּא נִקְרָא לָהּ שֵׁם אֶלָּא כְּנַעֲנִי:
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| swore to your forefathers, etc.. Concerning Abraham, it says: “On that day, the Lord formed a covenant with Abram, [saying, ‘To your seed I have given this land’]” (Gen. 15:18); and concerning Isaac it says: “Sojourn in this land […for to you and to your seed I will give all these lands, and I will set up the oath that I swore to Abraham your father]” (Gen. 26:3); concerning Jacob it says: “the land upon which you are lying [to you I will give it and to your seed]” (Gen. 28:13). — [from Mechilta] |
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נִשְׁבַּע לַֽאֲבֹתֶיךָ.
בְּאַבְרָהָם הוּא אוֹמֵר "בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כָּרַת ה' אֶת אַבְרָם וְגוֹ'" (בראשית ט"ו), וּבְיִצְחָק הוּא אוֹמֵר "גּוּר בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת" (שם כ"ו), וּבְיַעֲקֹב הוּא אוֹמֵר "הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה שׁוֹכֵב עָלֶיהָ" (שם כ"ח):
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| flowing with milk and honey. Milk flows from the goats’ [udders], and honey flows from the dates and the figs. — [from Kethuboth 111b] |
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זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ.
חָלָב זָב מִן הָעִזִּים, וְהַדְּבַשׁ זָב מִן הַתְּמָרִים וּמִן הַתְּאֵנִים:
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| this service. [that] of the Passover sacrifice (Mechilta, Pes. 96a, Mechilta d’Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai). Now was it not already stated above (12:25): “And it shall come to pass when you enter the land [that you should keep this service], etc.” Now why did [Scripture] repeat it? Because of the thing that was newly introduced in it. In the former chapter (12:26), it says: “And it will come to pass if your children say to you, ‘What is this service to you?’” [There,] Scripture refers to a wicked son, who excludes himself from the community [by saying “to you”], and here (verse 8), “And you shall tell your son,” refers to a son who does not know to ask. Scripture teaches you that you yourself should initiate the discourse for him (Mechilta 14) with words of the Aggadah, which draw his interest [lit., draw the heart]. — [from Mechilta 18:14] |
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אֶת־הָֽעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת.
שֶׁל פֶּסַח; וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר לְמַעְלָה "וְהָיָה כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ וְגוֹ'", וְלָמָּה חָזַר וּשְׁנָאָהּ? בִּשְׁבִיל דָּבָר שֶׁנִּתְחַדֵּשׁ בָּהּ, בְּפָרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה נֶאֱמַר "וְהָיָה כִּי יֹאמְרוּ אֲלֵיכֶם בְּנֵיכֶם מָה הָעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת לָכֶם" — בְּבֵן רָשָׁע הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכְּלָל, וְכָאן "וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ" — בְּבֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאֹל, וְהַכָּתוּב מְלַמֶּדְךָ, שֶׁתִּפְתַּח לוֹ אַתָּה בְּדִבְרֵי אַגָּדָה הַמּוֹשְׁכִין אֶת הַלֵּב (מכילתא):
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| 6For seven days you shall eat unleavened cakes, and on the seventh day, there is a festival for the Lord. |
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ושִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים תֹּאכַ֣ל מַצֹּ֑ת וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י חַ֖ג לַיהֹוָֽה: |
| 7Unleavened cakes shall be eaten during the seven days, and no leaven shall be seen of yours [in your possession], and no leavening shall be seen of yours throughout all of your borders. |
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זמַצּוֹת֙ יֵֽאָכֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת שִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֑ים וְלֹא־יֵֽרָאֶ֨ה לְךָ֜ חָמֵ֗ץ וְלֹא־יֵֽרָאֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ שְׂאֹ֖ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻלֶֽךָ: |
| 8And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, "Because of this, the Lord did [this] for me when I went out of Egypt." |
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חוְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ לְבִנְךָ֔ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּֽעֲב֣וּר זֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִ֔י בְּצֵאתִ֖י מִמִּצְרָֽיִם: |
| Because of this. In order that I fulfill His commandments, such as these [commandments of] the Passover sacrifice, matzah, and bitter herbs. — [from Jonathan, Passover Haggadah] |
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בַּֽעֲבוּר זֶה.
בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאֲקַיֵּם מִצְווֹתָיו, כְּגוֹן פֶּסַח מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר הַלָּלוּ:
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| the Lord did [this] for me. [Scripture] alluded to a reply to the wicked son, to say, “the Lord did [this] for me,” but not for you. Had you been there, you would not have been worthy of being redeemed. — [from Mechilta] |
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עָשָׂה ה' לִי.
רָמַז תְּשׁוּבָה לְבֵן רָשָׁע, לוֹמַר עָשָׂה ה' לִי, וְלֹא לְךָ, שֶׁאִלּוּ הָיִיתָ שָׁם לֹא הָיִיתָ כְדַאי לִגָּאֵל (מכילתא):
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| 9And it shall be to you as a sign upon your hand and as a remembrance between your eyes, in order that the law of the Lord shall be in your mouth, for with a mighty hand the Lord took you out of Egypt. |
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טוְהָיָה֩ לְךָ֨ לְא֜וֹת עַל־יָֽדְךָ֗ וּלְזִכָּרוֹן֙ בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֔יךָ לְמַ֗עַן תִּֽהְיֶ֛ה תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּפִ֑יךָ כִּ֚י בְּיָ֣ד חֲזָקָ֔ה הוֹצִֽאֲךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמִּצְרָֽיִם: |
| And it shall be to you as a sign. The Exodus from Egypt shall be to you as a sign. — [from Jonathan] |
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וְהָיָה לְךָ לְאוֹת.
יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם תִּהְיֶה לְךָ לאות:
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| upon your hand and as a remembrance between your eyes. This means that you shall write these passages [verses 1:10 and 11:16] and bind them on the head and on the arm. |
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עַל־יָֽדְךָ וּלְזִכָּרוֹן בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ.
שֶׁתִּכְתֹּב הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ וְתִקְשְׁרֵם בָּרֹאשׁ וּבַזְּרוֹעַ:
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| upon your hand. On the left hand. Therefore, in the second section, (Verse 16) יָדְכָה is written with the full spelling, to explain thereby [that it means] the hand (יָד) that is weaker (כֵּהָה). — [from Men. 37b] |
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עַל־יָֽדְךָ.
עַל יַד שְׂמֹאל, לְפִיכָךְ יָדְכָה מָלֵא בְּפָרָשָׁה שְׁנִיָּה, לִדְרֹשׁ בָּהּ יָד שֶׁהִיא כֵהָה (מנחות ל"ו):
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| 10And you shall keep this statute at its appointed time, from year to year. |
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יוְשָֽׁמַרְתָּ֛ אֶת־הַֽחֻקָּ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לְמֽוֹעֲדָ֑הּ מִיָּמִ֖ים יָמִֽימָה: |
| from year to year. Heb. מִיָמִים יָמִימָה, from year to year. — [from Onkelos]. |
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מִיָּמִים יָמִֽימָה.
מִשָּׁנָה לְשָׁנָה (שם):
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| 11And it will come to pass when the Lord will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and to your forefathers, and He has given it to you, |
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יאוְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־יְבִֽאֲךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֔י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְךָ֖ וְלַֽאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ וּנְתָנָ֖הּ לָֽךְ: |
| And it will come to pass when… will bring you. Some of our Sages learned from here that the firstborn that were born in the desert were not sanctified. The one who rules that they were sanctified explains this “entry” as saying: If you fulfill it [this commandment] in the desert, you will merit to fulfill it there [in the Holy Land]. — [from Bechoroth 4b] |
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וְהָיָה כִּֽי־יְבִֽאֲךָ.
יֵשׁ מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁלָּמְדוּ מִכָּאן שֶׁלֹּא קָדְשׁוּ בְּכוֹרוֹת הַנּוֹלָדִים בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְהָאוֹמֵר קָדְשׁוּ, מְפָרֵשׁ בִּיאָה זוֹ אִם תְּקַיְּמוּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּר תִּזְכּוּ לִכָּנֵס לָאָרֶץ וּתְקַיְּמוּהוּ שָׁם):
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| as He swore to you. Now where did He swear to you? “And I will bring you to the land, concerning which I raised, etc.” (Exod. 6:8). — [from Mechilta] |
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נִשְׁבַּע לְךָ.
וְהֵיכָן נִשְׁבַּע לְךָ? "וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי וְגוֹ'" (שמות ו'):
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| and He has given it to you. It should seem to you as if He gave it to you today, and it should not seem to you as an inheritance from your forefathers. — [from Mechilta] |
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וּנְתָנָהּ לְךָ.
תְּהֵא בְעֵינֶיךָ כְּאִלּוּ נִתְּנָה לְךָ בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם, וְאַל תְּהִי בְעֵינֶיךָ כִּירֻשַּׁת אָבוֹת:
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| 12that you shall give over to the Lord whatever opens the womb, and every miscarriage that opens the womb of an animal which will be yours, the males belong to the Lord. |
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יבוְהַֽעֲבַרְתָּ֥ כָל־פֶּֽטֶר־רֶ֖חֶם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְכָל־פֶּ֣טֶר | שֶׁ֣גֶר בְּהֵמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ הַזְּכָרִ֖ים לַיהֹוָֽה: |
| That you shall give over. Heb. וְהַעִבַרְךְתָּ is only an expression of separation, and so [Scripture] states: “and you shall give over (וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּם) his inheritance to his daughter” (Num. 27:8). — [from Mechilta] |
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וְהַֽעֲבַרְתָּ.
אֵין וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן הַפְרָשָׁה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ אֶת נַחֲלָתוֹ לְבִתּוֹ" (במדבר כ"ז) (מכילתא):
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| and every miscarriage. Heb. שֶׁגֶר, an aborted fetus, which its mother ejected (ֹשֶֹשָגַּרְתּוֹ) and sent out before its time. The text teaches you that it is holy in regards to freeing the one that follows it. A fetus that is not aborted is also called שֶׁגֶר, like “the offspring (שְׁגַר) of your cattle” (Deut. 7:13), but this [verse] came only to teach [us] about the aborted fetus, because [Scripture] already stated: “whatever opens the womb.” If you say that the firstborn of an unclean animal is meant, [Scripture] came and explained elsewhere “of your cattle and of your flocks” (Deut. 15:19). In another way we can explain: “you shall give over to the Lord whatever opens the womb,” that the text speaks of the firstborn of man. — [from Mechilta] |
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שֶׁגֶר בְּהֵמָה.
נֵפֶל שֶׁשִּׁגְּרַתּוּ אִמּוֹ וְשִׁלְּחַתּוּ בְּלֹא עִתּוֹ; וְלִמֶּדְךָ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהוּא קָדוֹשׁ בִּבְכוֹרָה לִפְטֹר אֶת הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו וְאַף שֶׁאֵין נֵפֶל קָרוּי שֶׁגֶר, כְּמוֹ "שְׁגַר אֲלָפֶיךָ" (דברים ז'), אֲבָל זֶה לֹא בָא אֶלָּא לְלַמֵּד עַל הַנֵּפֶל שֶׁהֲרֵי כְבָר כָּתַב כָּל פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם. וְאִם תֹּאמַר אַף בְּכוֹר בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה בְּמַשְׁמָע, בָּא וּפֵרֵשׁ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר "בִּבְקָרְךָ וּבְצֹאנְךָ" (דברים ט"ו). לָשׁוֹן אַחֵר יֵשׁ לְפָרֵשׁ, "וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ כָל פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם" — בִּבְכוֹר אָדָם הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
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| 13And every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, and if you do not redeem [it], you shall decapitate it, and every firstborn of man among your sons, you shall redeem. |
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יגוְכָל־פֶּ֤טֶר חֲמֹר֙ תִּפְדֶּ֣ה בְשֶׂ֔ה וְאִם־לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה וַֽעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ וְכֹ֨ל בְּכ֥וֹר אָדָ֛ם בְּבָנֶ֖יךָ תִּפְדֶּֽה: |
| firstborn donkey. But not the firstborn of other unclean animals (Mechilta). This is a biblical edict [decreed that the firstling donkey be redeemed] because the firstborn of the Egyptians were likened to donkeys. Moreover, because they [the donkeys] assisted the Israelites in their departure from Egypt, (for there was not a single Israelite who did not take donkeys from Egypt) laden with the silver and gold of the Egyptians. — [from Bech. 5b] |
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פֶּטֶר חמור.
וְלֹא פֶּטֶר שְׁאָר בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה; וּגְזֵרַת הַכָּתוּב הִיא לְפִי שֶׁנִּמְשְׁלוּ בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרַיִם לַחֲמוֹרִים; וְעוֹד, שֶׁסִּיְּעוּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּיצִיאָתָן, שֶׁאֵין לְךָ אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא נָטַל הַרְבֵּה חֲמוֹרִים מִמִּצְרַיִם טְעוּנִים מִכַּסְפָּם וּמִזְּהָבָם שֶׁל מִצְרִים:
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| you shall redeem with a lamb. He must give the lamb to a kohen. The firstborn donkey is permitted to be used, and the lamb is the ordinary property [i.e., unconsecrated] of the kohen. — [from Bech. 9a, b] [I.e., the lamb has no sanctity and may be used by the kohen.] |
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תִּפְדֶּה בְשֶׂה.
נוֹתֵן שֶׂה לַכֹּהֵן וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר מֻתָּר בַּהֲנָאָה וְהַשֶּׂה חֻלִּין בְּיַד כֹּהֵן (בכורות ט'):
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| you shall decapitate it. He decapitates it with a cleaver from behind and kills it (Bech. 13a). He caused the kohen to lose his money [by neglecting to give him the redemption lamb]. Therefore, he must lose his own money [by decapitating his donkey]. — [from Bech. 10b] |
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וַֽעֲרַפְתּוֹ.
עוֹרְפוֹ בְּקוֹפִיץ מֵאֲחוֹרָיו וְהוֹרְגוֹ; הוּא הִפְסִיד מָמוֹנוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן, לְפִיכָךְ יַפְסִיד מָמוֹנוֹ (שם י'):
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| and every firstborn of man among your sons, you shall redeem. His redemption [price] is established elsewhere (Num. 18:16) as five selas. |
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וְכָל־בְּכוֹר אָדָם בְּבָנֶיךָ תִּפְדֶּה.
חָמֵשׁ סְלָעִים פִּדְיוֹנוֹ קָצוּב בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (במדבר י"ח):
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| 14And it will come to pass if your son asks you in the future, saying, "What is this?" you shall say to him, "With a mighty hand did the Lord take us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. |
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ידוְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־יִשְׁאָֽלְךָ֥ בִנְךָ֛ מָחָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֣ר מַה־זֹּ֑את וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֔יו בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֗ד הֽוֹצִיאָ֧נוּ יְהֹוָ֛ה מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים: |
| if your son asks you in the future. Heb. מָחָר מָחָר sometimes means “now” and מָחָר sometimes means “at a later time,” such as it does here and such as “In time to come מָחָר, your children might say to our children” (Josh. 22:24), which refers to the children of Gad and the children of Reuben. — [from Mechilta] |
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כִּֽי־יִשְׁאָֽלְךָ בִנְךָ מָחָר.
יֵשׁ מָחָר שֶׁהוּא עַכְשָׁיו וְיֵשׁ מָחָר שֶׁהוּא לְאַחַר זְמַן, כְּגוֹן זֶה, וּכְגוֹן "וְלֹא יֹאמְרוּ בְנֵיכֶם מָחָר לְבָנֵינוּ" (יהושע כ"ב), דִּבְנֵי גָד וְדִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן:
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| “What is this?”. This is [the question of] the simple child, [referred to in the Haggadah,] who does not know how to pose his question in depth, and asks a general question: “What is this?” Elsewhere it [Scripture] says: “What are the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments, etc.?” (Deut. 6: 20). This is the question of the wise son. The Torah spoke regarding four sons: the wicked one (Exod. 12:26), the one who does not understand to ask (Exod. 13:8), the one who asks [a] general [question], and the one who asks in a wise manner. — [from Yerushalmi, Pes. 10:4] |
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מַה־זֹּאת.
זֶה תִּינוֹק טִפֵּשׁ שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לְהַעֲמִיק שְׁאֵלָתוֹ וְסוֹתֵם וְשׁוֹאֵל "מַה זֹּאת?", וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר "מָה הָעֵדֹת וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים וְגוֹ'" (דברים ו'), הֲרֵי זֹאת שְׁאֵלַת בֵּן חָכָם; דִּבְּרָה תוֹרָה כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעָה בָנִים — רָשָׁע, וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאֹל, וְהַשּׁוֹאֵל דֶּרֶךְ סְתוּמָה, וְהַשּׁוֹאֵל דֶּרֶךְ חָכְמָה (מכילתא):
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| 15And it came to pass when Pharaoh was too stubborn to let us out, the Lord slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I slaughter [for a sacrifice] all males that open the womb, and every firstborn of my sons I will redeem. |
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טווַיְהִ֗י כִּֽי־הִקְשָׁ֣ה פַרְעֹה֘ לְשַׁלְּחֵ֒נוּ֒ וַיַּֽהֲרֹ֨ג יְהֹוָ֤ה כָּל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מִבְּכֹ֥ר אָדָ֖ם וְעַד־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּהֵמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֩ אֲנִ֨י זֹבֵ֜חַ לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה כָּל־פֶּ֤טֶר רֶ֨חֶם֙ הַזְּכָרִ֔ים וְכָל־בְּכ֥וֹר בָּנַ֖י אֶפְדֶּֽה: |
| 16And it shall be for a sign upon your hand and for ornaments between your eyes, for with a mighty hand did the Lord take us out of Egypt. |
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טזוְהָיָ֤ה לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יָ֣דְכָ֔ה וּלְטֽוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֑יךָ כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד הֽוֹצִיאָ֥נוּ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמִּצְרָֽיִם: |
| and for ornaments between your eyes. Heb. וּלְטוֹטָפֹת, tefillin. Since they are [composed of] four compartments, they are called טֹטָפֹת, טט in Coptic meaning two, and פת in Afriki (Phrygian) meaning two (Men. 34b) [thus 2+2=4 boxes of tefillin]. Menachem (Machbereth Menachem p. 99), however, classified it [טוֹטָפֹת] with “Speak (הַטֵף) to the south” (Ezek. 21:2) and “Preach not (אַל-תּטִּיפוּ)” (Micah 2:6), an expression of speech, like “and as a remembrance” (Exod. 13:9), for whoever sees them [the tefillin] bound between the eyes will recall the miracle [of the Exodus] and speak about it. |
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וּלְטֽוֹטָפֹת.
תְּפִלִּין; וְעַל שֵׁם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָעָה בָתִּים קְרוּיִין טטפת – "טט" בְּכַתְפִּי שְׁתַּיִם, "פת" בְּאַפְרִיקִי שְׁתַּיִם (סנהדרין ד'). וּמְנַחֵם חִבְּרוֹ עִם "וְהַטֵּף אֶל דָּרוֹם" (יחזקאל כ"א), "אַל תַּטִּיפוּ" (מיכה ב'), לְשׁוֹן דִּבּוּר, כְּמוֹ וּלְזִכָּרוֹן, שֶׁהָרוֹאֶה אוֹתָם קָשׁוּר בֵּין הָעֵינַיִם, יִזְכֹּר הַנֵּס וִידַבֵּר בּוֹ:
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| 17It came to pass when Pharaoh let the people go, that God did not lead them [by] way of the land of the Philistines for it was near, because God said, Lest the people reconsider when they see war and return to Egypt |
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יזוַיְהִ֗י בְּשַׁלַּ֣ח פַּרְעֹה֘ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וְלֹֽא־נָחָ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים דֶּ֚רֶךְ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב ה֑וּא כִּ֣י | אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים פֶּן־יִנָּחֵ֥ם הָעָ֛ם בִּרְאֹתָ֥ם מִלְחָמָ֖ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה: |
| It came to pass when Pharaoh let…that God did not lead them. Heb. וְלֹא-נָחָם, and did not lead them, similar to “Go, lead (נְחֵה) the people” (Exod. 32:34) [and] “When you walk, it shall lead (תִּנְחֶה) you” (Prov. 6:22). |
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וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה וְלֹֽא־נָחָם.
נְהָגָם, כְּמוֹ "לֵךְ נְחֵה אֶת הָעָם" (שמות ל"ב), "בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ תַּנְחֶה אוֹתָךְ" (משלי ו'):
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| for it was near. and it was easy to return by that road to Egypt. There are also many aggadic midrashim [regarding this]. |
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כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא.
וְנֹחַ לָשׁוּב בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ לְמִצְרַיִם; וּמִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה יֵשׁ הַרְבֵּה:
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| when they see war. For instance, the war of “And the Amalekites and the Canaanites descended, etc.” (Num. 14:45). If they had gone on a direct route, they would have returned. Now, if when He led them around in a circuitous route, they said, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt” (Num. 14:4), how much more [would they have planned to do this] if He had led them on a direct route? [According to the sequence of the verse, the headings appear to be transposed. See Mizrachi, Gur Aryeh, and Minchath Yehudah for a correct solution of this problem.] |
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בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה.
כְּגוֹן מִלְחֶמֶת "וַיֵּרֶד הָעֲמָלֵקִי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי וְגוֹ'" (במדבר י"ד), אִם הָלְכוּ דֶּרֶךְ יָשָׁר הָיוּ חוֹזְרִים, וּמָה אִם כְּשֶׁהִקִּיפָם דֶּרֶךְ מְעֻקָּם אָמְרוּ "נִתְּנָה רֹאשׁ וְנָשׁוּבָה מִצְרָיְמָה" (שם), אִם הוֹלִיכָם בִּפְשׁוּטָה עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה:
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| Lest…reconsider. They will have [second] thoughts about [the fact] that they left Egypt and they will think about returning. |
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פֶּן־יִנָּחֵם.
יַחְשְׁבוּ מַחֲשָׁבָה עַל שֶׁיָּצְאוּ וְיִתְּנוּ לֵב לָשׁוּב:
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| 18So God led the people around [by] way of the desert [to] the Red Sea, and the children of Israel were armed when they went up out of Egypt. |
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יחוַיַּסֵּ֨ב אֱלֹהִ֧ים | אֶת־הָעָ֛ם דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יַם־ס֑וּף וַֽחֲמֻשִׁ֛ים עָל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם: |
| led…around. He led them around from a direct route to a circuitous route. |
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וַיַּסֵּב.
הֱסִבָּם מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשׁוּטָה לַדֶּרֶךְ הָעֲקוּמָה:
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| the Red Sea. Heb. יַם-סוּף, like לְיַם-סוּף, to the Red Sea. סוּף means a marsh where reeds grow, similar to “and put [it] into the marsh (בַּסוּף)” (Exod. 2:3); “reeds and rushes (וַסוּף) shall be cut off” (Isa. 19:6). |
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יַם־סוּף.
כְּמוֹ לְיַם סוּף, וְסוּף הוּא לְשׁוֹן אֲגַם שֶׁגְּדֵלִים בּוֹ קָנִים, כְּמוֹ "וַתָּשֶׂם בַּסּוּף" (שמות ב'), "קָנֶה וָסוּף קָמֵלוּ" (ישעיהו י"ט):
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| armed. Heb. חִמֻשִׁים וַחִמֻשִׁים [in this context] can only mean “armed.” (Since He led them around in the desert [circuitously], He caused them to go up armed, for if He had led them around through civilization, they would not have [had to] provide for themselves with everything that they needed, but only [part,] like a person who travels from place to place and intends to purchase there whatever he will need. But if he travels a long distance into a desert, he must prepare all his necessities for himself. This verse was written only to clarify the matter, so you should not wonder where they got weapons in the war with Amalek and in the wars with Sihon and Og and Midian, for the Israelites smote them with the point of the sword.) [In an old Rashi]) And similarly [Scripture] says: “and you shall cross over armed (חִמֻשִׁים)” (Josh. 1:14). And so too Onkelos rendered מְזָרְזִין just as he rendered: “and he armed (וְזָרֵיז) his trained men” (Gen. 14:14). Another interpretation: חִמֻשִׁים means “divided by five,” [meaning] that one out of five (חִמִֹשָה) [Israelites] went out, and four fifths [lit., parts of the people] died during the three days of darkness [see Rashi on Exod. 10:22]. — [from Mechilta, Tanchuma, Beshallach 1] |
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וַֽחֲמֻשִׁים.
אֵין חֲמוּשִׁים אֶלָּא מְזֻיָּנִים; (לְפִי שֶׁהֱסִבָּן בַּמִּדְבָּר הוּא גָּרַם לָהֶם שֶׁעָלוּ חֲמוּשִׁים, שֶׁאִלּוּ הֱסִבָּן דֶּרֶךְ יִשּׁוּב, לֹא הָיוּ מְחֻמָּשִׁים לָהֶם כָּל מַה שֶּׁצְּרִיכִין, אֶלָּא כְּאָדָם שֶׁעוֹבֵר מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם וּבְדַעְתּוֹ לִקְנוֹת שָׁם מַה שֶּׁיִּצְטָרֵךְ, אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהוּא פּוֹרֵשׁ לַמִּדְבָּר צָרִיךְ לְזַמֵּן לוֹ כָּל הַצֹּרֶךְ; וּמִקְרָא זֶה לֹא נִכְתַּב כִּי אִם לְשַׂבֵּר אֶת הָאֹזֶן, שֶׁלֹּא תִתְמַהּ בְּמִלְחֶמֶת עֲמָלֵק וּבְמִלְחֶמֶת סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג וּמִדְיָן מֵהֵיכָן הָיוּ לָהֶם כְּלֵי זַיִן שֶׁהִכּוּ אוֹתָם בַּחֶרֶב) וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "וְאַתֶּם תַּעַבְרוּ חֲמֻשִׁים" (יהושע א'), וְכֵן תִּרְגְּמוֹ אֻנְקְלוֹס "מְזָרְזִין", כְּמוֹ "וַיָּרֶק אֶת חֲנִיכָיו" (בראשית י"ד) – וְזָרֵיז. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חֲמֻשִׁים אֶחָד מֵחֲמִשָּׁה יָצְאוּ וְאַרְבָּעָה חֲלָקִים מֵתוּ בִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת יְמֵי אֲפֵלָה (מכילתא):
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| 19Moses took Joseph's bones with him, for he [Joseph] had adjured the sons of Israel, saying, God will surely remember you, and you shall bring up my bones from here with you |
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יטוַיִּקַּ֥ח משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־עַצְמ֥וֹת יוֹסֵ֖ף עִמּ֑וֹ כִּי֩ הַשְׁבֵּ֨עַ הִשְׁבִּ֜יעַ אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פָּקֹ֨ד יִפְקֹ֤ד אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהַֽעֲלִיתֶ֧ם אֶת־עַצְמֹתַ֛י מִזֶּ֖ה אִתְּכֶֽם: |
| for he had adjured. Heb. הִֹשְבִּיעַ הַֹשְבֵּעַ. [The double expression indicates that] he [Joseph] had made them [his brothers] swear that they would make their children swear (Mechilta). Now why did he not make his sons swear to carry him to the land of Canaan immediately [when he died], as Jacob had made [him] swear? Joseph said, “I was a ruler in Egypt, and I had the ability to do [this]. As for my sons-the Egyptians will not let them do [it].” Therefore, he made them swear that when they would be redeemed and would leave there [Egypt], they would carry him [out]. — [from Mechilta] |
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הַשְׁבֵּעַ הִשְׁבִּיעַ.
הִשְׁבִּיעָם שֶׁיַּשְׁבִּיעוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם. וְלָמָּה לֹא הִשְׁבִּיעַ בָּנָיו שֶׁיִּשָּׂאוּהוּ לְאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן מִיָּד כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִשְׁבִּיעַ יַעֲקֹב? אָמַר יוֹסֵף, אֲנִי שַׁלִּיט הָיִיתִי בְמִצְרַיִם וְהָיָה סֵפֶק בְּיָדִי לַעֲשׂוֹת, אֲבָל בָנַי לֹא יַנִּיחוּם מִצְרַיִם לַעֲשׂוֹת, לְכָךְ הִשְׁבִּיעָם לִכְשֶׁיִּגָּאֲלוּ וְיֵצְאוּ מִשָּׁם שֶׁיִּשָּׂאוּהוּ:
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| and you shall bring up my bones from here with you. He made his brothers swear in this manner. We learn [from this] that the bones of all [the progenitors of] the tribes they brought up [out of Egypt] with them as it is said “with you” -[from Mechilta] |
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וְהַֽעֲלִיתֶם אֶת־עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה אִתְּכֶֽם.
לְאֶחָיו הִשְׁבִּיעַ כֵּן, לִמְּדָנוּ שֶׁאַף עַצְמוֹת כָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים הֶעֱלוּ עִמָּהֶם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אִתְּכֶם (מכילתא):
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| 20They traveled from Succoth, and they encamped in Etham, at the edge of the desert. |
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כוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִסֻּכֹּ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֣וּ בְאֵתָ֔ם בִּקְצֵ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּֽר: |
| They traveled from Succoth. on the second day, for on the first day they came from Rameses to Succoth. |
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וַיִּסְעוּ מִסֻּכֹּת.
בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי, שֶׁהֲרֵי בָרִאשׁוֹן בָּאוּ מֵרַעְמְסֵס לְסֻכּוֹת:
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| 21And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to cause it to lead them on the way and at night in a pillar of fire to give them light, [they thus could] travel day and night. |
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כאוַֽיהֹוָ֡ה הֹלֵךְ֩ לִפְנֵיהֶ֨ם יוֹמָ֜ם בְּעַמּ֤וּד עָנָן֙ לַנְחֹתָ֣ם הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְלַ֛יְלָה בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ לְהָאִ֣יר לָהֶ֑ם לָלֶ֖כֶת יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה: |
| to cause it to lead them on the way. Heb. לַנְחֹתָם. [The “lammed” is] vowelized with a “pattach,” which is equivalent to לְהַנְחֹתָם, like “to show you (לַראֹתְכֶם) on the way on which you shall go” (Deut. 1:33), which is like לְהַרְאֹתְכֶם. Here also, [it means] to cause to lead you (לְהַנְחֹתָם) through a messenger. Now who was that messenger? [It was] the pillar of cloud, and the Holy One, blessed be He, in His glory, led it before them. In any case, it was the pillar of cloud that He prepared so that they could be led by it, for they would travel by the pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud was not [meant] to provide light but to direct them [on] the way. |
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לַנְחֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ.
נָקוּד פַּתָּח שֶׁהוּא כְּמוֹ לְהַנְחוֹתָם, "לַרְאוֹתְכֶם בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ בָהּ" (דברים א') שֶׁהוּא כְמוֹ לְהַרְאוֹתְכֶם, אַף כָּאן לְהַנְחֹתָם עַל יְדֵי שָׁלִיחַ, וּמִי הוּא הַשָּׁלִיחַ? עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן; וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּכְבוֹדוֹ מוֹלִיכוֹ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם אֶת עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן הֵכִין לְהַנְחוֹתָם עַל יָדוֹ, שֶׁהֲרֵי עַל יְדֵי עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן הֵם הוֹלְכִים; עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן אֵינוֹ לְאוֹרָה אֶלָּא לְהוֹרוֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ:
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| 22He did not move away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire at night [from] before the people. |
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כבלֹֽא־יָמִ֞ישׁ עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְעַמּ֥וּד הָאֵ֖שׁ לָ֑יְלָה לִפְנֵ֖י הָעָֽם: |
| He did not move away. [I.e.,] the Holy One, blessed be He, [did not move away] the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire at night. [This verse] tells that the pillar of cloud transmitted [its light to] the pillar of fire, and the pillar of fire transmitted [its light to] the pillar of cloud, for while one had not yet set, the other one would rise. — [from Shab. 23b] |
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לֹֽא־יָמִישׁ.
הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת עמוד הענן יומם ועמוד האש לילה; מַגִּיד שֶׁעַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מַשְׁלִים לְעַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ וְעַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ מַשְׁלִים לְעַמּוּד הֶעָנָן, שֶׁעַד שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁקַע זֶה עוֹלֶה זֶה:
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