Parashas Bo(66)

Exodus 12:30, 31

30. And Pharaoh arose at night, he and his servants and all the Egyptians and there was a great outcry in Egypt for there was no house where there were no dead.

31. And he (Pharaoh) called to Moses and to Aaron that night and said " Get out! from among my people both you and the Children of Israel and go and serve Hashem as you have said."

RASHI

And Pharaoh arose : Rashi: from his bed.

And he (Pharaoh) called to Moses and to Aaron that night: Rashi: This tells us that he (Pharaoh) went around to all the doors of the city shouting 'Where does Moses reside?"- Where does Aaron reside?"

We have discussed the first Rashi-comment previously. Maybe you remember - What would you ask on this brief (in Hebrew one-word) seemingly obvious comment ?

Your Question:

QUESTIONING RASHI

A Question: What has Rashi taught us? Isn't it obvious that if Pharaoh arose at night, that he arose from his bed ?

Why the need to tell us the obvious?

Can you understand what prompted Rashi to make this "obvious" comment?

Your Answer:

UNDERSTANDING RASHI

An Answer: Rashi is reacting to a unique Biblical linguistic style. The Hebrew word "Vayakom" (And he arose) in the Torah does not actually mean "He arose" It may also mean he did an action with determination. How can we tell when it means "He arose" physically or when it means he did an action with determination, whether or not he physically arose?

The answer is: Whenever the word "Vayakom" is followed by another verb of action, then Vayakom" means he did the action with determination (see for example Exodus 2:17 or even our verse 31 when Pharaoh tells them to get out. He says Kumu Tz'u" means get out emphatically) . But when the word is not followed by another verb - as in our verse - it means he literally arose.

So here the Torah tells us that Pharaoh arose literally - from where? From where else but from his King size bed, in the middle of the night, frightened to death.

Now let's look at next verse (12:31) and Rashi's comment.

And he (Pharaoh) called to Moses and to Aaron that night: Rashi: This tells us that he (Pharaoh) went around to all the doors of the city shouting 'Where does Moses reside?"- Where does Aaron reside?"

What would you ask here?

Your Question:

QUESTIONING RASHI

A Question: How does Rashi know that Pharaoh went around searching for Moses and Aaron? Why doesn't he take the simple meaning that he called to them, without saying that he went searching for them?

Hint: This comment is also (as the previous one) based on a grammatical nuance.

Your Answer:

UNDERSTANDING RASHI

An Answer: There is a subtle grammatical point here. Whenever the Torah says (in Hebrew) "Vayikra el" somebody, it means He called to somebody (meaning he spoke to him). But when it says "Vayikra l' somebody, it means he summoned him, that is "he called for" the person.

Our verse has vayikra l'Moshe and l'Aaron so it means he summoned them, not he spoke with them. (The next verse actually says "He said ...)

A CLOSER LOOK

But how does Rashi know it was Pharaoh himself who went looking for them?

Can you suggest an answer?

Hint: Look at verse 30.

Your Answer:

An Answer: I would say that since verse 30 specifies "Pharaoh, his servants and all Egypt", if Pharaoh had sent his servants to look for Moses, it would have mentioned them here, as well. But it doesn't mention servants in our verse, so I conclude that it was Pharaoh alone who did the searching.

A LESSON

Rashi's sensitive ear to Biblical Hebrew is often the basis for his comments.

Shabbat Shalom
Avigdor Bonchek

"What's Bothering Rashi?" is produced by the Institute for the Study of Rashi and Early Commentaries. The five volume set of "What's Bothering Rashi?" is available at Judaica bookstores.

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