Parshat Bo; Exodus 10:1-13:16 By, Rabbi Denise L. Eger

Our portion continues to describe the plagues that descend upon Egypt for Pharaoh’s refusal to heed Moses, Aaron and God’s demand to let the Israelites go free. This portion covers each of the plagues from the eighth plague of locusts until the final plague of the death of the first born of Egypt including the Pharaoh’s own son.

The 10th plague of the death of the Egyptian first born is announced in chapter 11 of Exodus. “Every first born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the first born of the maidservant who is behind the millstone and all of the first born of the beast.” (Ex. 11:5). We learn that no matter one’s station on Egypt’s social pyramid from royalty to animals all first born will be affected. In chapter 12 we the actual moment is described, “It was at midnight that God smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the first born of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the first born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and every firstborn animal.” (Ex. 12:29).

The announcement and the actual description of the plague differ in one very specific case. The announcement describes that even first born of the female servant will be affected. And the description points to the first born of those in prison. These two cases describe those on Egypt’s social pyramid who might not have been Egyptians of lower class but also foreign workers and indentured servants and non-Israelite slaves.

Why we ask would they be included in this awful plague? Shouldn’t this have only affected the Egyptians?

Tradition teaches us that these non-Israelite slaves were included to soundly refute any claim that other idols or gods or goddesses protected them. The plagues indeed show the might and power of YHVH. They are intended to diminish the Egyptian pantheon and to show the strength of the One God over all the false gods of Egypt. This includes any that might be worshipped by foreign slaves and servants that were in Egypt.

We also learn that there is a special obligation of the first born of the Jews in this portion. In chapter 13 of parshat Bo it teaches, “Sanctify unto Me every firstborn, the first issue of every womb among the Children of Israel of human or animal, is Mine. (Ex. 12:2).” This special custom developed into Pidyon HaBen—the redemption of the first born son. A ceremony at 30 days since birth, the parents redeem the first born male child from temple service from a Kohen. This of course only applies to those who are not Levites or Kohanim, since traditionally they were already dedicated to sacred service of God. But in our Torah portion the link is made explicit in chapter 13:14-15, “And it shall be when your son will ask you at some future, time “What is this?” you shall say to him, “With a strong hand God removed us from Egypt from the house of bondage. And it happened when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to send us out that God killed all the fist born in the land of Egypt from the first born of human to the firstborn of beast. Therefore I offer to God all the male first issue of the womb and I shall redeem all the first born of my sons.”

This connection between the redemption of Jewish first born males and those Egyptian first born who died are made explicit in the text. We always carry the memory with us of those whose lives were sacrificed in the process of liberation and freedom. The special sanctification of those born first reminds the first born that God’s blessing and God’s grace saved them from this plague.

But also this portion has another connection to the 10th plague through another custom in Judaism. There is a special fast known as the Fast of the First born, Taanit B’kohrim or B’khorot mentioned in the Talmud in tractate Soferim (21:3). Indeed this fast is to give witness and thanks for the miracle of saving the first born of the Israelite from the 10th plague! The Chatam Sofer writes that the Israelite first born fasted in anticipation of the 10th plague and for great protection by God. Thus they were protected not only by the blood painted on the doorposts of the house but by the repentance associated with fasting.
Even today the fast of the first born which generally takes place on the day before Passover (14th of Nissan) is still widely observed today.

Posted by Lee at January 22, 2007 10:04 AM