Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vaeira Shelishi: Hashem instructs Moshe (Tuesday 24th Teves)

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Shelishi

  1. Hashem instructs Moshe:
    • Hashem told Moshe to go and tell Pharaoh all that I commanded you, and Moshe replied that he has a speech impairment and hence cannot talk. Hashem replied to Moshe that He has appointed him as a ruler to Pharaoh, and Aaron will be his speaker. “You will speak all that I have commanded you, and Aaron will speak to Pharaoh, and he will send the Jewish people from his land. I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and increase my miracles and wonders in Egypt. Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will smite Egypt and take out my nation from Egypt with great plagues. Egypt will then know that I am G-d.” Moshe and Aaron did as they were told.
    • Moshe was 80 years old while Aaron was 83 years old at the time they spoke to Pharaoh.

Q&A on Rashi

Q1: Why does the Torah repeat “God spoke to Moses” in 6:29?

A: Because the narrative was interrupted by the genealogy of Moses and Aaron. The Torah now resumes the previous subject, like someone saying: “Let’s review what we said before.”

 

Q2: What does “I am God” mean here?

A: It means: “I am capable enough to send you and to carry out the mission I have given you.”

 

Q3: Why does Moses repeat his objection about being “of blocked lips”?

A: This is the same statement he made earlier (6:12), but Scripture repeats it because the narrative was interrupted. It’s a stylistic review.

 

Q4: What does “I have made you a god for Pharaoh” mean (7:1)?

A: It means a judge and castigator, empowered to punish Pharaoh with plagues. The word “אֱלֹהִים” here refers to authority, not divinity.

 

Q5: What does “Aaron will be your prophet” mean?

A: Onkelos translates it as “your interpreter.” Aaron will proclaim and articulate Moses’ words clearly to Pharaoh. The term “נביא” (prophet) here relates to speech—like “ניב שפתיים” (speech of the lips).

 

Q6: Why does God say, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (7:3)?

A: Because Pharaoh wickedly opposed God, and it was clear he would not repent sincerely. God hardened his heart to multiply signs and wonders, so Israel would recognize His power.
Note: In the first five plagues, it says “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened,” not “God hardened his heart.”

 

Q7: What is the purpose of the plagues according to Rashi?

A: To punish sinful nations so that Israel hears and fears God, as in the verse: “I destroyed nations… Surely you will now fear Me.” (Zephaniah 3:6–7)

 

Q8: What does “My hand” mean in 7:4?

A: A real hand—God will strike Egypt with great chastisements.

 

Q9: How old were Moses and Aaron when they spoke to Pharaoh?

A: Moses was 80 years old, and Aaron was 83 years old.

 

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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