Questions tagged [bo]
The weekly Torah portion of Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16)
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Why is every 3rd plague (of the 10 brought on Pharoah) unannounced?
It seems like Moshe warned Pharoah of every plague except the 3rd (lice), 6th (boils) and 9th (darkness). Why is that? Is there something special about these plagues?
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Did Moshe see Paro's face again after all?
After the ninth plague Paro once again offers to let the people go and then recants. At the end of this conversation Sh'mot 10:28-29 says:
28 And Pharaoh said unto him: 'Get thee from me, take ...
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Wording in Torah when Moshe is commanded to appear before Pharaoh
This shabbos, the Parasha, Bo, starts with Moshe being told to "Bo El Paroh", "Come to Pharaoh". I don't understand this wording, should it have said "Lech El Paroh", "go to Pharaoh"? Is there a ...
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Paro enslaved Yisrael but they kept the good land -- was that normal?
When Yisrael come to Mitzrayim Paro gives them "the choice land of Goshen" Bereishis 47:6 which is also called "Raamses" Bereishis 47:11. Later a new king Paro who doesn't ...
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What is the modern Jewish interpretation of Exodus 12:11?
I'm not Jewish, so please forgive me if my question sounds ignorant.
My understanding is that in modern Judaism, the Passover meal is eaten sitting rather than standing.
However, this seems to ...
user16888
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Why is the word "Makkat" added to 10th plague of Bechorot?
Why does the Haggadah refer only to the 10th plague with "Makkat" and not by the other 9 plagues?
:אֵלּוּ עֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת שֶׁהֵבִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל־הַמִּצְרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם, וְאֵלוּ הֵן
...
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Why are the 10 plagues in this specific order?
Is there a specific reason for the sequence of the plagues? Why the plague of blood is followed by the plague of frogs, for example?
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Why are some sons' answers different from what's written in the Torah?
In the Hagada, the 4 sons ask questions (except, of course, for the son who doesn't know how to ask…), and they get answers.
In most cases, both the questions and the answers are put in the form of ...
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Why only beginning with the fourth plague is the exemption of the Jews mentioned?
In Moshe's warning to Pharaoh (in Hashem's name) of the fourth plague, arov, he adds (Ex. 8:18-19):
וְהִפְלֵיתִי בַיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת-אֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן אֲשֶׁר עַמִּי עֹמֵד עָלֶיהָ לְבִלְתִּי הֱיוֹת-שָׁם ...
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Why does the Torah use the non-Hebrew word 'Totafot'
Related to this question.
Rashi, on Shemot (13:16): "...וְהָיָה לְאוֹת עַל יָדְכָה וּלְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ " writes:
and for ornaments between your eyes: Heb. וּלְטוֹטָפֹת, tefillin. Since ...
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Why the extra words "who sits on his throne", "who is behind the millstone"?
In Parshas Bo, 11:5, the Torah says:
"Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the slave-woman who is behind the ...
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If Hashem brought about Macos Bechoros by himself, with out any angel, then what is the משחית?
If Hashem brought about Macos Bechoros by himself, with out any angel, then what is the משחית that would not harm the Bnei Yisroel mentioned in Shemot Chapter 12, Verse 23?
Premises based on the ...
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What is considered to be "firstborn"?
This is probably a bit pedantic and beside-the-point, but here goes: in Exodus 12 (I am reading the Jewish Publication Society translation), we have:
12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in ...
user8555
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Splitting the Makot
The splitting of the Parshiot usually make, at least, some sense. However, in the next two Parshiot the plagues are split up (7 in the first, 3 in the second). Are there sources on why this may be? ...
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Question about Shemot, locusts
I have a question that I've asked to multiple rabbis but that remains unanswered:
Dear Rabbi:
Question about Parasha. In Exodus 10:19 the locusts enter the Red Sea. What is the connection ...
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Why are there different phrasings of Korban Pesach accompaniments?
In Parshas Bo (Exodus 12:8) it says about the Korban Pesach:
וְאָכְלוּ אֶת-הַבָּשָׂר, בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה: צְלִי-אֵשׁ וּמַצּוֹת, עַל-מְרֹרִים יֹאכְלֻהוּ.
And they shall eat the flesh in that night, ...
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Uses of the word Etzem
In Shmot 12:41, we are told that the people left Egypt on that very day
בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה
with Etzem referring to the specific and exact day.
Later, 12:46, in the laws of Pesach, we are ...
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Saying a pasuk to scare dogs
It seems somewhat widespread that Jews that are scared of dogs think that saying ולכל בני ישראל לא יחרץ כלב לשונו will either protect them or scare the dog away or something like that.
Does this have ...
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How isolated was Israel in Goshen?
We know that Israel was still in Goshen during their enslavement, because the text tells us that the plague of hail didn't affect Goshen "where b'nai Yisrael were" (Shemot 9:26). It sounds like they ...
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Only arm tefillin are a sign?
The four parshas of tefillin appear slightly differently each time when the Torah describes the mitzvah.
Shemos 13:9
וְהָיָה֩ לְךָ֨ לְא֜וֹת עַל־יָדְךָ֗ וּלְזִכָּרוֹן֙ בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֔יךָ לְמַ֗עַן ...
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Could the destroyer in Egypt discriminate?
In Rashi's comment to Shemos 12:22 we read
ואתם לא תצאו וגו': מגיד שמאחר שנתנה רשות למשחית לחבל אינו מבחין בין צדיק לרשע
…once permission has been given to the משחית (destroyer) to damage, ...
user2110
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How can G-d fight other gods?
During Passover, we read the following passage, from Exodus 12:12:
וְעָבַרְתִּי בְאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה, וְהִכֵּיתִי כָל בְּכוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מֵאָדָם וְעַד בְּהֵמָה וּבְכָל אֱלֹהֵי ...
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Why did the Bnei Yisroel deviate from God's command to ask for gold and silver?
Hashem told The Bnei Yisroel to ask the Egyptians for "silver and gold" in Shemos, Chapter 11, Verse 2:
Please, speak into the ears of the people, and let them borrow, each man from his friend and ...
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Were Children of Israel killed in the plague of the firstborn?
We know from Torah that all B'nai Israel who:
Ate the Passover lamb
Did not eat leavening (bread and beer)
Were inside at midnight (and stayed inside until morning)
Were in a house whose doorposts ...
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Leil Shimmurim Outdoors
On Shabbos the first night of Pesach, we don't say Magen Avot (Orach Chayim 487:1). The Mishna Berura says that this is because normally Magen Avot is to prevent people who were late to shul being ...
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Story of Pesach during 2nd year in desert - Where did they get the dough for matzot?
Rashi on Exodus 16:1:1:
בחמשה עשר יום. נתפרש היום של חניה זו, לפי שבו ביום כלתה החררה
שהוציאו ממצרים והצרכו למן, למדנו שאכלו משירי הבצק [משירי המצה] ששים
ואחת סעודות, :
Summary: The Torah ...
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According to Rashi, how old was Avraham at B'rit Bein HaB'tarim?
Rashi to Shemot 12:40 says that B'rit Bein HaB'tarim took place thirty years before the birth of Yitzchak (when Avraham was one hundred years old), meaning that Avraham was seventy years old at the ...
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The Head teffilin before the Arm teffilin - Rashi?
In Sefer Shemos perek 13:9 Rashi writes:
על ידך ולזכרון בית עיניך. שֶׁתִּכְתּוֹב הַפַּרְשִׁיּוֹת הֲלָלוּ וְתִקְשְׁרֵם בְּרֹאשׁ וּבִזְּרוֹעַ:
That you should write these parshiyos and tie them on the head ...
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Why was the first mitzvah given to B'nai Yisra'el the one dealing with sanctifying the New Moon?
In an epic explanation of the first verse in the Torah, Rash"i cites Rav Yitzhak's question, why the Torah did not begin with the mitzvah in Shemot 12:2
This month is for you the head of the months....
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How did the Israelites borrow garments from the Egyptians?
It is written1 that the Israelites kept their uniqueness by keeping their language, names and their dress. Why then did the Bnei Yisrael borrow from the Egyptians their clothes if they kept their ...
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Did Paroh give offerings
In Shemos 10:25, Moshe told that Paroh himself will give offerings to Hashem. Did this really happen?
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Why is every commandment and action in regards to the 10 plagues repeated?
When we read about the 10 plagues everything is repeated twice: once when Hashem commands Moshe and a second time when Moshe executes the plague. The Torah could simply write "and he did so" after ...
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Why is Moshe concerned what the Pharaoh's astrologers will think of him in Shemot 11:4?
In Shemot 11:4, Moshe tells Pharaoh that the plague of the 1st born will begin at approximately midnight.
Rashi explains that the reason Moshe said "approximately" is that if Moshe said exactly at ...
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Why are the commandments for Rosh Chodesh and Passover in the same paragraph?
The reading for Parashat Hachodesh consists of a single paragraph in the Torah, Exodus 12:1-20, whose main topic is God's commandments related to the Passover offering and holiday observance that ...
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Paroh vs. Faroh in Parshat Bo
I am used to פרעה being pronounced as "Paroh" as it has been for the last few parshot, but I noticed today that in Parshat Bo (Shemot 10:11) it is to be pronounced "Faroh". What causes this change? ...
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Why should God punish the firstborn of another nation that was in Egypt?
The Pasuk describes the victims of the plague of the firstborn as follows:
It came to pass at midnight, and the Lord smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who ...
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Why does Rashi question only the Darkness
Why does Rashi ask why the plague of darkness was brought upon them, but did not ask the same by any of the other plagues?
Text of Rashi 10:22:
ולמה הביא עליהם חשך, שהיו בישראל באותו הדור רשעים, ...
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Why does Rashi on Shmos 12 (41) not quote the Sifrei which he does quote on Devorim 32 (48)?
Why does Rashi on Shmos 12 (41) not quote the Sifrei which he does quote on Devorim 32 (48)?
In relation to the words
בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה and the Exodus from Egypt, the Sifrei there says,
“...
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Why is the Exodus from Egypt so fundamental to Judaism?
The Exodus from Egypt serves as a basis for a number of Mitzvos and is a hugely fundamental concept to Judaism, to the extent that the Rosh states:
כִּי מִי שֶּׁאֵינוֹ מַאֲמִין ''אֲשֶּׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ ...
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How many erev rav people were there?
How many erev rav people came out with Moshe from Egypt (Ex. 12:38)? Was it a few thousand only or more?
Please source.
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Locusts don't damage Egypt. Really?
Rabenu Chanan'el, in his commentary to Bo 10:19, writes, in part:
מעת עתרת משה רבינו עד עכשיו אין ארבה מפסיד בכל גבול מצרים ואם יפול בארץ ישראל ויבא ומכנס בגבול מצרים אינו אוכל מכל יבול הארץ כלום ...
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Understanding the servants' hard/soft hearts
In Parshas Bo (10:1) we read that God hardened the hearts of Pharaoh's servants:
כִּי אֲנִי הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת לִבּוֹ וְאֶת לֵב עֲבָדָיו.
The Ohr HaChaim explains that this is so that the servants ...
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Exodus 11:5 Why the firstborn?
Moses said, "Thus says the LORD, 'About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, ...
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What is the difference in definition for 3 terms used regarding "leavened" (chametz)?
The Torah uses 3 terms that all appear to mean "leavened food" (from English definitions that I could find):
חמץ and שאור are mentioned in Exodus 12:15:
שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָמִים֙ מַצּ֣וֹת תֹּאכֵ֔לוּ אַ֚ךְ ...
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Were there specific locusts in reserve for the 8th plague?
Hashem's instructions to Moshe to bring the locusts reads as follows:
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל משֶׁה נְטֵה יָדְךָ עַל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בָּאַרְבֶּה וכו
And Hashem said to Moses, "stretch out your ...
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Does my uncircumcised friend still needs to be circumcised in order to join the meal for Pesach?
The Korban Pesach was made to be able to keep a meal in order to hold a celebration which serves as a remembrance (Shemot 12:14, 16).
A remembrance of the moment we took a lamb and used it's blood to ...
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Why does Pharaoh refer to the Plague of Locusts as death?
Why does Pharaoh refer to the Plague of Locusts as death?
וְעַתָּה שָׂא נָא חַטָּאתִי אַךְ הַפַּעַם וְהַעְתִּירוּ לַי־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְיָסֵר מֵעָלַי רַק אֶת הַמָּוֶת הַזֶּה
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Did Paro have an older brother?
The final plague struck down all the first-born males in Egypt. Paro was not struck down this way, so does that mean he had an older brother? If so, what happened to him that Paro, not the older ...
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Cover the Earth and you will not see
Why by the Locusts does it use the repetitive language: I will cover the eye of the land and you will not see it, if it is covered of course you can not see it?
וְכִסָּה אֶת עֵין הָאָרֶץ וְלֹא יוּכַל ...
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How did the Jewish people have livestock when leaving Egypt?
Exodus 12:38
Moreover, a mixed multitude went up with them, and very much
livestock, both flocks and herds.
How can it be that the Israelites left Egypt with much livestock after they were slaves in ...
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