14: Vaera
Welcome to TLDR Torah: a synopsis of the weekly parsha based on Robert Alter’s translation, plus a question to spur your Shabbat dinner (or any!) conversation.
Parsha Vaera (Exodus 6:2-9:35)
TLDR:
Following God’s instruction, Moses tells the Israelites that God will redeem them from Egypt and make good on his covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They don’t listen to him.
God charges Moses with speaking to Pharaoh, and Moses again makes an excuse about his speech because he stutters. God ignores him, but ropes in Aaron to help.
After the Torah breaks for a genealogical list, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh. Aaron turns his rod into a serpent that swallows the serpents created by Pharaoh’s soothsayers. Pharaoh isn’t that impressed.
The next morning, Aaron turns the Nile into (1) blood and kills the fish. But Pharaoh’s soothsayers are able to imitate it.
Seven days later, Moses threatens Pharaoh to plague Egypt with (2) frogs, and Aaron brings them out. Pharaoh agrees to let the Israelites go on their 3-day sacrificial journey, and God kills all the frogs, which stinks up the land.
After Pharaoh reneges on his promise to let the people go, the rest of the plagues occur in a formulaic pattern. The Passover seder gives a flavor of the type of commentary related to the plague’s groupings (three triads, plus the 10th plague), but suffice it to say that there are numerous variables to consider, such as the location, timing, source, and response to each plague.
(3) Aaron brings lice to pester humans and animals. The soothsayers can’t get rid of the lice, and recognize God’s power.
(4) God brings a swarm of insects. Pharaoh tells Moses that the people can do sacrifices in the land. Moses demands that they must travel 3 days. Pharaoh okays it but reneges.
(5) God kills all Egyptian livestock by pestilence.
(6) Moses takes a handful of soot, throws it up towards the sky, and causes boils on animals and men.
(7) Moses threatens Pharaoh with deathly hail. Some Egyptians bring their slaves and livestock indoors for safety. Pharaoh pleads, promises to let them go, and reneges again when the hail is stopped.
Question:
The Israelites are noticeably absent throughout the first seven plagues. After ignoring Moses at the start of the parsha, they aren’t referenced again beyond being spared from the plagues. The focus of the parsha becomes convincing Pharaoh of God’s greatness. What do you think the Israelites are thinking and feeling throughout these plagues? What is their interaction with Moses and Aaron?