Shemot (Exodus) Chapter 8

19And I will make a redemption between My people and your people; this sign will come about tomorrow." ' "   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.   וְשַׂמְתִּי פְדֻת  שֶׁיַּבְדִּיל בֵּין עַמִּי וּבֵין עַמְּךָ:
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.   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.   תִּשָּׁחֵת הָאָרֶץ  נִשְׁחֶתֶת הָאָרֶץ, אִתְחַבָּלַת אַרְעָא:
21Thereupon, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and he said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in the land."   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.   זִבְחוּ לֵאלֹֽהֵיכֶם בָּאָֽרֶץ  בִּמְקוֹמְכֶם וְלֹא תֵלְכוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר:
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?   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.   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:
and they will not stone us This is a question.   וְלֹא יִסְקְלֻֽנוּ  בִּתְמִיהָ:
23Let us go [for] a three day journey in the desert and sacrifice to the Lord, our God, as He will say to us."   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."   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."   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.]   הָתֵל  כְּמוֹ לְהָתֵל:
26So Moses went away from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord.   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].   וַיֶּעְתַּר אֶל־ה'  נִתְאַמֵּץ בִּתְפִלָּה, וְכֵן אִם בָּא לוֹמַר וַיַּעְתִּיר, הָיָה יָכוֹל לוֹמַר, וּמַשְׁמָע וַיַּרְבֶּה בִּתְפִלָּה, וּכְשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר בִּלְשׁוֹן וַיִּפְעַל, מַשְׁמָע וַיִּרְבֶּה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל:
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.   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]   וַיָּסַר הֶֽעָרֹב  וְלֹא מֵתוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁמֵּתוּ הַצְפַרְדְּעִים, שֶׁאִם מֵתוּ הָיָה לָהֶם הֲנָאָה בְּעוֹרוֹתָם (תנחומא):
28But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.   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.   גם בפעם הזאת אף על פי שאמר (פסוק כד) אנכי אשלח אתכם, לא קיים הבטחתו:

Shemot (Exodus) Chapter 9

1The Lord said to Moses, "Come to Pharaoh and speak to him, 'So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews, "Send out My people so that they may serve Me.   אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה בֹּ֖א אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים שַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי:
2For if you refuse to let them go, and you still hold on to them,   בכִּ֛י אִם־מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ וְעֽוֹדְךָ֖ מַֽחֲזִ֥יק בָּֽם:
hold on to them Heb. מַחִזִיק בָּם, hold on to them, similar to “and take hold (וְהֶחֱזִיקָה) of his private parts” (Deut. 25:11).   מַֽחֲזִיק בָּֽם  אוֹחֵז בָּם, כְּמוֹ "וְהֶחֱזִיקָה בִּמְבֻשָׁיו" (דברים כ"ה):
3behold, the hand of the Lord will be upon your livestock that is in the field, upon the horses, upon the donkeys, upon the camels, upon the cattle, and upon the sheep, a very severe pestilence.   גהִנֵּ֨ה יַד־יְהֹוָ֜ה הוֹיָ֗ה בְּמִקְנְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה בַּסּוּסִ֤ים בַּֽחֲמֹרִים֙ בַּגְּמַלִּ֔ים בַּבָּקָ֖ר וּבַצֹּ֑אן דֶּ֖בֶר כָּבֵ֥ד מְאֹֽד:
behold, the hand of the Lord will be Heb. הוֹיָה. This is the present tense, for so it is said in the feminine gender: in the past הָיְתָה, in the future תִּהְיֶה, and in the present הוֹיָה, like עוֹשָֹה (does), רוֹצָה (wants), רוֹעָה (pastures).   הִנֵּה יַד־ה' הוֹיָה  לְשׁוֹן הֹוֶה, כִּי כֵן יֹאמַר בִּלְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה עַל שֶׁעָבַר הָיְתָה, וְעַל הֶעָתִיד תִּהְיֶה, וְעַל הָעוֹמֵד הוֹיָה, כְּמוֹ עוֹשָׂה, רוֹצָה, רוֹעָה:
4And the Lord will make a separation between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, and nothing of the children of Israel will die. " ' "   דוְהִפְלָ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין מִקְנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבֵ֖ין מִקְנֵ֣ה מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹ֥א יָמ֛וּת מִכָּל־לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל דָּבָֽר:
will make a separation Heb. וְהִפְלָה, will set apart.   וְהִפְלָה  וְהִבְדִּיל:
5The Lord set an appointed time, saying, "Tomorrow, God will do this thing in the land."   הוַיָּ֥שֶׂם יְהֹוָ֖ה מוֹעֵ֣ד לֵאמֹ֑ר מָחָ֗ר יַֽעֲשֶׂ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ:
6God did this thing on the morrow, and all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel not one died.   ווַיַּ֨עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ מִמָּ֣חֳרָ֔ת וַיָּ֕מָת כֹּ֖ל מִקְנֵ֣ה מִצְרָ֑יִם וּמִמִּקְנֵ֥ה בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹא־מֵ֥ת אֶחָֽד:
7And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not even one of the livestock of Israel died, but Pharaoh's heart became hardened, and he did not let the people out.   זוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֗ה לֹא־מֵ֛ת מִמִּקְנֵ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַד־אֶחָ֑ד וַיִּכְבַּד֙ לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹ֥א שִׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־הָעָֽם:
8The Lord said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take yourselves handfuls of furnace soot, and Moses shall cast it heavenward before Pharaoh's eyes.   חוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־משֶׁ֣ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן֒ קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ מְלֹ֣א חָפְנֵיכֶ֔ם פִּ֖יחַ כִּבְשָׁ֑ן וּזְרָק֥וֹ משֶׁ֛ה הַשָּׁמַ֖יְמָה לְעֵינֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה:
handfuls- Jaloynes in Old French, double handfuls.   מְלֹא חָפְנֵיכֶם  ילויני"ש בְּלַעַז:
furnace soot Heb. פִּיחַ, a substance blown (נִפָּח) from dying embers that were burned in a furnace, and in Old French [it is called] olbes, cinders from a furnace. פִּיחַ is an expression of blowing (הֲפָחָה), that the wind blows them (מְפִיחָן) and makes them fly.   פִּיחַ כִּבְשָׁן  דָּבָר הַנִּפָּח מִן הַגֶּחָלִים עֲמוּמִים הַנִּשְׂרָפִים בַּכִּבְשָׁן, וּבְלַעַז אולבי"ש, פִּיחַ לְשׁוֹן הֲפָחָה, שֶׁהָרוּחַ מְפִיחָן וּמַפְרִיחָן:
and Moses shall cast it And anything cast with strength can be cast only with one hand. Hence there are many miracles [here], one that Moses [single] handful held his own double handfuls and those of Aaron, and [another miracle was] that the dust went over the entire land of Egypt. — [from Tanchuma Va’era 14]   וּזְרָקוֹ משֶׁה  וְכָל דָּבָר הַנִּזְרָק בְּכֹחַ, אֵינוֹ נִזְרָק אֶלָּא בְיַד אַחַת, הֲרֵי נִסִּים הַרְבֵּה – אֶחָד שֶׁהֶחֱזִיק קֻמְצוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה מְלֹא חָפְנַיִם שֶׁלּוֹ וְשֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, וְאֶחָד שֶׁהָלַךְ הָאָבָק עַל כָּל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם (תנחומא):
9And it will become dust upon the entire land of Egypt, and it will become boils, breaking out into blisters upon man and upon beast throughout the entire land of Egypt."   טוְהָיָ֣ה לְאָבָ֔ק עַ֖ל כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָיָ֨ה עַל־הָֽאָדָ֜ם וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה לִשְׁחִ֥ין פֹּרֵ֛חַ אֲבַעְבֻּעֹ֖ת בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
boils, breaking out into blisters As the Targum [Onkelos] renders: שִׁיחִנָא סַגִי אִבַעְבּוּעִין, through which blisters break out.   לִשְׁחִין פֹּרֵחַ אֲבַעְבֻּעֹת  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לְֹשִׁיחֲנָא סָגֵי אֲבַעְבּוּעִין, שֶׁעַל יָדוֹ צוֹמְחִין בָּהֶן בּוּעוֹת:
boils Heb. שְׁחִין, an expression of heat. There are many [examples of this word] in the language of the Mishnah: “a hot (שְחוּנַה) year” (Yoma 53b, Ta’anith 24b).   שחין  לְשׁוֹן חֲמִימוּת; וְהַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה, "שָׁנָה שְׁחוּנָה" (יומא נ"ג):
10So they took furnace soot, and they stood before Pharaoh, and Moses cast it heavenward, and it became boils breaking out into blisters upon man and upon beast.   יוַיִּקְח֞וּ אֶת־פִּ֣יחַ הַכִּבְשָׁ֗ן וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וַיִּזְרֹ֥ק אֹת֛וֹ משֶׁ֖ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה וַיְהִ֗י שְׁחִין֙ אֲבַעְבֻּעֹ֔ת פֹּרֵ֕חַ בָּֽאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה:
upon man and upon beast Now if you ask, “From where did they have beasts? Does it not say already, ‘and all the livestock of the Egyptians died’ (above, verse 6) ?” [I will answer that] the decree was leveled only upon those in the field, as it is said: “upon your livestock that is in the field” (above, verse 3), but he who feared the word of the Lord brought all his livestock into the houses, and so it is taught in the Mechilta (Beshallach 1) regarding “He took six hundred chosen chariots” (Exod. 14:7). — [See Rashi on that verse.]   בָּֽאָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה  וְאִם תֹּאמַר מֵאַיִן הָיוּ לָהֶם הַבְּהֵמוֹת, וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר וַיָּמָת כֹּל מִקְנֵה מִצְרָיִם? לֹא נִגְזְרָה גְזֵרָה אֶלָּא עַל אוֹתָן שֶׁבַּשָּׂדוֹת בִּלְבַד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּמִקְנְךָ אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׂדֶה, וְהַיָּרֵא אֶת דְּבַר ה' הִכְנִיס אֶת מִקְנֵהוּ אֶל הַבָּתִּים, כֵּן שְׁנוּיָה בִּמְכִילְתָּא אֵצֶל "וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר" (שמות י"ד):
11And the necromancers could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were upon the necromancers and upon all Egypt.   יאוְלֹא־יָֽכְל֣וּ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֗ים לַֽעֲמֹ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י משֶׁ֖ה מִפְּנֵ֣י הַשְּׁחִ֑ין כִּֽי־הָיָ֣ה הַשְּׁחִ֔ין בַּֽחַרְטֻמִּ֖ם וּבְכָל־מִצְרָֽיִם:
12But the Lord strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord spoke to Moses.   יבוַיְחַזֵּ֤ק יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶֽׁה:
13The Lord said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand erect before Pharaoh, and say to him, 'So said the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, "Let My people go so that they may worship Me.   יגוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִתְיַצֵּ֖ב לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽעִבְרִ֔ים שַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי:
14Because this time, I am sending all My plagues into your heart and into your servants and into your people, in order that you know that there is none like Me in the entire earth.   ידכִּ֣י | בַּפַּ֣עַם הַזֹּ֗את אֲנִ֨י שֹׁלֵ֜חַ אֶת־כָּל־מַגֵּֽפֹתַי֙ אֶל־לִבְּךָ֔ וּבַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ וּבְעַמֶּ֑ךָ בַּֽעֲב֣וּר תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין כָּמֹ֖נִי בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ:
all My plagues We learn from here that the plague of the firstborn (מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת) is equivalent to all the plagues.   אֶת־כָּל־מַגֵּֽפֹתַי  לָמַדְנוּ מִכָּאן שֶׁמַּכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת שְׁקוּלָה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמַּכּוֹת:
15For if now I had stretched forth My hand, and I had smitten you and your people with pestilence, you would have been annihilated from the earth.   טוכִּ֤י עַתָּה֙ שָׁלַ֣חְתִּי אֶת־יָדִ֔י וָאַ֥ךְ אֽוֹתְךָ֛ וְאֶת־עַמְּךָ֖ בַּדָּ֑בֶר וַתִּכָּחֵ֖ד מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ:
For if now I had stretched forth My hand, etc. For if I had so desired, when My hand was upon your livestock, when I smote them with pestilence, I could have stretched it forth and smitten you and your people along with the beasts, and you would have been annihilated from the earth; “but for this [reason] I have allowed you to stand, etc.”   כִּי עַתָּה שָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת־יָדִי וגו'  כִּי אִלּוּ רָצִיתִי, כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה יָדִי בְמִקְנְךָ שֶׁהִכִּיתִים בַּדֶּבֶר, שְׁלַחְתִּיהָ וְהִכֵּיתִי אותך ואת עמך עִם הַבְּהֵמוֹת, ותכחד מן הארץ, אֲבָל בעבור זאת העמדתיך וגו':
16But, for this [reason] I have allowed you to stand, in order to show you My strength and in order to declare My name all over the earth.   טזוְאוּלָ֗ם בַּֽעֲב֥וּר זֹאת֙ הֶֽעֱמַדְתִּ֔יךָ בַּֽעֲב֖וּר הַרְאֹֽתְךָ֣ אֶת־כֹּחִ֑י וּלְמַ֛עַן סַפֵּ֥ר שְׁמִ֖י בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ: