Previously, in Parashat Shemot: The story began with the Israelites suffering under harsh slavery in Egypt. Pharaoh, fearing their growing numbers, imposed cruel labor and even decreed the death of their baby boys. Moses was born, miraculously saved, and raised in Pharaoh’s palace, but fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster. In Midian, God appeared to Moses at the burning bush, commanding him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites to freedom. Moses, hesitant and unsure, was joined by his brother Aaron. They confronted Pharaoh, but he refused to let the Israelites go and even increased their workload. The Israelites, disheartened, blamed Moses, who turned to God for answers.
This week, in Parashat Va'era: God speaks to Moses, reminding him that He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, but now reveals His name YHVH, promising to fulfill His covenant and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. God tells Moses to reassure the Israelites that He will free them, redeem them with great judgments, and bring them to the land promised to their ancestors. Moses relays this message, but the Israelites are too crushed by their suffering to listen.
God instructs Moses to go to Pharaoh again, but Moses protests that he is not a good speaker. God insists, saying Aaron will speak for him. The Torah then lists the heads of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, tracing the lineage down to Moses and Aaron, establishing their family background.
God tells Moses that He will make Pharaoh stubborn so that He can perform many signs and wonders in Egypt. Moses and Aaron are to demand the Israelites’ release, and God will bring the people out with great acts of judgment. Moses is eighty and Aaron eighty-three when they speak to Pharaoh.
When Pharaoh demands a sign, Aaron throws down his staff, and it turns into a serpent. Pharaoh’s magicians do the same with their magic, but Aaron’s staff swallows theirs. Still, Pharaoh’s heart remains hard.
God instructs Moses to meet Pharaoh at the Nile in the morning. Aaron strikes the water with his staff, and the river turns to blood. Fish die, the river stinks, and the Egyptians cannot drink the water. Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the sign, and Pharaoh remains unmoved. Seven days pass.
God sends Moses to warn Pharaoh again. Aaron stretches his staff over the waters, and frogs swarm over Egypt, entering houses, beds, and ovens. Pharaoh begs Moses to pray for the frogs to go away, promising to let the people go. Moses prays, the frogs die, but Pharaoh hardens his heart.
God tells Moses to have Aaron strike the dust, and lice infest people and animals. The magicians cannot replicate this and admit it is the “finger of God,” but Pharaoh’s heart is still hard.
God sends Moses to warn Pharaoh of swarms of wild animals (or insects) that will fill Egyptian homes, but spare the land of Goshen where the Israelites live. The swarms come, devastating Egypt. Pharaoh offers to let the Israelites sacrifice in Egypt, but Moses insists they must go into the wilderness. Pharaoh agrees, but after the swarms leave, he changes his mind.
God sends a plague that kills the Egyptians’ livestock, but none belonging to the Israelites. Pharaoh checks and sees this is true, but remains stubborn.
God tells Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of soot and throw it into the air before Pharaoh. It becomes boils and sores on people and animals. The magicians cannot stand before Moses because of the boils, but Pharaoh does not relent.
God warns Pharaoh of a hailstorm worse than any before. Moses tells the Egyptians to bring their animals and servants indoors. Those who listen are spared, but others are killed by the hail. The hail strikes down people, animals, and plants, but spares Goshen. Pharaoh admits his guilt and asks Moses to pray for the hail to stop. Moses does, but Pharaoh again hardens his heart.
Created by Rabbi Ari (AI)