Va'erah

Real Consequences

Adapted from Or Hachayim, R. Chaim Ben Attar (1696-1742)

All the waters of the Nile turned to blood. The fish that were in the Nile died . . .The frogs rose up and covered the land of Egypt . . . Pharaoh said, I will let the nation go . . . and the frogs died . . . The astrologers told Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" . . . but he didn't listen to them.

Par'oh, Egypt's leader, is obstinate. He will not grant Moshe's first request, freedom for the Israelite slaves to celebrate a 3-day religious festival in the wilderness. God responds harshly - but not just to Par'oh. God's plague of blood affects all the people of Egypt, and kills all the fish in the Nile. God's plague of frogs affects all the houses, yards, and fields of Egypt, and kills all the frogs.

If only Par'oh is obstinate, why are the people, fish, and frogs punished? We could say that the Egyptian people benefit from Israelite slavery and that they are responsible for influencing their leaders. But what can we say about the fish and frogs?

Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar says: "This was not a 'sleight-of-hand' magical illusion that only looks a certain way to the audience. This was an actual event that killed even the fish." In other words, the plagues are not meant to show Par'oh that God is more powerful than he is. Rather, they are an attempt to show Par'oh the real consequences of his actions. His actions affect even the most innocent bystanders in the natural environment. But when Par'oh sees this, he is unable to care - and this failing destroys his kingdom.

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