Published January 28, 2010
1) Why does Par’o choose to chase the Jews after hearing that they fled (14:5)? Did he really think that after all the plagues the Jews were going to simply return to slavery after three days?
2) Why does Moshe tell the Jews that they will witness the salvation of G-D TODAY (HAYOM) when the Jews panicked upon seeing the Egyptians approaching?
3) Why does G-D instruct Moshe to teach the command about defeating Amaleik specifically TO THE EARS OF YEHOSHUA, more so than all the mitzvot of the Land of Israel which Yehoshua would have to carry out (17:14)?
Answers - Ponder the questions first and then look here
1) The Kli Yakar explains that Par’o was told that BARACH HA’AM, the AM fled. Who is the AM? This refers to the EIREV RAV, Egyptians who joined the Jews as they left Egypt. They actually fled as opposed to the Jews who left with permission. When Par’o was told that those Egyptians fled and that the Jews seemed to be lost in the desert, he figured that he could chase after the Jews and that the EIREV RAV would join him in battling the Jews. This also explains why Par’o did not gather his entire army to chase the Jews (see 14:7). He did not need all his soldiers since he would have the benefit of joining forces with the EIREV RAV.
2) The Ohr HaChayim answers that had Moshe simply told the Jews that G-D would help them, they could fear that this would be a prolonged battle since the plagues took an entire year. Thus, Moshe calmed their fears by telling them that their salvation would take place that very day.
3) The Ohr HaChayim teaches that the previous verse relates that Yehoshua was only able to weaken (VAYACHALOSH) Amalek. G-D wanted Moshe to strengthen Yehoshua’s confidence that he would be able to accomplish the task of defeating Amalek since G-D promises that they will be successful.
Points to Ponder is prepared by Rabbi Dov Lipman who teaches at Reishit Yerushalayim and Machon Maayan in Beit shemesh and is the author of “DISCOVER: Answers for Teenagers (and Adults) to Questions about the Jewish Faith” (Feldheim) and “TIMEOUT: Sports Stories as a Game Plan for Spiritual Success” (Devora) His Hagada commentary, “FOUNDATIONS” will be published by Targum before Pesach
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