Torah Commentary - Shemot
*Commentary courtesy of Menachem Me-Zahav
With today’s Sidrah, we begin the second book of the Torah – The Book of Shemot or Exodus. It’s named so for its beginning: “Ve’eile Shemot (And these are the names) of the Israelites who came to Egypt with Jacob” (Exodsus 1:1).
In the final Sidrah’s of Bereshit (Genesis) we are told that the 70 people of Jacob’s family ar-rived, settled and acquired a holding in the land of Egypt. In today’s Sidrah we learn that this one family has grown in the past 3 centuries to such an extent, that the New King Pharaoh considers them to be a threat to his kingdom. “And there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph”
(Exodus 1:8)
The New King Pharaoh “Who Did Not Know Joseph” – Who could it have been (Historical-ly)?
It is reasonable to attribute the conquest of Egypt by the Hyksos (1649 BCE), their 90 years of reign over Egypt, and then their expulsion (1560 BCE) and return to the old monarchy - to the time that Jacob and his family came to Egypt. The Pharaoh’s who ruled Egypt after the expul-sion of the Hyksos, became the Pharaoh’s of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty.
The reference to “A new king who rose over Egypt and who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8) may then apply to one of the new (The 18th) Dynasty of Pharaoh’s (mentioned above). These Pharaoh’s were apparently afraid and suspicious, of the foreigners (The Jewish people), who were enjoying a quiet and a relaxed way of life in Egypt – in the seemingly comfortable district of Goshen. The District of Goshen, was granted to them by the Pharaoh, who ruled at Joseph’s time (As mentioned in the Sidrah of VaYigash, that was read 2 weeks ago).
The Pharaoh of our Sidrah, justifies his fear of the Israelites, by claiming that: “And in case there is war - they (The Israelites) will join our enemies” (Exodus 1:10). He seems to suggest that a possible threat, from the Hyksos, who were driven out of Egypt (as mentioned above) was still considered, a reality (at least by him).
Accordingly, it is quite possible, that the Israelites had very good relations, with the previous Hyksos Rulers of Egypt. One of these Rulers was apparently The Pharaoh, who is mentioned in the Sidrah of MiKetz (That was read 3 weeks ago). It is The Pharaoh whose dream was inter-preted by Joseph, and also the one who then elevated Joseph to be his 2nd in command and in charge of the entire Egyptian economy. Joseph saved Egypt from the devastating famine that plagued the whole area.
“And the Egyptians imposed hard labor on the Israelites“ (Exodus 1:13).
The “New” Pharaoh in our Sidrah, sets out to break the spirit of the Israelites. He enslaves them, and forces them to build new cities and possibly some of the pyramids. When he notices that de-spite the torture, the Israelites continue to grow and multiply, even more than before, he decides to kill all new born Jewish boys, by drowning them in the Nile.
Moses is Born.
Soon after these new orders (to kill the new born Jewish boys) were issued, a Jewish child is born. His mother is determined to save him from death. She takes a wicker basket, seals it with calking materials, puts the child into it, and leaves the little ‘boat’ with the child in it, to float in the Nile.
Pharaoh’s Daughter, happens to discover the baby in the Nile. She saves him from drowning.
The boy grows up, under the care of his own mother, who serves as his nurse. All under the pat-ronage of Pharaoh’s Daughter. Pharaoh’s Daughter, names him ‘Moshe’ - “Since I have drawn him out of the water - “Ki Min Ha’Mayim Meshitihu” (Exodsus 2:10). The name ‘Moshe’ originates from the Hebrew word ‘Meshitihu’. Please note the similarity in the spelling of the 2 Hebrews words:
“Meshitihu” (Mem, Shin, Yud, Tav, Hei & Vav) and “Moshe” (Mem,Shin & Hei).
Moses feels the pain of his enslaved Jewish brothers.
When Moses is old enough to return to Pharaoh’s palace, he is given the education of a prince. Actually, he could have easily spent a lifetime of luxury in Pharaoh’s palace. Moses however, al-ways remembers his Jewish roots. He constantly feels his brothers’ pain and suffering.
Moses grows up to become a young adult. He kills an Egyptian who is torturing a Jewish slave, and consequently has to escape the wrath of Pharaoh, by running away.
Moses’ life in Median.
Moses flees to Median. He settles in the home of Jethro (Yitro), a priest of Median. Jethro’s other name is Re’uel (Meaning: “Friend of God”). Moses marries Zipporah the daughter of Jethro. Two sons are born, first Gershom and later Eliezer.
Moses is destined to save his Jewish Brothers from slavery, and lead them to a Great Land.
Moses leads Jethro’s sheep into the Sinai (*), in search for new grazing places. God appears to Moses, from the “Burning Sneh” or the “Burning Bush”, in the Sinai desert. God orders Moses to return to Egypt, in order to save God’s Chosen People, from their slavery. “I am the God of your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…I have seen the plight of my people in Egypt …I will be com-ing down to save them from Egypt, and bring them to a Great Land, to a Land of Milk and Honey” (Exodus 3:7-8).
God then directs Moses what exactly he (Moses) should tell his Israelite brothers, who have never heard God messages been delivered directly to them: “And God spoke further to Moses. Thus, shall you tell the Israelites: The Lord, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to (save) you. This shall be My (God’s) Name for ever, and this is how My Memory will reign for eterni-ty” (Exodus 3:15).
Moses who is now 80 years old, returns to Egypt. He then embarks on a lifelong mission of God, a mission that will last 40 more years. It will culminate with the creation of a new nation in the land that God promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob.
*Note:
The Sinai Peninsula.
The name “Sinai” is derived from the word “Sneh” which is a small bush (Hebrew).
There are many Sneh’s – small bushes, scattered in the desert of the Sinai Peninsula.
Israel captured the very strategic Sinai Peninsula in the Sinai Campaign (1956) and again in the
Six Days War (1967). It was returned to Egypt as part of the Camp David Peace Accord (1979).
Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13 & 29:22-23 Pg. 343
The Prophet Isaiah, Son of Amotz, was born in Jerusalem into a noble family (Circa 750 BCE). His prophecy lasted for some 4 decades (until 700 BCE). Isaiah witnessed the destruction of the North-ern Kingdom of Israel – Samaria, by the Assyrian King Shalman’esser (722 BCE). Around 20 years later - the Kingdom of Judea (Jerusalem) came under an extremely difficult siege by the Assyrian King Sennacherib (Sancheriv). It was saved from disaster by miracle of God.
In our Haftarah Isaiah promises an end to the suffering of Jerusalem from the hands of Sennacherib (Isaiah 27:12-13). The Jewish people are promised by Isaiah that: “In days to come, Jacob will strengthen his roots, Israel shall blossom and the face of the world will be covered with (sweet) fruit” (Isaiah 27:6). “And on this day, God will sit for glory over his people…and for strength to their de-fenders” (Isaiah 28:5-6).
The linkage between our Sidrah and the Haftarah can be explained as follows: First, in our Sidrah Moses and Aaron promise an end to the suffering of the Jewish people, who will be saved from the hands of Pharaoh. “And the (Jewish) people believed that God remembered them” (Exodus 4:31). In our Haftarah, Isaiah foretells the saving of Jerusalem from the Assyrian King Sennacherib. Second, in our Sidrah God promises a future in a “Land full of Milk and Honey” for the Jewish People (Exodus 3:7-8). In our Haftarah Isaiah promises a “World full of (sweet) fruit”.
