In parshas Bo Hashem kills the
first born of all of Egypt. Pharaoh, who has been until now recalcitrant in his
refusal to dismiss the children of Israel, immediately and emphatically expels
them from his domain (see Exodus 12:29-33). He does not attempt to chisel them
in negotiations, play egotistical games, or renege on his word. Rather he
enumerates and specifically consents to all of the demands of Moshe and tells
him to take his people out and serve G-d as they said. In addition the people
of Egypt, who have also been very difficult not only urge Israel to leave but
give them expensive going away gifts.
In anticipation of this plague
and the subsequent departure, the community of Israel is commanded to eat a
celebratory meal with their bags packed while wearing traveling clothes (see Shmos
12:2-11). This will become part of the seven day festival of Passover which is
to be celebrated annually. They are also given a commandment not to eat any
leavened foods (chametz) during this holiday, rather they are to eat flat
crackers i.e. matzo in lieu of bread (see Shmos 12:17-20). This mitzvah
foreshadows and recalls the urgency at the time of the exodus specifically that
the children of Israel left Egypt immediately. Dough, they were allowing to
rise so they could bake it into bread, was thrown into their traveling bags the
way it was. Later when they baked it, it came out as the flat crackers that are
matzo.
The Chumash concludes this
passage with an enigmatic reckoning that the length of time the children of
Israel dwelled in Egypt was 430 years (see Shemos 12:40). Rashi explains that
it is impossible to say that the stay of Israel in Egypt was in fact 430 years
and examines the line from Levi, who actually came down to Egypt from Canaan,
to Moshe, and notes that it was only four generations. He explains that
Yitzchak was born precisely 400 years before the exodus and Avraham was 100 at
the time. The Chumash records that Avraham was 75 when he left Haran (see Genesis
12:4), making the start of the 430 years five years before this. Rabbi Aryeh
Kaplan understands the 430 years as the length of time the lifestyle that
Israel spent in Egypt lasted. Ostensibly this would have started sometime
during the life of Abraham, the first Jew.
After the expulsion of the
children of Israel, Egypt changes their mind and pursues them at the Red Sea.
When Israel reacts with alarm, Moshe tells them to take a good look at Egypt
today, because they will never again see them like this (Shmos 14:13). Rashi
emphasizes the phrase, “never again”. The Targum Yerushalmi adds that this
applies to the state or sertitude. The Or Hachaim said that Moshe’s words were
meant to remove any dread about the Egyptians. The Ramban explains that Moshe
was telling the nation not to even consider returning to Egypt’s service.
The Ibn Ezra comments that it
is possible to wonder how a camp as large as 600,000 would be so fearful. Why
not fight for their lives? He answers that Egypt had been the master of Israel
and the generation that was leaving had learned from their youth to suffer the
burden of Egypt and there soul was downtrodden. He continues that it took
another generation with an uplifted soul to battle the Canaanites.
Based on this parsha Shlomo
Carlebach explained that a Jew must know how to change gears suddenly and make
radical changes when the environment changes. For 430 years we were slaves,
starting today we are free men and should behave accordingly. Among the
messages of the not waiting for the dough to rise is that certain opportunities
should be grabbed as soon as they become available and indeed events may even
push a person in that direction.
Acknowledgements to websites: תורת
אמת, וויקיטקסט, http://dictionary.reference.com/
, http://www.chabad.org/
Blogger English
http://dyschreiber.blogspot.com/2014/01/bo-new-world.html
Blogger Hebrew
http://dyschreiber.blogspot.com/2014/01/51.htm
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