Parashat Bo The Power of Neighbors
Source Sheet by Cantor Jen Keren
This teaching is inspired by the words of Rabbi Beth Kalisch in her d'var Torah, Pharaoh's
Final Request.
Last week, in Va'era, we read about God's promise to redeem Israel from Egypt and bring
them out of slavery into freedom. After Pharaoh's repeated refusal to let the Israelites go,
God unleashes a series of plagues on Egypt. We read of the first seven plagues in Va-era;
water turning to bloom, frogs, lice, wild animals, death of livestock, boils and hail.
This week, in Bo, we read of the final 3 plagues; locusts, darkness and the death of
firstborns, described below.
Exodus 12:29-32
ל״ב-כ״ט:שמות י״ב
(29) In the middle of the night יהוה
struck down all the [male] first-born (כט) ַויְהִ ֣י ׀ ּ ַבחֲצִ ֣י הַ ּ ַ ֗ל ְילָה ַוֽיה ֹ ָוה֮ הִ ּ ָכ֣ה
in the land of Egypt, from the ׇ֙ל־בכ ֹור֮ ְּבאֶ ֶ֣רץ מִ צְ ַר֒ ִים֒ מִ ְּבכ ֹ֤ר ּפ ְַרעֹה ְּ כ
first-born of Pharaoh who sat on the ל־כסְ א֔ ֹו עַ ֚ד ְּבכ֣וֹר הַ ׁ ּ ְשבִ ֔יִּ ַהַ ּי ׁ ֵֹש֣ב ע
throne to the first-born of the ֲש֖ר ְּב ֵב֣ית הַ בּ ֑וֹר ְוכ ֹ֖ל ְּבכ֥וֹר ְּבהֵ מָ ֽה׃ ֶ ׁא
captive who was in the dungeon,
and all the first-born of the cattle. (ל) ַו ּיָ֨קׇ ם ּפ ְַרע ֹ֜ה ַ ֗ל ְילָה ה֤וּא
(30) And Pharaoh arose in the night, ְוכׇל־ ֲעבָדָ יו֙ ְוכׇל־מִ צְ ַר֔יִם ו ְַּתהִ ֛י צְ עָ קָ ֥ה
with all his courtiers and all the ֲש֥ר ֶ ׁ ְגד ֹ ָל֖ה ְּבמִ צְ ָר֑יִם ִּכֽי־אֵ ֣ין ּ ַ ֔ביִת א
Egyptians—because there was a ֽין־ש֖ם מֵ ֽת׃ (לא) ַו ּיִקְ ָרא֩ לְ מ ׁ ֶֹש֨ה ָ ׁ ֵא
loud cry in Egypt; for there was no
ּוּֽלְ אַ ֲהר ֹ֜ן ַ ֗ל ְילָה ַו ּי ֹ֙אמֶ ר֙ ק֤וּמוּ ְ ּצא ֙ו
house where there was not someone
dead. (31) He summoned Moses and ַם־ב ֵנ֣י ִי ְׂש ָראֵ ֑ל ְּ תו ְֹך עַ ִּמ֔י ּגַם־אַ ּ ֶת֖ם ּג ֣ ּ ִמ
Aaron in the night and said, “Up, )וּלְ כ֛וּ עִ בְ ד֥וּ אֶ ת־ ְיה ֹ ָו֖ה ְּכדַ ּב ְֶר ֶכֽם׃ (לב
depart from among my people, you ֲש֥ר
ֶ ׁ ַם־בקַ ְר ֶכ֥ם קְ ח֛וּ ּ ַכא ְּ ּגַם־צ ֹא ְנ ֶכ֨ם ּג
and the Israelites with you! Go, ִּד ּב ְַר ּ ֶת֖ם ָו ֵל֑כוּ וּ ֵב ַֽרכְ ּ ֶת֖ם ּגַם־א ִֹתֽי׃
worship יהוהas you said! (32) Take
also your flocks and your herds, as
you said, and begone! And may you
bring a blessing upon me also!”
Rashi* on Exodus 12:32:2
וברכתם גם אתיAND BLESS ME ALSO ב׳:ל״ב:רש"י על שמות י״ב
— Pray on my behalf that I should
not die because I am a firstborn
הִ ְת ּפ ְַּללוּ עָ לַי.וברכתם גם אתי
: ׁ ֶש ֲאנִי ְּבכוֹר,ׁ ֶשלּ ֹא אָ מוּת
*a.k.a Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzchaki (1040-1105). Rashi lived in France and his commentary is an
essential explanation of the Tanakh.
Siftei Chakhamim*, Exodus 12:32:1
א׳:ל״ב: שמות י״ב,שפתי חכמים
Pray for me that I do not die, for I
am a first-born. Otherwise, why התפללו עלי שלא אמות שאני
would Pharaoh need their blessing, דאל"כ מה היה צריך.בכור
since he sent the people out [and לברכתם של אלו כיון ששלח את
consequently needed not fear :העם
further plagues]?
*Siftei Chachamim is a super commentary on Rashi. Written by Shabbetai ben Joseph Bass
(1641-1718) and Amsterdam. Siftei Chachamim is primarily a collection of other
commentaries with the author's additional insights incorporated.
Ramban* on Exodus 12:32:1
AND BLESS ME ALSO. The purport א׳:ל״ב:רמב"ן על שמות י״ב
of it is that “when you will sacrifice
to the Eternal your G-d as you have
וטעם וברכתם גם אותי כאשר
said, and you will pray for ,תזבחו לה' אלהיכם כאשר דברתם
yourselves that He should not strike ותתפללו על נפשותיכם שלא יפגע
you with pestilence or sword, תזכירו גם,אתכם בדבר או בחרב
remember me also in your prayers התפללו, ואמר רש''י.אותי עמכם
together with yourselves.”
Now Rashi commented: “Pray on my ופשוטו.עלי שלא אמות שאני בכור
behalf that I should not die, for I am כי,שיברכו אותו ואת ממלכתו
a firstborn.” The plain meaning בכלל ברכת המלך שלום כל
thereof is that they should bless him ,) ובמכילתא (כאן.המלכות
and his kingdom, for included
התפללו עלי שתכלה ממני
within the blessing to a king is the
state of peace of the whole kingdom. כלומר שלא יענש עוד,הפורענות
And in the Mechilta we read: “And :בעבורם
bless me also. Pray on my behalf that
the punishment may desist from
me,” meaning that he should no
longer be punished on their account.
*a.k.a. Nachmonides (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman b.1194-1270) who lived in Spain until he
moved to Jerusalem towards the end of his life.
Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai* מכילתא דרבי שמעון בן יוחאי
12:32
ל״ב:י״ב
Your flocks: "Your flocks come also
from mine!" Your herds: "Your : משלי. גם צאנכם:צאנכם
herds come also from my ministers!" : משל שרים. גם בקרכם:בקרכם
Take [them], as you said, and עמדה.קחו כאשר דברתם ולכו
begone!: Your prediction has been
fulfilled! "Moses said, “You yourself שלכם (י' כ"ה) ויאמר משה גם
must provide us with sacrifices and :אתה תתן בידינו זבחים ועולות
burnt offerings to offer up to the אף לנשים.וברכתם גם אתי
LORD our God" (Exodus 10:25) And ד"א וברכתם גם אתי:ולטפלים
may you bring a blessing upon me
מיכאן אתה אומר שהיה פרעה יודע
also!: Even women and children.
Another interpretation: "And may שמחוסר תפלה ואין המקום מוחל
you bring a blessing upon me also." לו לאדם עד שיפייס את חברו
(Exodus 12:32) From here you say
that Pharaoh knew that he was
lacking in prayer, and God does not
forgive someone until he has
persuaded his neighbor [to forgive
him as well].
*Halachic midrash on the book of Exodus from the school of Rabbi Yishmael (1st-2nd
century CE)
Discussion Questions
1. Why must one persuade his neighbor for forgiveness before God can forgive?
2. What is unique about neighbors that gives them such power?
3. Are there some things a neighbor cannot forgive?
Exodus 12:38
ל״ח:שמות י״ב
(38) Moreover, a mixed multitude
went up with them, and very much (לח) ְוגַם־עֵ ֶ֥רב ַר֖ב עָ ָל֣ה אִ ּ ָת֑ם ְוצ ֹ֣אן
livestock, both flocks and herds. וּבָקָ ֔ר מִ קְ ֶנ֖ה ּ ָכ ֵב֥ד מְ אֹֽד׃
Rashi on Exodus 12:38:1 א׳:ל״ח:רש"י על שמות י״ב
ערב רבA MIXED MULTITUDE — a : ּ ַת ֲערֹבֶת אֻ ּמוֹת ׁ ֶשל ּג ִֵרים.ערב רב
mingling of various nations who
had become proselytes.
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 12:38:1 א׳:ל״ח:אבן עזרא על שמות י״ב
AND A MIXED MULTITUDE. Of מאנשי מצרים.וגם ערב רב
Egyptians who intermingled with
them. They are the asafsuf (mixed
והם האספסוף.שהתערב עמהם
multitude) who joined them. :שנאספו עליהם
a.k.a Avraham ben Meir ibn Ezra. A medieval Spanish Torah commentator, poet, philosopher and
grammarian
Source Sheet created on Sefaria by Cantor Jen Keren
