Parashat Shemos
Parshas Shemos is the first parsha in the Book of Shemos and the start of the six or eight weeks of Shovavim. It contains 124 pesukim. Ashkinazim read a section of Yeshayahu for the Haftora and the Sefardim read from the first chapter of Yirmiya.
Contents |
Enslavement of the Jews
Passing of the Tribes
The Tribes pass away. The Torah counts the Tribes after their passing as a display of affection although they were counted already during their life.
Multiplying of the Jews
At that point many of the Jewish woman began to give birth to sextuplets, greatly multiplying their population. Unlike rare recent history cases of sextuplet births where a portion of the children are generally born impaired and die soon afterwords, these were common and all 6 would emerge healthy and survive.
New King
This new Pharaoh had still recognized Yosef and his accomplishments for Egypt, yet chose to ignored this and issued his evil decrees.
The Plan
During the two years of famine, all the surrounding countries were forced to buy Egyptian food at high prices, depleting their money. It was strongly predicted that at some point the Kings of Canaan would wage a war against Egypt to try to recover their wealth. This created a great worry for the Egyptians that the multiplying Jews would side with the enemy forces during an invasion, taking over the land completely and possibly annexing it to their claimed inheritance of Eretz Yisroel.
Terrified, Pharaoh and his advisers devise a plan to enslave them. Knowing the power of speech, each time they referenced during the meeting a negative occurrence to the themselves they would replace the word 'Egyptians' with 'the Jews'. At the start Pharaoh told them to build cities for themselves to live in. They managed to fool twelve of the Tribes but not the Tribe of Levi.
He placed officers above them and had them buildup and fortify the already existing but weak cities of Pissom and Ramses. These were to serve as storage centers for the country. They forced the Jews to do physical breaking labor, hoping this would reduce their procreativity. Yet, the more the Egyptians oppressed the Jews the more they multiplied, causing them to despise them more. Each time they would look at them it would be like 'placing thorns in their eyes'.
The Jews in Servitude
During there entire stay in Egypt the Jews retained Hebrew names and did not adopt Egyptian ones. They also continued to keep the commandment of Mila and to observe Shabbos in its pre Torah form, these merits brought their redemption. Another manifestation of the servitude was that it brought great depression and sadness upon the Jews, which accordingly hampered their ability to study and pray properly.
Drowning of the Males
Informed by his astrologers that a child would be born that would redeem the Jewish Nation. In an attempt to outsmart Hashem, knowing that He only punishes 'measure for measure', Pharaoh concludes it is best to drown the 'redeemer' to avoid punishment as Hashem promised not bring another flood on the world. This was a miscalculation since the oath pertained to the entire world and not to the flooding of a single nation. His astrologers also said this person would be stricken through water, which did end up happening when Moshe was punished for hitting the rock to produce water. Since the astrologers said it would be a boy, the decree only applied to the newborn males. Pharaoh's punishment for this was that his very own adopted grandson Moshe, who he himself raised in his home afflicted him and his country with all the plagues.
The Midwives
Yocheved the wife of Amram the Levi was the head Jewish midwife, in her routines she was often assisted by her daughter Miriam. While working Yocheved went by the name Shifra, which testified to her custom to enhance and tidying up the new born. It also alluded to her ability in certain cases to revive a stillborn child by placing a reed tube into his intestines and blowing into it. Miriam was known by the name Puah, since she would always make childish 'Pu Pu Pu' sounds to calm down the crying babies.
Pharaoh commands Shifra, the head midwife and her daughter to kill all first born males. During this meeting Paraoh also tried to seduce them to commit immoral acts with him but they refused him. They do not listen to him and continue to let them live, going as far as supplying them water and food. Pharaoh summons the midwives demanding to know why they disobeyed him. They reply that Jewish women are just as experienced as a midwife, tending to give birth before they make it to scene, similar to animals who birth independently.
Their Reward
Hashem rewards Yocheved and Miriam by promising to originate houses of royalty, Kohanim and Levim from their descendants. Children of Moshe where Levim while those coming from Aaron became Kohanim. Royalty of the House of Dovid emerged from the marriage of Miriam and Kolev.
Tasking the Egyptians
Seeing his original plan failed, Pharaoh commands the Egyptians to drown all newborn males. On the day of Moshe's birth the astrologers informed Pharaoh, telling him the redeemer had been born that day. Uncertain if he was a Jewish child or not, Pharoah instructed his nation to kill their own kids that had been born on that day.
History of Moshe
Remarriage of Amram
At the advise of his daughter Miriam, Amram remarries Yocheved, causing the entire nation to follow suite and return their divorced wives.
Moshe is Born
Hiding
Moshe is hidden in the house for three months.
In Nile
Yocheved creates a small ark, puts Moshe inside and leaves him in the Nile.