Category: Uncategorized

The problem that the Egyptians had was that they did not treat their slaves with respect since they considered them not to be human. The Torah teaches us that even a slave has to be treated with respect and that they were also created in the image of God.

The reason that the first commandment that the Jews receive is to teach them the responsibility of being free. A free person is also responsible for their actions. A slave is not.

When Pharaoh says that only the men can go to worship God Moses immediately refuses the offer. All the Jews, men, women and children, will go. This is a basic principle in the Torah. We leave no Jew behind.

The biggest problem that Pharaoh had was that he was not able to admit he was wrong. He chose to blame the Jews even though he was at fault for not heeding God.

When every shred of evidence should have convinced Pharaoh that his policies would lead to disaster, he stubbornly refused to change. This was his march of folly.

All the plagues in Egypt, except the 10th, were opposed to the gods of Egypt which were nature gods. God was making the point that He controlled nature, not the other way around.

When Moses goes to announce the plague of blood he encounters Pharaoh in the early hours of the morning. This was to teach that even though Pharaoh was thought to be a god in Egypt he was not.

The Torah states that a new Pharaoh came into power that did not know Joseph. This teaches that it did not matter what the Jews did for Egypt they simply were against the Jews.

Gad and Asher were given their blessings one after the other. Gad helped with the liberation of the land. Asher would be the economic powerhouse of the nation. You need a good economy to have a good military.

The blessing that Jacob gave Zevulun was that he should be successful in business so that he could support Issachar who would learn. If the economy is weak so too the Torah learning will be weak.