| 1Moses answered and said, "Behold they will not believe me, and they will not heed my voice, but they will say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you.' " |
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אוַיַּ֤עַן משֶׁה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר וְהֵן֙ לֹא־יַֽאֲמִ֣ינוּ לִ֔י וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְע֖וּ בְּקֹלִ֑י כִּ֣י יֹֽאמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֖יךָ יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 2And the Lord said to him, "What is this in your hand?" And he said, "A staff." |
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בוַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהֹוָ֖ה מַה־זֶּ֣ה (כתיב מזה) בְיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מַטֶּֽה: |
| “What is this in your hand?”: Heb. מַזֶּה, [an unusual spelling. Its usual spelling is מַה זֶה in two words.] It is written as one word to imply the meaning: From this (מִזֶה) in your hand you are liable to be stricken because you have suspected innocent people (Exod. Rabbah 3:12). Its simple meaning is [that God is talking to Moses] as a person who says to his friend, “Do you admit that this before you is a stone?” He answers him, “Yes.” “Well, I will make it into a tree.” |
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מזה בְיָדֶךָ:
לְכָךְ נִכְתַּב תֵּבָה אַחַת, לִדְרֹשׁ: מִזֶּה שֶׁבְּיָדְךָ אַתָּה חַיָּב לִלְקוֹת, שֶׁחָשַׁדְתָּ בִכְשֵׁרִים; וּפְשׁוּטוֹ: כְּאָדָם שֶׁאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ מוֹדֶה אַתָּה שֶׁזּוֹ שֶׁלְּפָנֶיךָ אֶבֶן הִיא? אוֹמֵר לוֹ הֵן; אָמַר לוֹ הֲרֵינִי עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ עֵץ:
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| 3And He said, "Cast it to the ground," and he cast it to the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses fled from before it. |
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גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣הוּ אַ֔רְצָה וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֥הוּ אַ֖רְצָה וַיְהִ֣י לְנָחָ֑שׁ וַיָּ֥נָס משֶׁ֖ה מִפָּנָֽיו: |
| and it became a serpent-: [This was how] He hinted to him [Moses] that he had spoken ill of Israel (by saying, “They will not believe me,” ) and he had adopted the art of the serpent. — [from Exod. Rabbah 3:12] |
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וַיְהִי לְנָחָשׁ:
רָמַז לוֹ שֶׁסִּפֵּר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְתָפַשׂ אֻמָּנוּתוֹ שֶׁל נָחָשׁ (שמות רבה):
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| 4And the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand and take hold of its tail." So Moses stretched forth his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand. |
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דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה שְׁלַח֙ יָֽדְךָ֔ וֶֽאֱחֹ֖ז בִּזְנָב֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ וַיַּ֣חֲזֶק בּ֔וֹ וַיְהִ֥י לְמַטֶּ֖ה בְּכַפּֽוֹ: |
| and grasped it-: Heb. וַיַּחֲזִיק בּוֹ. This is an expression of taking hold, and there are many such words in Scripture, e.g., “and the men took hold (וַיַּחִזִיקוּ) of his hand” (Gen. 19:16); “and she grabbed (וְהֶחֱזִיקָה) his private parts” (Deut. 25:11); “and I took hold (וְהֶחֱזַקְתִּי) of his jaw” (I Sam. 17:35). Every expression of חִזוּק attached to a “beth” denotes taking hold. |
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וַיַּחֲזֶק בּוֹ:
לְשׁוֹן אֲחִיזָה הוּא; וְהַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ בַּמִּקְרָא, "וַיַּחֲזִיקוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים בְּיָדוֹ" (בראשית י"ט), "וְהֶחֱזִיקָה בִּמְבֻשָׁיו" (דברים כ"ה), "וְהֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִּזְקָנוֹ" (שמואל א י"ז), (כָּל לְשׁוֹן חִזּוּק הַדָּבוּק לְבֵי"ת לְשׁוֹן אֲחִיזָה הוּא):
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| 5"In order that they believe that the Lord, the God of their forefathers, has appeared to you, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." |
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הלְמַ֣עַן יַֽאֲמִ֔ינוּ כִּֽי־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֛יךָ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתָ֑ם אֱלֹהֵ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִצְחָ֖ק וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י יַֽעֲקֹֽב: |
| 6And the Lord said further to him, "Now put your hand into your bosom," and he put his hand into his bosom, and he took it out, and behold, his hand was leprous like snow. |
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ווַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה ל֜וֹ ע֗וֹד הָֽבֵא־נָ֤א יָֽדְךָ֙ בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ וַיָּבֵ֥א יָד֖וֹ בְּחֵיק֑וֹ וַיּ֣וֹצִאָ֔הּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה יָד֖וֹ מְצֹרַ֥עַת כַּשָּֽׁלֶג: |
| his hand was leprous like snow: It is usual for tzora'as (leprousy) to be white [as we find:] "If it be a white blemish." (Vayikra 13:4) With this sign, too, He hinted to him that he spoke slanderously when he said, "They will not believe me." It is for this reason that He struck him with tzora'as, just as Miriam was struck for speaking slanderously. |
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מְצֹרַעַת כַּשָּֽׁלֶג:
דֶּרֶךְ צָרַעַת לִהְיוֹת לְבָנָה – "וְאִם בַּהֶרֶת לְבָנָה הִיא" (ויקרא י"ג); אַף בְּאוֹת זֶה רָמַז לוֹ שֶׁלָּשׁוֹן הָרָע סִפֵּר בְּאָמְרוֹ לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ לִי, לְפִיכָךְ הִלְקָהוּ בְצָרַעַת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁלָּקְתָה מִרְיָם עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע (שבת צ"ז):
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| 7And He said, "Put your hand back into your bosom," and he put his hand back into his bosom, and [when] he took it out of his bosom, it had become again like [the rest of] his flesh. |
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זוַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָשֵׁ֤ב יָֽדְךָ֙ אֶל־חֵיקֶ֔ךָ וַיָּ֥שֶׁב יָד֖וֹ אֶל־חֵיק֑וֹ וַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙ מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹ וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֖בָה כִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ: |
| and [when] he took it out of his bosom: From here, [we learn] that the Divine measure of good comes quicker than the measure of retribution, for in the first instance [verse 6] it does not say, from his bosom. — [from Shab. 97a, Exod. Rabbah 3:13] |
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וַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ מֵֽחֵיקוֹ וְהִנֵּה־שָׁבָה כִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ:
מִכָּאן שֶׁמִּדָּה טוֹבָה מְמַהֶרֶת לָבֹא מִמִּדַּת פֻּרְעָנוּת, שֶׁהֲרֵי בָרִאשׁוֹנָה לֹא נֶאֱמַר "מֵחֵיקוֹ" (שם):
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| 8"And it will come to pass, that if they do not believe you, and they do not heed the voice of the first sign, they will believe the voice of the last sign. |
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חוְהָיָה֙ אִם־לֹ֣א יַֽאֲמִ֣ינוּ לָ֔ךְ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֣ת הָֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן וְהֶֽאֱמִ֔ינוּ לְקֹ֖ל הָאֹ֥ת הָאַֽחֲרֽוֹן: |
| they will believe the voice of the last sign: When you tell them, “Because of you I was stricken, because I spoke ill of you,” they will believe you, for they have already learned that those who trespass against them are stricken with plagues, such as Pharaoh and Abimelech, [who were punished] because of Sarah. |
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וְהֶֽאֱמִינוּ לְקֹל הָאֹת הָאַֽחֲרֽוֹן:
מִשֶּׁתֹּאמַר לָהֶם בִּשְׁבִילְכֶם לָקִיתִי, עַל שֶׁסִּפַּרְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, יַאֲמִינוּ לְךָ, שֶׁכְּבָר לָמְדוּ בְכָךְ שֶׁהַמִּזְדַּוְּגִין לְהָרַע לָהֶם לוֹקִים בִּנְגָעִים, כְּגוֹן פַּרְעֹה וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ בִּשְׁבִיל שָׂרָה:
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| 9And it will come to pass, if they do not believe either of these two signs, and they do not heed your voice, you shall take of the water of the Nile and spill it upon the dry land, and the water that you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry land." |
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טוְהָיָ֡ה אִם־לֹ֣א יַֽאֲמִ֡ינוּ גַּם֩ לִשְׁנֵ֨י הָֽאֹת֜וֹת הָאֵ֗לֶּה וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּן֙ לְקֹלֶ֔ךָ וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ מִמֵּימֵ֣י הַיְאֹ֔ר וְשָֽׁפַכְתָּ֖ הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וְהָי֤וּ הַמַּ֨יִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּקַּ֣ח מִן־הַיְאֹ֔ר וְהָי֥וּ לְדָ֖ם בַּיַּבָּֽשֶׁת: |
| you shall take of the water of the Nile: He hinted to them that with the first plague He exacts retribution upon their deities. (This means that when the Holy One, blessed be He, exacts retribution upon the nations, He first exacts retribution upon their deities, for they [the Egyptians] worshipped the Nile, which afforded them sustenance, and He turned them [the deities, i.e., the Nile] into blood. [From an old Rashi]) |
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ולקחת ממימי היאור: רמז להם שבמכה ראשונה נפרע מאלהותם: |
| and the water…will become: The word וְהָיוּ, will become, appears twice. [The verse means literally: And will be (וְהָיוּ), meaning that the water that you will take from the Nile will become (וְהָיוּ) blood on dry land.] It seems to me that if it said: “And will be (וְהָיוּ) the water that you will take from the Nile will become (וְהָיוּ) blood on dry land,” I understand [that it means] that in his hand it would turn into blood, and also when it descended to earth, it would remain as it is. But now it [the text] teaches us that it would not become blood until on dry land. |
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וְהָיוּ הַמַּיִם וגו':
"וְהָיוּ" "וְהָיוּ", ב' פְּעָמִים נִרְאֶה בְעֵינַי, אִלּוּ נֶאֱמַר וְהָיוּ הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר תִּקַּח מִן הַיְאוֹר לְדָם בַּיַּבָּשֶׁת, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי, שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ הֵם נֶהְפָּכִים לְדָם – וְאַף כְּשֶׁיֵּרְדוּ לָאָרֶץ יִהְיוּ בַּהֲוָיָתָן, אֲבָל עַכְשָׁו מְלַמְּדֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ דָם עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בַיַּבָּשֶׁת:
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| 10Moses said to the Lord, "I beseech You, O Lord. I am not a man of words, neither from yesterday nor from the day before yesterday, nor from the time You have spoken to Your servant, for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue." |
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יוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֣ה אֶל־יְהֹוָה֘ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָי֒ לֹא֩ אִ֨ישׁ דְּבָרִ֜ים אָנֹ֗כִי גַּ֤ם מִתְּמוֹל֙ גַּ֣ם מִשִּׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּ֛ם מֵאָ֥ז דַּבֶּרְךָ֖ אֶל־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֧י כְבַד־פֶּ֛ה וּכְבַ֥ד לָשׁ֖וֹן אָנֹֽכִי: |
| neither from yesterday, etc.: We learn [from this] that for a full seven days the Holy One, blessed be He, was enticing Moses in the thorn bush to go on His mission: “from yesterday,” “from the day before yesterday,” “from the time You have spoken;” thus there are three [days], and the three times גַּם [is mentioned] are inclusive words, adding up to six, and he was presently in the seventh day when he further said to Him, “Send now with whom You would send” (verse 13), until He became angry (verse 14) and complained about him. All this [reluctance] was because he [Moses] did not want to accept a position higher than his brother Aaron, who was his senior and was a prophet, as it is said: “Did I appear to the house of your father when they were in Egypt?” (I Sam. 2:27); [“your father” means Aaron. Similarly,] “and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt” (Ezek. 20:5); “And I said to them, ‘Every man cast away the despicable idols from before his eyes’” (Ezek. 20:7), and that prophecy was said to Aaron. — [from Exod. Rabbah 3:16] |
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גַּם מִתְּמוֹל וגו':
לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁכָּל ז' יָמִים הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְפַתֶּה אֶת מֹשֶׁה בַּסְּנֶה לֵילֵךְ בִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ, "מִתְּמוֹל", "שִׁלְשֹׁם", "מֵאָז דַּבֶּרְךָ" הֲרֵי ג' וּשְׁלוֹשָׁה גַמִּין רִבּוּיִין הֵם, הֲרֵי שִׁשָּׁה, וְהוּא הָיָה עוֹמֵד בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי כְּשֶׁאָמַר לוֹ זֹאת עוֹד שְׁלַח נָא בְּיַד תִּשְׁלָח, עַד שֶׁחָרָה בּוֹ וְקִבֵּל עָלָיו (שמות רבה); וְכָל זֶה שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה רוֹצֶה לִטֹּל גְּדֻלָּה עַל אַהֲרֹן אָחִיו שֶׁהָיָה גָּדוֹל הֵימֶנּוּ וְנָבִיא הָיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "הֲנִגְלֹה נִגְלֵיתִי אֶל בֵּית אָבִיךָ בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּמִצְרַיִם" (שמואל א ב') – הוּא אַהֲרֹן, וְכֵן "וָאִוָּדַע לָהֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם … וָאֹמַר אֲלֵיהֶם אִישׁ שִׁקּוּצֵי עֵינָיו הַשְׁלִיכוּ" (יחזקאל כ'), וְאוֹתָהּ נְבוּאָה לְאַהֲרֹן נֶאֶמְרָה (תנחומא):
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| heavy of mouth: I speak with difficulty, and in old French, it is balbu, stammerer. |
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כְבַד־פֶּה:
בִּכְבֵדוּת אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר. וּבִלְשׁוֹן לַעַז בלב"ו:
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| 11But the Lord said to him, "Who gave man a mouth, or who makes [one] dumb or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? |
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יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלָ֗יו מִ֣י שָׂ֣ם פֶּה֘ לָֽאָדָם֒ א֚וֹ מִֽי־יָשׂ֣וּם אִלֵּ֔ם א֣וֹ חֵרֵ֔שׁ א֥וֹ פִקֵּ֖חַ א֣וֹ עִוֵּ֑ר הֲלֹ֥א אָֽנֹכִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה: |
| Who gave man a mouth: Who taught you to speak when you were being judged before Pharaoh concerning the Egyptian [you killed]? |
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מִי שָׂם פֶּה וגו':
מִי לִמְּדֶךָ לְדַבֵּר, כְּשֶׁהָיִיתָ נִדּוֹן לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה עַל הַמִּצְרִי?
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| or who makes [one] dumb: Who made Pharaoh dumb, that he did not exert any effort [to issue his] command to kill you? And [who made] his servants deaf, so that they did not hear his commandment concerning you? And who made the executioners blind, that they did not see when you fled from the [executioner’s] platform and escaped?-[from Tanchuma, Shemoth 10] |
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אוֹ מִי יָשׂוּם אִלֵּם:
מִי עָשָׂה פַרְעֹה אִלֵּם, שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַמֵּץ בְּמִצְוַת הֲרִיגָתְךָ, וְאֶת מְשָׁרְתָיו חֵרְשִׁים שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמְעוּ בְּצַוּוֹתוֹ עָלֶיךָ, וְאֶת אֶסְפַּקְלָטוֹרִין הַהוֹרְגִים מִי עֲשָׂאָם עִוְרִים שֶׁלֹּא רָאוּ כְּשֶׁבָּרַחְתָּ מִן הַבִּימָה וְנִמְלַטְתָּ?
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| Is it not I: Whose name is the Lord (י-ה-ו-ה), [Who] has done all this. |
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הֲלֹא אָֽנֹכִי:
שֶׁשְּׁמִי ה' עָשִׂיתִי כָל זֹאת (שם):
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| 12So now, go! I will be with your mouth, and I will instruct you what you shall speak. " |
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יבוְעַתָּ֖ה לֵ֑ךְ וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה עִם־פִּ֔יךָ וְהֽוֹרֵיתִ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּדַבֵּֽר: |
| 13But he said, "I beseech You, O Lord, send now [Your message] with whom You would send." |
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יגוַיֹּ֖אמֶר בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑י שְׁלַח־נָ֖א בְּיַד־תִּשְׁלָֽח: |
| with whom You would send: With whom You are accustomed to sending, and this is Aaron. Another explanation: With someone else, with whom You wish to send, for I am not destined to bring them into the land [of Israel] and to be their redeemer in the future. You have many messengers. |
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בְּיַד־תִּשְׁלָֽח:
בְּיַד מִי שֶׁאַתָּה רָגִיל לִשְׁלֹחַ, וְהוּא אַהֲרֹן. דָּבָר אַחֵר: בְּיַד אַחֵר שֶׁתִּרְצֶה לִשְׁלֹחַ, אֵין סוֹפִי לְהַכְנִיסָם לָאָרֶץ וְלִהְיוֹת גּוֹאֲלָם לֶעָתִיד, יֵשׁ לְךָ שְׁלוּחִים הַרְבֵּה:
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| 14And the Lord's wrath was kindled against Moses, and He said, "Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite? I know that he will surely speak, and behold, he is coming forth toward you, and when he sees you, he will rejoice in his heart. |
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ידוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֨ף יְהֹוָ֜ה בְּמשֶׁ֗ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הֲלֹ֨א אַֽהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֨יךָ֙ הַלֵּוִ֔י יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּֽי־דַבֵּ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר ה֑וּא וְגַ֤ם הִנֵּה־הוּא֙ יֹצֵ֣א לִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָ וְרָֽאֲךָ֖ וְשָׂמַ֥ח בְּלִבּֽוֹ: |
| wrath was kindled: Rabbi Joshua ben Korchah says: In every [instance that God’s] kindling anger [is mentioned, i.e., that God’s anger was sparked] in the Torah, it is stated [that there was] a consequence [i.e., it was followed by a punishment]. In this [instance, however,] no consequence is stated, and we do not find that a punishment came [to Moses] after this kindling of anger. Rabbi Jose said to him, “Here too you can see a consequence is stated: [namely in the question] ‘Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite,’ who was destined to be a Levite and not a priest [kohen]. I had said that the priesthood would emanate from you, henceforth it will not be so, but he [Aaron] will be a priest and you the Levite, as it is said: ‘But as for Moses, the man of God-his sons were to be called in the tribe of Levi’ (I Chron. 23:14).” -[from Zev. 102a] |
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וַיִּֽחַר־אַף:
רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אוֹמֵר כָּל חֲרוֹן אַף שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה עוֹשֶׂה רֹשֶׁם וְזֶה לֹא נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ רֹשֶׁם וְלֹא מָצִינוּ שֶׁבָּא עֹנֶשׁ עַל יְדֵי אוֹתוֹ חָרוֹן; אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אַף בְּזוֹ נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ רֹשֶׁם – הלא אהרן אחיך הלוי – שֶׁהָיָה עָתִיד לִהְיוֹת לֵוִי וְלֹא כֹּהֵן, וְהַכְּהֻנָּה הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר לָצֵאת מִמְּךָ, מֵעַתָּה לֹא יִהְיֶה כֵן אֶלָּא הוּא יִהְיֶה כֹּהֵן וְאַתָּה הַלֵּוִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּמֹשֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים בָּנָיו יִקָּרְאוּ עַל שֵׁבֶט הַלֵּוִי" (דהי"א כ"ג) (זבחים ק"ב):
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| and behold, he is coming forth toward you: when you go to Egypt. |
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הִנֵּה־הוּא יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתֶךָ:
כְּשֶׁתֵּלֵךְ לְמִצְרַיִם:
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| and when he sees you, he will rejoice in his heart: Not as you think, that he will resent your attaining a high position. Because of this [Aaron’s goodness and humility], Aaron merited the ornament of the breastplate, which is placed over the heart (Exod. 28:29). — [from Exod. Rabbah 3:17] |
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וְרָֽאֲךָ וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּֽוֹ:
לֹא כְשֶׁאַתָּה סָבוּר, שֶׁיְּהֵא מַקְפִּיד עָלֶיךָ שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹלֶה לִגְדֻלָּה; וּמִשָּׁם זָכָה אַהֲרֹן לַעֲדִי הַחֹשֶׁן הַנָּתוּן עַל הַלֵּב (שבת קל"ט):
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| 15You shall speak to him, and you shall put the words into his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will instruct you [both] what you shall do. |
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טווְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֔יו וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים בְּפִ֑יו וְאָֽנֹכִ֗י אֶֽהְיֶ֤ה עִם־פִּ֨יךָ֙ וְעִם־פִּ֔יהוּ וְהֽוֹרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּן: |
| 16And he will speak for you to the people, and it will be that he will be your speaker, and you will be his leader. |
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טזוְדִבֶּר־ה֥וּא לְךָ֖ אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וְהָ֤יָה הוּא֙ יִֽהְיֶה־לְּךָ֣ לְפֶ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ לֵֽאלֹהִֽים: |
| And he will speak for you: Heb לְךָ On your behalf he will speak to the people. This proves that every instance of לָכֶם, לְךָ, לִי, לוֹ and לָהֶם used in conjunction with דִבּוּר, speech, all denote “on behalf of.” |
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וְדִבֶּר־הוּא לְךָ:
בִּשְׁבִילְךָ יְדַבֵּר אֶל הָעָם. וְזֶה יוֹכִיחַ עַל כָּל לְךָ וְלִי וְלוֹ וְלָכֶם וְלָהֶם הַסְּמוּכִים לְדִבּוּר שֶׁכֻּלָּם לְשׁוֹן עַל הֵם:
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| will be your speaker: lit., your mouth. [He will be] your interpreter, because you have a speech impediment. — [from targumim] |
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יִֽהְיֶה־לְךָ לְפֶה:
לְמֵלִיץ, לְפִי שֶׁאַתָּה כְבַד פֶּה:
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| leader: Heb. לֵאלֹהִים, as a master and as a prince. |
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לֵֽאלֹהִֽים:
לְרַב וּלְשַׂר:
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| 17And you shall take this staff in your hand, with which you shall perform the signs." |
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יזוְאֶת־הַמַּטֶּ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה תִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־בּ֖וֹ אֶת־הָֽאֹתֹֽת: |
| 18Moses went and returned to Jether, his father in law, and he said to him, "Let me go now and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and let me see whether they are still alive." So Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." |
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יחוַיֵּ֨לֶךְ משֶׁ֜ה וַיָּ֣שָׁב | אֶל־יֶ֣תֶר חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וְאָשׁ֨וּבָה֙ אֶל־אַחַ֣י אֲשֶׁר־בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְאֶרְאֶ֖ה הַֽעוֹדָ֣ם חַיִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יִתְר֛וֹ לְמשֶׁ֖ה לֵ֥ךְ לְשָׁלֽוֹם: |
| and returned to Jether, his father-in-law: to take his leave, for he had sworn to him [Jethro] (that he would not leave Midian except with his permission) (Exodus Rabbah 4:1). And he had seven names: Reuel, Jether, Jethro, Keni, [Hobab, Heber, and Putiel]. — [from Michilta, Yithro 1:1] See Rashi on Exod. 18:1 for the reasons for these names. |
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וַיָּשָׁב אֶל־יֶתֶר חֹֽתְנוֹ:
לִטֹּל רְשׁוּת, שֶׁהֲרֵי נִשְׁבַּע לוֹ (נדרים ס"ה). וְז' שֵׁמוֹת הָיוּ לוֹ, רְעוּאֵל, יֶתֶר, יִתְרוֹ, קֵינִי, חוֹבָב, חֶבֶר, פּוּטִיאֵל:
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| 19The Lord said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return to Egypt, for all the people who sought your life have died." |
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יטוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶל־משֶׁה֙ בְּמִדְיָ֔ן לֵ֖ךְ שֻׁ֣ב מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּי־מֵ֨תוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ: |
| for all the people… have died: Who are they? Dathan and Abiram. They were [really] alive, but they lost their property, and a pauper is considered dead. — [from Ned. 64b] |
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כִּי־מֵתוּ כָּל־הָאֲנָשִׁים:
מִי הֵם? דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם; חַיִּים הָיוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁיָּרְדוּ מִנִּכְסֵיהֶם וְהֶעָנִי חָשׁוּב כַּמֵּת:
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| 20So Moses took his wife and his sons, mounted them upon the donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the staff of God in his hand. |
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כוַיִּקַּ֨ח משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֗יו וַיַּרְכִּבֵם֙ עַל־הַֽחֲמֹ֔ר וַיָּ֖שָׁב אַ֣רְצָה מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיִּקַּ֥ח משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־מַטֵּ֥ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדֽוֹ: |
| mounted them upon the donkey: The designated donkey. That is the donkey that Abraham saddled for the binding of Isaac, and that is the one upon whom the King Messiah is destined to appear, as it is said: “humble, and riding a donkey” (Zech. 9:9). — [from Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 31] |
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עַל־הַֽחֲמֹר:
חֲמוֹר הַמְיֻחָד, הוּא הַחֲמוֹר שֶׁחָבַשׁ אַבְרָהָם לַעֲקֵדַת יִצְחָק, וְהוּא שֶׁעָתִיד מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ לְהִגָּלוֹת עָלָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "עָנִי וְרֹכֵב עַל חֲמוֹר" (זכריה ט') (פרקי דרבי אליעזר ל"א):
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| and he returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the staff: Chronological order is not strictly adhered to in the Scriptures. |
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וַיָּשָׁב אַרְצָה מִצְרָיִם וַיִּקַּח משֶׁה אֶת־מַטֵּה:
אֵין מֻקְדָּם וּמְאֻחָר מְדֻקְדָּקִים בַּמִּקְרָא:
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| 21The Lord said to Moses, "When you go to return to Egypt, see all the signs that I have placed in your hand and perform them before Pharaoh, but I will strengthen his heart, and he will not send out the people. |
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כאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־משֶׁה֒ בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֙ לָשׁ֣וּב מִצְרַ֔יְמָה רְאֵ֗ה כָּל־הַמֹּֽפְתִים֙ אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֣מְתִּי בְיָדֶ֔ךָ וַֽעֲשִׂיתָ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַֽאֲנִי֙ אֲחַזֵּ֣ק אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָעָֽם: |
| When you go to return to Egypt: You should know that with this intention you shall go, that you shall be steadfast in My mission, to perform all My signs before Pharaoh, and you shall not be afraid of him. |
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בְּלֶכְתְּךָ לָשׁוּב מִצְרַיְמָה וגו':
דַּע שֶׁעַל מְנָת כֵּן תֵּלֵךְ שֶׁתְּהֵא גִּבּוֹר בִּשְׁלִיחוּתִי לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל מוֹפְתַי לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה וְלֹא תִירָא מִמֶּנּוּ:
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| that I have placed in your hand: He did not say this in reference to the three aforementioned signs, for He had not commanded that he [Moses] do them before Pharaoh but before Israel, in order that they would believe him, and we do not find that he performed them before him [Pharaoh]. But [regarding] signs that I am destined to put into your hand in Egypt, such as: “When Pharaoh speaks to you [i.e., asking for you to perform signs], etc.” (Exod. 7:9), do not wonder that it is written: “that I have placed,” [i.e., implying the past tense,] because this is what it means: “When you speak to him, I will have already placed them into your hand.” |
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אֲשֶׁר־שַׂמְתִּי בְיָדֶךָ:
לֹא עַל שָׁלוֹשׁ אוֹתוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת לְמַעְלָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה צִוָּה לַעֲשׂוֹתָם אֶלָּא לִפְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיַּאֲמִינוּ לוֹ, וְלֹא מָצִינוּ שֶׁעֲשָׂאָם לְפָנָיו, אֶלָּא מוֹפְתִים שֶׁאֲנִי עָתִיד לָשׂוּם בְּיָדְךָ בְּמִצְרַיִם, כְּמוֹ "כִּי יְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם פַּרְעֹה וְגוֹ'" (שמות ז'); וְאַל תִתְמַהּ עַל אֲשֶׁר כְּתִיב "אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי", שֶׁכֵּן מַשְׁמָעוֹ, כְּשֶׁתְּדַבֵּר עִמּוֹ כְּבָר שַׂמְתִּים בְּיָדְךָ:
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| 22And you shall say to Pharaoh, 'So said the Lord, "My firstborn son is Israel." ' |
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כבוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּנִ֥י בְכֹרִ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| And you shall say to Pharaoh: When you hear that his heart is hard, and he refuses to send [the Israelites out], say thus to him. |
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וְאָֽמַרְתָּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה:
כְּשֶׁתִּשְׁמַע שֶׁלִּבּוֹ חָזָק וִימָאֵן לִשְׁלֹחַ אֱמֹר לוֹ כֵּן:
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| My firstborn son: [Firstborn is] an expression of greatness, similar to “I, too, shall make him a firstborn” (Ps. 89:28). This is its simple meaning, but its midrashic interpretation is: Here the Holy One, blessed be He, signed on the sale of the birthright, which Jacob bought from Esau. — [from Gen. Rabbah 63:14] |
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בְּנִי בְכֹרִי:
לְשׁוֹן גְּדֻלָּה; כְּמוֹ: "אַף אֲנִי בְּכוֹר אֶתְּנֵהוּ" (תהלים פ"ט), זֶהוּ פְּשׁוּטוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: כָּאן חָתַם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל מְכִירַת הַבְּכוֹרָה שֶׁלָּקַח יַעֲקֹב מֵעֵשָׂו (בראשית רבה ס"ג):
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| 23So I say to you, 'Send out My son so that he will worship Me, but if you refuse to send him out, behold, I am going to slay your firstborn son.' " |
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כגוָֽאֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יךָ שַׁלַּ֤ח אֶת־בְּנִי֙ וְיַ֣עַבְדֵ֔נִי וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן לְשַׁלְּח֑וֹ הִנֵּה֙ אָֽנֹכִ֣י הֹרֵ֔ג אֶת־בִּנְךָ֖ בְּכֹרֶֽךָ: |
| So I say to you…: in G-d's name, send My son etc. |
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וָֽאֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ:
בִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם שלח את בני:
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| Send out My son… but if you refuse to send him out, behold, I am going to slay, etc.: That is the last plague, but He warned him [Pharaoh] about it first, because it was [the most] severe, and that is what [Scripture] says: “Behold, God deals loftily in His power” (Job 36:22). Therefore, “who is a teacher like Him?” [A man of] flesh and blood who seeks to avenge himself against his fellow, concealing his plans, so that he will not seek rescue, but the Holy One, blessed be He, deals loftily with His strength, and no one is able to escape from his hand, except by returning to Him [by repenting]. Therefore, He teaches him [about possible punishment] and warns him to repent. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 14, Exodus Rabbah 9:9] |
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הִנֵּה אָֽנֹכִי הֹרֵג וגו':
הִיא מַכָּה אַחֲרוֹנָה, וּבָהּ הִתְרָהוּ תְּחִלָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא קָשָׁה; וְזֶה הוּא שֶׁאָמַר "הֶן אֵל יַשְׂגִּיב בְּכֹחוֹ" – לְפִיכָךְ "מִי כָמֹהוּ מוֹרֶה" (איוב ל"ו); בָּשָׂר וָדָם הַמְבַקֵּשׁ לְהִנָּקֵם מֵחֲבֵרוֹ, מַעֲלִים אֶת דְּבָרָיו, שֶׁלֹּא יְבַקֵּשׁ הַצָּלָה, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יַשְׂגִּיב בְּכֹחוֹ וְאֵין יְכֹלֶת לְהִמָּלֵט מִיָּדוֹ כִּי אִם בְּשׁוּבוֹ אֵלָיו, לְפִיכָךְ הוּא מוֹרֵהוּ וּמַתְרֶה בוֹ לָשׁוּב:
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| 24Now he was on the way, in an inn, that the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. |
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כדוַיְהִ֥י בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ הֲמִיתֽוֹ: |
| Now he was: [I.e.,] Moses. |
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וַיְהִי:
משה בדרך במלון:
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| on the way, in an inn and sought to put him to death: [I.e., He sought] Moses, because he had neglected to circumcise his son Eliezer. Because he neglected it, he was [to be] punished with death. It was taught in a Braitha: Rabbi Jose said: God forbid! Moses did not neglect it, but he reasoned: Shall I circumcise [him] and go forth on the road? It will be dangerous for the child for three days. Shall I circumcise [him] and wait three days? The Holy One, blessed be He, commanded me, “Go, return to Egypt.” [Moses hurried to Egypt intending to circumcise Eliezer upon his return.] Why [then] was he to be punished with death? Because first he busied himself with [the details of] his lodging. [This appears] in tractate Nedarim (31b). The angel turned into a sort of serpent and swallowed him [Moses] from his head to his thighs, and then [spit him out and] swallowed him from his feet to his private parts. Zipporah therefore understood that it was because of [the failure to perform] the circumcision [that this occurred]. — [from Ned. 32a, Exodus Rabbah 5:5] |
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וַיְבַקֵּשׁ הֲמִיתֽוֹ:
(המלאך ל)מֹשֶׁה: לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא מָל אֶת אֱלִיעֶזֶר בְּנוֹ, וְעַל שֶׁנִּתְרַשֵּׁל נֶעֱנַשׁ מִיתָה. תַּנְיָא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, לֹא נִתְרַשֵּׁל אֶלָּא אָמַר, אָמוּל וְאֵצֵא לַדֶּרֶךְ, סַכָּנָה הִיא לַתִּינוֹק עַד שְׁלוֹשֶׁת יָמִים, אָמוּל וְאֶשְׁהֶה ג' יָמִים, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא צִוַּנִי לֵךְ שֻׁב מִצְרָיִם וּמִפְּנֵי מָה נֶעֱנַשׁ? לְפִי שֶׁנִּתְעַסֵּק בַּמָּלוֹן תְּחִלָּה (מכילתא). בְּמַסֶּכֶת נְדָרִים: וְהָיָה הַמַּלְאָךְ נַעֲשֶׂה כְּמִין נָחָשׁ וּבוֹלְעוֹ מֵרֹאשׁוֹ וְעַד יְרֵכָיו וְחוֹזֵר וּבוֹלְעוֹ מֵרַגְלָיו וְעַד אוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם, הֵבִינָה צִפּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל הַמִּילָה הוּא (נדרים ל"ב):
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| 25So Zipporah took a sharp stone and severed her son's foreskin and cast it to his feet, and she said, "For you are a bridegroom of blood to me." |
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כהוַתִּקַּ֨ח צִפֹּרָ֜ה צֹ֗ר וַתִּכְרֹת֙ אֶת־עָרְלַ֣ת בְּנָ֔הּ וַתַּגַּ֖ע לְרַגְלָ֑יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֧י חֲתַן־דָּמִ֛ים אַתָּ֖ה לִֽי: |
| and cast it to his feet: She cast it before Moses’ feet. — [from Yerushalmi, Ned. 3:9] |
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וַתַּגַּע לְרַגְלָיו:
הִשְׁלִיכַתּוּ לִפְנֵי רַגְלָיו שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה:
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| and she said: about her son. |
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וַתֹּאמֶר:
עַל בְּנָהּ:
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| For you are a bridegroom of blood to me: You were a cause that my bridegroom would [almost] be murdered. You are to me the slayer of my bridegroom. |
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כִּי חֲתַן־דָּמִים אַתָּה לִֽי:
אַתָּה הָיִיתָה גּוֹרֵם לִהְיוֹת הֶחָתָן שֶׁלִּי נִרְצָח עָלֶיךָ – הוֹרֵג אִישִׁי אַתָּה לִי:
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| 26So He released him. Then she said, "A bridegroom of blood concerning the circumcision." |
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כווַיִּ֖רֶף מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אָ֚ז אָֽמְרָ֔ה חֲתַ֥ן דָּמִ֖ים לַמּוּלֹֽת: |
| So He released: [I.e.,] the angel [released] him. Then she understood that [it was] because of the circumcision that he had come to slay him. |
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וַיִּרֶף:
הַמַּלְאָךְ ממנו, אז הֵבִינָה שֶׁעַל הַמִּילָה בָּא לְהָרְגוֹ:
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| she said, “A bridegroom of blood concerning the circumcision”: My bridegroom would have been murdered because of the circumcision. |
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אָֽמְרָה חֲתַן דָּמִים לַמּוּלֹֽת:
חֲתָנִי הָיָה נִרְצָח עַל דְּבַר הַמִּילָה:
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| concerning the circumcision: Heb. לַמּוּלֹת concerning the circumcision. This is a noun, and the “lammed” serves as an expression meaning “concerning,” similar to “And Pharaoh will say concerning the children of (לִבְנֵי) Israel” (Exod. 14:3). Onkelos, however, translates דָמִים as referring to the blood of the circumcision. |
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לַמּוּלֹֽת:
עַל דְּבַר הַמּוּלוֹת. שֵׁם דָּבָר הוּא, וְהַלָּמֶ"ד מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת בִּלְשׁוֹן עַל, כְּמוֹ "וְאָמַר פַּרְעֹה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (שמות י"ד), וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם דָּמִים עַל דַּם הַמִּילָה:
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| 27The Lord said to Aaron, "Go toward Moses, to the desert." So he went and met him on the mount of God, and he kissed him. |
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כזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן לֵ֛ךְ לִקְרַ֥את משֶׁ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֛הוּ בְּהַ֥ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים וַיִּשַּׁק־לֽוֹ: |
| 28And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him and all the signs that He had commanded him. |
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כחוַיַּגֵּ֤ד משֶׁה֙ לְאַ֣הֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֛ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁלָח֑וֹ וְאֵ֥ת כָּל־הָֽאֹתֹ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽהוּ: |
| 29So Moses and Aaron went, and they assembled all the elders of the children of Israel. |
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כטוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ משֶׁ֖ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֑ן וַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּ אֶת־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| 30And Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and he performed the signs before the eyes of the people. |
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לוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָֽאֹתֹ֖ת לְעֵינֵ֥י הָעָֽם: |
| 31And the people believed, and they heard that the Lord had remembered the children of Israel and that He saw their affliction, and they kneeled and prostrated themselves. |
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לאוַיַּֽאֲמֵ֖ן הָעָ֑ם וַיִּשְׁמְע֡וּ כִּֽי־פָקַ֨ד יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְכִ֤י רָאָה֙ אֶת־עָנְיָ֔ם וַיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲוֽוּ: |
