CHAMISHOH MI YODEI'A - FIVE QUESTIONS ON THE WEEKLY SEDRAH - PARSHAS BO 5771 - BS"D
1) Ch. 10, v. 5: "V'lo yuchal liros" - Rashi says that this is a shortened verse, as it does not tell us that the "onlooker" will not be able to see. How can these words be explained in a manner that there is no self-understood word left out?
2) Ch. 10, v.23: "U'l'chol bnei Yisroel hoyoh ohr b'moshvosom" - In whose homes was there light for the bnei Yisroel?
3) Ch. 11, v. 5: "U'meis KOL bchor" - The word "bchor" in our verse and in 12:12 where Moshe tells the bnei Yisroel that Hashem will smite the firstborn is spelled "mollei," with the letter "Vov" after the "chof." Where Hashem actually slays the firstborn (12:29) the word "bchor" appears three times "mollei Vov," but by the words "mibchor Paroh" the word "mibchor" is spelled mem, beis, chof, reish, missing the letter Vov. Why the changes?
4) Ch. 12, v. 28: " Va'y'hi bachatzi ha'leiloh" -The Ibn Ezra interprets, "And it was the BEGINNING OF THE SECOND HALF of the night." Why doesn't he translate these words as, "And it was at the precise moment of midnight?"
5) Ch. 13, v. 10: "L'mo'adoh" - The Baal Haturim points out that the word "l'mo'adoh" is spelled "mollei vov." Vov equals six. This teaches us that tefillin are not worn on six DAYS OF FESTIVAL, "shishoh Y'MEI mo'eid." They are Pesach, Shvuos, Rosh Hashono, Yom Kippur, Sukkos, and Shmini Atzerres. If you count accurately, you will find that there are seven days, as Pesach has a first and last day of "mo'eid." Don't answer that the Baal Haturim means six mo'adim. He specifically says "shishoh Y'MEI mo'eid," and not "shisho mo'adim."
ANSWERS:
#1
The Mahari"l Diskin says that this refers to the locust mentioned in the previous verse. There will be such a large assembly of locust that those in the lower area of the "locust cloud" that will descend to the earth will not be able to see the earth, as the sunlight will be totally blocked by the solid mass of locust above it. This will have the further deleterious effect that the locust will not easily be satiated. When one does not have the visual aid of seeing his food, he eats more (gemara Yoma 74b). The locust will then enter the Egyptians' homes (10:6) seeking more food.
#2
The Rashbam interprets this to mean that for the bnei Yisroel there was light even in the homes of the Egyptians. The Egyptians were in complete darkness while at the same location there was light for the bnei Yisroel. It would seem that this was very relevant when the bnei Yisroel came to the homes of the Egyptians to ask for vessels and clothing (12:35).
#3
Originally, Hashem planned to slay ALL firstborn, including Paroh's daughter Bisyoh. Moshe intervened for her with prayer and Hashem acquiesced. Therefore, when relating that the firstborn will be killed (11:5, 12:12), which included Bisyoh, "bchor" is spelled with a Vov, indicating EVERY firstborn. In the interim Bisyoh was excluded from punishment. When Hashem actually killed the firstborn (12:29), Paroh's daughter was saved, hence "mibchor" is spelled without a Vov. (n.l.)
#4
Possibly, he was dissatisfied with the common "And it was at the precise moment of midnight" translation, because exactly at midnight is not a point in time. The exact midway point where exactly one half of the night has passed and the second half begins, is a concept, but not a point in time. If you cut an object EXACTLY in half, you have half to one side and half to the other, but the point of the cut is not part of the object you split. This might be the reason for his pshat. (n.l.)
#5
These seven days of Yom Tov must always have at least one day that lands on a Shabbos in any given year. (Rabbi Shlomo Eliyohu Miller shlit"a)
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