Parashat Shemos
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==Enslavement of the Jews== | ==Enslavement of the Jews== | ||
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===Passing of the Tribes=== | ===Passing of the Tribes=== | ||
− | + | The Tribes pass away as well as the entire first generation of Jews. Yosef being the first and Levi the last at age 137. During his entire residence in Egypt, Yosef had maintained his righteousness, remaining the same Yosef who had tended his father’s flocks.<ref>Rashi Shemos 1:5</ref> The Torah counts the Tribes after their passing as a display of affection although they were counted already during their life.<ref>Rashi</ref> | |
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===Multiplying of the Jews=== | ===Multiplying of the Jews=== | ||
− | At that point many of the Jewish woman began to | + | At that point many of the Jewish woman began to give birth to sextuplets, greatly multiplying their population. Unlike rare recent history cases of sextuplet births where a portion of the children are generally born impaired and die soon afterwords,<ref>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multiple_births#Sextuplets_.286.29</ref> these were common and all 6 would emerge healthy and survive. |
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===New King=== | ===New King=== | ||
− | + | This new Pharaoh had still recognized Yosef and his accomplishments for Egypt, yet chose to ignored this and issued his evil decrees. He remarked to his people how the Jews were more numerous and stronger than them. | |
===The Plan=== | ===The Plan=== | ||
During the two years of famine, all the surrounding countries were forced to buy Egyptian food at high prices,<ref>Shover Zadim Parshas Shemos</ref> depleting their money. It was strongly predicted that at some point the Kings of Canaan would wage a war against Egypt to try to recover their wealth. This created a great worry for the Egyptians that the multiplying Jews would side with the enemy forces during an invasion, taking over the land completely and possibly annexing it to their claimed inheritance of Eretz Yisroel.<ref>Baal Haturim Shemos 1:10</ref> | During the two years of famine, all the surrounding countries were forced to buy Egyptian food at high prices,<ref>Shover Zadim Parshas Shemos</ref> depleting their money. It was strongly predicted that at some point the Kings of Canaan would wage a war against Egypt to try to recover their wealth. This created a great worry for the Egyptians that the multiplying Jews would side with the enemy forces during an invasion, taking over the land completely and possibly annexing it to their claimed inheritance of Eretz Yisroel.<ref>Baal Haturim Shemos 1:10</ref> | ||
− | Terrified, Pharaoh and his advisers gathered to devise a | + | Terrified, Pharaoh and his advisers gathered to devise a plan in preparation. Knowing the power of speech, each time during the meeting, they referenced a negative occurrence to themselves they would replace the word 'Egyptians' with 'the Jews',<ref>Rashi</ref> since a person who curses himself ascribes his curse to others.<ref>Rashi Shemos 1:10</ref> |
At the start Pharaoh began speaking with a 'gentle mouth' telling them to build cities for themselves to live in.<ref>Baal Haturim Shemos 1:13</ref> They managed to fool twelve of the Tribes but not the Tribe of Levi.<ref name="Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1"/> | At the start Pharaoh began speaking with a 'gentle mouth' telling them to build cities for themselves to live in.<ref>Baal Haturim Shemos 1:13</ref> They managed to fool twelve of the Tribes but not the Tribe of Levi.<ref name="Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1"/> | ||
− | He placed officers above them to enforce the labor tax<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11">Rashi Shemos 1:11</ref> and | + | He placed officers above them to enforce the labor tax<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11">Rashi Shemos 1:11</ref> and had them buildup and fortify the already existing but weak cities of Pithom and Raamses,<ref>Ikar Sifsey Chachamim</ref> which were originally unfit for this.<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11"/> These were to serve as storage centers for the country.<ref>Rashi</ref> Aside from this they were tasked with the burdens of the Egyptians.<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11"/> |
They forced the Jews to do physical hard labor that crushes the body and breaks it,<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11"/> hoping this would reduce their procreativity.<ref>Ikar Sifsey Chachamim</ref> Yet, the more the Egyptians oppressed the Jews the more Hashem helped multiply and strengthen them, causing the Egyptians to despise them more. Each time they would look at the Jews, they were disgusted with their lives<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11"/> and it would be like 'placing thorns in their eyes'.<ref>Rashi</ref> | They forced the Jews to do physical hard labor that crushes the body and breaks it,<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11"/> hoping this would reduce their procreativity.<ref>Ikar Sifsey Chachamim</ref> Yet, the more the Egyptians oppressed the Jews the more Hashem helped multiply and strengthen them, causing the Egyptians to despise them more. Each time they would look at the Jews, they were disgusted with their lives<ref name="Rashi Shemos 1:11"/> and it would be like 'placing thorns in their eyes'.<ref>Rashi</ref> | ||
===The Jews in Servitude=== | ===The Jews in Servitude=== | ||
− | + | They embittered their lives with hard labor, with clay, bricks and all kinds of labor in the fields. | |
During their entire stay in Egypt the Jews retained Hebrew names and did not adopt Egyptian ones.<ref name="Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1">Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1 </ref> They also continued to keep the commandment of Mila and to observe Shabbos in its pre Torah form,<ref name="Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1"/> these merits brought their redemption. After the passing of the Tribes they were forced to stop circumcising but the Tribe of Levi continued despite the danger.<ref>Midrash</ref> Another manifestation of the servitude was that it brought great depression and sadness upon the Jews, which accordingly hampered their ability to study and pray properly.<ref>Likutay Halachos, Eruvay Techumin 6:18</ref> | During their entire stay in Egypt the Jews retained Hebrew names and did not adopt Egyptian ones.<ref name="Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1">Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1 </ref> They also continued to keep the commandment of Mila and to observe Shabbos in its pre Torah form,<ref name="Baal Haturim Shemos 1:1"/> these merits brought their redemption. After the passing of the Tribes they were forced to stop circumcising but the Tribe of Levi continued despite the danger.<ref>Midrash</ref> Another manifestation of the servitude was that it brought great depression and sadness upon the Jews, which accordingly hampered their ability to study and pray properly.<ref>Likutay Halachos, Eruvay Techumin 6:18</ref> | ||
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During this meeting Paraoh also tried to seduce them to commit immoral acts with him but they refused him.<ref>Baal Haturim Shemos 1:17</ref> | During this meeting Paraoh also tried to seduce them to commit immoral acts with him but they refused him.<ref>Baal Haturim Shemos 1:17</ref> | ||
− | However the midwives feared Hashem and did not do listen to Paraoh, rather they enabled the boys to live, even going the extra step of supplying them water and food.<ref>Rashi</ref> Pharaoh summons the midwives demanding to know why they disobeyed him. They reply that | + | However the midwives feared Hashem and did not do listen to Paraoh, rather they enabled the boys to live, even going the extra step of supplying them water and food.<ref>Rashi</ref> Pharaoh summons the midwives demanding to know why they disobeyed him. They reply that Jewish women are just as experienced as a midwife, tending to give birth before they make it to scene, similar to animals who birth independently.<ref>Rashi</ref> |
====Their Reward==== | ====Their Reward==== | ||
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====Tasking the Egyptians==== | ====Tasking the Egyptians==== | ||
− | Seeing his original plan failed, Pharaoh commands the Egyptians to drown all newborn males | + | Seeing his original plan failed, Pharaoh commands the Egyptians to drown all newborn males. On the day of Moshe's birth the astrologers informed Pharaoh, telling him the redeemer had been born that day. Uncertain if he was a Jewish child or not, Pharoah instructed his nation to kill their own kids that had been born on that day.<ref>Rashi</ref> |
==History of Moshe== | ==History of Moshe== | ||
===Remarriage of Amram=== | ===Remarriage of Amram=== | ||
− | At the advise of his daughter Miriam, Amram remarries Yocheved | + | At the advise of his daughter Miriam, Amram remarries Yocheved, causing the entire nation to follow suite and return their divorced wives. |
===Moshe is Born=== | ===Moshe is Born=== | ||
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===Hiding=== | ===Hiding=== | ||
Moshe is hidden in the house for three months. | Moshe is hidden in the house for three months. | ||
===In Nile=== | ===In Nile=== | ||
− | + | Yocheved creates a small ark, puts Moshe inside and leaves him in the Nile. | |
===Growing up by Pharaoh=== | ===Growing up by Pharaoh=== | ||
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===Moshe Kills Egyptian=== | ===Moshe Kills Egyptian=== | ||
− | + | ====The Execution==== | |
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− | ===The Execution | + | |
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It is much harder to escape from a human that wants to kill or damage a person then from an animal or other natural calamity, since the human possess free will and can continue pushing forward even if he is being directed to cease. Moshe was fully aware of this as the executioner wielded the sword upon him but he also understood that he too had the free will to push away any fear and confusion and maintain a state of complete nullification to Hashem in total faith and 'Truth'. By doing this perfectly he was able to nullify the power of the sword wielded by a human and his neck transformed into a state of marble.<ref>Likutay Halachos YD Hil Milah 5:26</ref> | It is much harder to escape from a human that wants to kill or damage a person then from an animal or other natural calamity, since the human possess free will and can continue pushing forward even if he is being directed to cease. Moshe was fully aware of this as the executioner wielded the sword upon him but he also understood that he too had the free will to push away any fear and confusion and maintain a state of complete nullification to Hashem in total faith and 'Truth'. By doing this perfectly he was able to nullify the power of the sword wielded by a human and his neck transformed into a state of marble.<ref>Likutay Halachos YD Hil Milah 5:26</ref> | ||
===Escape to Midyon=== | ===Escape to Midyon=== | ||
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==Sending the Redeemer== | ==Sending the Redeemer== | ||
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===The Burning Bush=== | ===The Burning Bush=== | ||
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===The Refusal=== | ===The Refusal=== | ||
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For seven days Moshe put up an argument, refusing the mission. One of his arguments was that he would encounter opposition from wicked Jews, as occurs in every generation that the wicked oppose the Tzadik. This did end up happening numerous times through Dassan, Avrom and their cohorts.<ref name="Likutay Halachos CM Prikah vteniah 4:14"/> Additionally he knew that before they could be redeemed, the Jews would have to go through a very intense test that they were likely to fail. This happened just as he predicted, when the Jews lost faith in him during the 6 months of increased labor after his first revelation.<ref>Likutay Halachos</ref> Aside from these reasons, Moshe was also aware that this was likely not going to be the 'final redemption' and that the Jews would have to continue to undergo various forms of exile.<ref>Likutay Halachos, Hilchos Matana 5:47</ref> | For seven days Moshe put up an argument, refusing the mission. One of his arguments was that he would encounter opposition from wicked Jews, as occurs in every generation that the wicked oppose the Tzadik. This did end up happening numerous times through Dassan, Avrom and their cohorts.<ref name="Likutay Halachos CM Prikah vteniah 4:14"/> Additionally he knew that before they could be redeemed, the Jews would have to go through a very intense test that they were likely to fail. This happened just as he predicted, when the Jews lost faith in him during the 6 months of increased labor after his first revelation.<ref>Likutay Halachos</ref> Aside from these reasons, Moshe was also aware that this was likely not going to be the 'final redemption' and that the Jews would have to continue to undergo various forms of exile.<ref>Likutay Halachos, Hilchos Matana 5:47</ref> | ||
===The Signs=== | ===The Signs=== | ||
===Near Death=== | ===Near Death=== | ||
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===Meeting Aaron=== | ===Meeting Aaron=== | ||