Questions tagged [bo]
The weekly Torah portion of Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16)
107
questions
1
vote
0
answers
24
views
Exodus | Death of the Firstborn | Why weren't the Hebrews' animals slain?
So I've been reading through Exodus a lot lately, and one of the things that stood out to me was the death of the firstborn of the animals during the final plague / strike. Now, the firstborn of the ...
7
votes
3
answers
519
views
Why isn't the lamb blood on the lintel and the doorposts an eternal commandment?
Exodus Chapter 12, Verses 21-24 read as follows (King James Translation)
21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them: ‘Draw out, and take you lambs according to your ...
- 187
2
votes
2
answers
99
views
The Plague of Darkness and the Light that rectified it
The Maharal of Prague (Gevuros Hashem, 57) famously explains that the ten plagues in Mitzrayim, correspond to the ten utterances of G-d with which the world and the heavens were created.
The Shem ...
- 11.2k
2
votes
1
answer
64
views
East wind brought the Locusts, West wind drove them
Shemoth 10:13 - "So Moses held out his rod over the land of Egypt, and יהוה drove an east wind over the land all that day and all night; and when morning came, the east wind had brought the ...
- 450
4
votes
2
answers
238
views
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 ...
- 748
1
vote
3
answers
219
views
Why did Moshe Rabbeinu need to stretch out his hand?
At the start of the plague of darkness, G-d tells Moshe Rabbeinu to stretch out his hand towards Heaven, that there may be darkness of the land of Mitzrayim:
And the L-rd said to Moshe, Stretch out ...
- 11.2k
2
votes
0
answers
40
views
History of Hashkeim vs. Bo
I learned in this book that in some ancient traditions, they started a new parsha at Hashkeim (barad) instead of at Bo (arbeh), as I'm used to. (This is a variation of the minhag to read the whole ...
- 9,313
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
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 ...
- 591
3
votes
1
answer
143
views
Which part of Hebrew or textual grammar tells the reader to add to the verb in question the word "habitually"?
Which part of Hebrew or textual grammar tells the reader to add to the verb in question the word "habitually"?
For example, Exodus 21:36 (Parashat Bo), Chabad translates the verb in question ...
- 41
0
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why did God want the Israelites to take riches from Egypt before the Exodus?
In parshat Bo, we read:
And the Lord said to Moses... Speak, please, in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and ...
- 23.1k
5
votes
2
answers
571
views
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 ...
- 1,631
4
votes
2
answers
192
views
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.
- 1,436
10
votes
2
answers
177
views
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
...
- 716
7
votes
1
answer
304
views
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 ...
- 71
2
votes
0
answers
94
views
In Exodus, when exactly they "could not delay" until the dough was leavened?
THe Torah says (Ex 12,39):
וַיֹּאפוּ אֶת־הַבָּצֵק אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם עֻגֹת מַצּוֹת כִּי לֹא חָמֵץ כִּי־גֹרְשׁוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ וְגַם־צֵדָה לֹא־עָשׂוּ לָהֶם׃
And ...
- 27.6k
6
votes
3
answers
249
views
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 ...
- 161
2
votes
1
answer
150
views
Why did Geviha ben Pesisa give the response that he gave to the Mitzri'im?
Sanhedrin 91a records the following exchange:
שוב פעם אחת באו בני מצרים לדון עם ישראל לפני אלכסנדרוס מוקדון אמרו לו הרי הוא אומר (שמות יב, לו) וה' נתן את חן העם בעיני מצרים וישאילום תנו לנו כסף וזהב ...
- 34.7k
4
votes
1
answer
193
views
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 ...
- 73.7k
2
votes
1
answer
81
views
Four hundred years afflicted in Mitzraim - Bersheit 15:12; Four hundred thirty years - Shemot 12:40, Why this discrepancy? [duplicate]
Beresheit 15:13 "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years."
Shemot 12:40 "Now the ...
- 741
10
votes
1
answer
206
views
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?
- 205
2
votes
1
answer
130
views
Why "your hand" is spelled ידכה instead of ידך?
In שמות יג:טז:
"וְהָיָה לְאוֹת עַל־יָדְכָה וּלְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ כִּי בְּחֹזֶק יָד הוֹצִיאָנוּ יְהוָה מִמִּצְרָיִם׃"
the word ידכה is used. Why is it not spelled ידך?
- 463
6
votes
2
answers
736
views
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 ...
- 1,027
5
votes
2
answers
431
views
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 ...
- 45.2k
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
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
1
vote
0
answers
34
views
Why are the numbers not written down in Ki Sisa?
According to the very first Rashi in Seder Bamidbar:
מתוך חיבתן לפניו מונה אותם כל שעה כשיצאו ממצרים מנאן וכשנפלו בעגל מנאן לידע מנין הנותרים כשבא להשרות שכינתו עליהן מנאן. באחד בניסן הוקם המשכן ...
- 34.7k
1
vote
0
answers
117
views
Did the Egyptians know that Bnei Yisrael had light during Makas Choshech?
Did the Egyptians knows that Bnei Yisrael had light during Makas Choshech, the plague of darkness?
- 7,062
1
vote
0
answers
49
views
Conversion in Egypt?
I found this quote from Bereshit Rabbah 84:4: Ya'akov, his father, made many converts in Egypt. And another in Shemot Rabbah 18:10 G-d made a joyous occasion for Israel, since He redeemed them - ...
- 7,516
0
votes
1
answer
76
views
First Month of your year?
The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt
“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
Exodus 12
What about Rosh ...
- 101
0
votes
2
answers
138
views
How far did the mixed multitude went along [duplicate]
I would like to ask a short question about Shemot 12:38, at the time of the Exodus there was a mixed multitude which went up with the Israelities.
How far did this mixed multitude went along? Did ...
- 7,516
0
votes
2
answers
97
views
People joined the Israelites in Egypt during the night of the Exodus?
I noticed something strange in Shemot 12:43-50. I always assumed the commandments given there were for future generations (like most commentators teach). But then it says in verse 43: "And HaShem ...
- 7,516
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 7,516
1
vote
1
answer
93
views
"One in 5, one in 50, two in 600,000" - can this be called a Geulah?
Different Midrashim give different estimates on the number of Jews actually exiting Egypt, ranging from one in 5 (חמושים) and up to 2 in 600,000, the rest dying in the Plague of Darkness.
I was ...
- 27.6k
3
votes
2
answers
171
views
"A moon like this you should sanctify"?
In Parshas Bo G-d says to Moses to sanctify a new Moon, but Moses "had trouble understanding" and G-d showed him exactly the picture of a new Moon, saying "כזה ראה וקדש".
Obviously, Moses knew the ...
- 27.6k
0
votes
2
answers
126
views
How much time do we have to perform mitzvot? [closed]
Is there a teaching that specifies how much time you have to perform mitzvot? For example, after you say the motzi, how much time do you have before you must eat a piece of bread? I am interested in ...
- 23.1k
7
votes
2
answers
484
views
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 ...
- 56.9k
7
votes
2
answers
245
views
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 ...
- 20k
2
votes
0
answers
31
views
Four countings of Klal Yisrael - HaShem doesn't want us to decrease
The Ohr HaChaim at the beginning of Bamidbar asks why HaShem waited a month before counting Klal Yisrael, and how Klal Yisrael could have gained 3,550 from Mitzraim (600,000) to the Eigel (603,550) in ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
0
answers
67
views
Invalid verb conjugation מצות יאכל
In Shemos 13:7, the verse uses the passive form מצות יאכל, where the subject is feminine plural but the verb is masculine singular.
A similar occurrence is in Pinchas for Pesach korbanos (Bamidbar 28:...
- 3,109
5
votes
2
answers
150
views
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 ...
- 42.5k
7
votes
1
answer
187
views
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 ...
- 38.5k
1
vote
1
answer
56
views
Exodus 12:24 HaDavar Hazeh?
Shemot/Exodus 12:24 quotes the following words: ושמרתם את הדבר הזה לחק לך ולבניך עד עולם - Translated something like: You shall observe this thing (word/matter) as an institution/ordinance for you and ...
- 7,516
3
votes
2
answers
288
views
The Chacham, the Rasha, the She'eino Yodeya Lish'ol, and... What's that other son again?
In the Haggadah, the third son is known as the "Tam" ("innocent" or "simple") child. In the version presented in the Yerushalmi, he is known as the "Tipeish" ("stupid") child, a drastically different ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
1
answer
99
views
Shemot 7:28 vs 12:34
In Shemot 12:34 we are told that Bnei Yisrael left Mitzrayim מִשְׁאֲרֹתָ֛ם צְרֻרֹ֥ת בְּשִׂמְלֹתָ֖ם
עַל־שִׁכְמָֽם
Older translations followed Ibn Ezra and Targum, that they left Mitzrayim with their '...
- 327
0
votes
2
answers
195
views
Why use an esoteric, foreign word which leads to different understandings?
In Shemot 12:9, the text reads, "אַל תֹּאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ נָא " which is translated at chabad.org as "You shall not eat it rare ". The meforshim (as taken from sefaria.org) look at the word "Na" as ...
- 38.5k
2
votes
0
answers
41
views
Paroh Doesn't Listen in Different Words
(All Pesukim cited are in Shemos.)
7:4: "Paroh will not listen to you."
7:13 (after the staffs turning into snakes): "He did not listen to them."
7:22 (Dam): "He did not listen to them."
8:11 (...
- 34.7k
3
votes
1
answer
76
views
Paroh Refuses in Different Words
(All Pesukim cited are in Shemos.)
7:3: "I will 'kasheh' Paroh's heart."
7:13 (after the staffs turning into snakes): "Paroh's heart was 'yechazeik'."
7:22 (Dam): "Paroh's heart was 'yechazeik'."
8:...
- 34.7k
6
votes
1
answer
155
views
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 ...
- 9,313
5
votes
2
answers
764
views
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....
- 71.2k
1
vote
1
answer
5k
views
How long did the plagues last?
From the beginning of the first plague with the Nile turning to blood up to the ninth plague of darkness, what is the time frame for the total length of time? I have not been able to find a definitive ...
- 741
2
votes
1
answer
180
views
Why wasn't Pharoah allowed a chance to "repent" before the last plague (death of 1st born)?
Follow up to Why is every 3rd plague unannounced
We see that in the warning, Moses uses the phrase, "Send my people and they shall worship me."
There is a warning about the 10th plague. But, here, ...
- 71.2k