EGYPT
One of the best-known themes in the story of the Exodus from Egypt is that of the ten plagues with which the Creator struck Egypt. They were devastating plagues, to the point that some Egyptologists, such as David Rohl, suggest that the invasion of the Hyksos, who took over Egypt for more than 150 years, was a direct consequence of this devastation that left the mighty Egyptians weakened, both militarily as well as economically.
But how could Egypt allow that to happen? How can we explain that Pharaoh systematically refused to free the Jewish slaves and thus caused his own destruction? As we all know, Moses, in the name of the God of the Hebrews, says over and over again to Pharaoh: “If you do not let the Israelites leave, you will suffer the consequences. But if you free my people. There will be no more plagues. The ‘ceasefire’ is 100% in your hands.”
Pharaoh’s refusal to free the Israelites seems inexplicable. First of all, he shows that he doesn’t care about his civilians or those citizens he supposedly should protect. There is a dramatic scene that illustrates this situation. The text is in Shemot (Exodus 10:7-8). When Pharaoh’s servants reproach their boss: “How long will you continue to bring about our downfall (“lanu” refers to the Egyptian citizens). Let these people—the Jews—out before we realize that Egypt is completely destroyed.”
I repeat: Pharaoh only had to do one thing to prevent the destruction of Egypt: free the Israelites. If he let him go, the plagues would come to an end.
The million-dollar question is why Pharaoh acted in that irrational way, causing the destruction and ruin of Egypt.
The pharaohs only cared about their honor, reputation and especially staying in power. And this entire power apparatus would collapse if it showed weakness. Pharaoh only relented in the last plague when the issue affected him personally: when he lost his firstborn and felt that his own life was in danger.
From the biblical point of view, Pharaoh’s stubbornness was the product of divine intervention. Maimonides explains that there was a combination of both factors: the Pharaoh’s initial stubbornness, the result of his arrogance, had put him at a dead end; he had crossed the red line of his own will, and once there, the Creator, no longer allowed him to turn back.
God had told Moshe explicitly that he was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart to give Egypt its well-deserved punishment for having done so much harm to our people, and it would demonstrate who the true God is.
GAZA
The international press reports that more than 20,000 people have already died in Gaza. The cities are destroyed. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic: hunger, diseases, and devastation. The entire world demands a ceasefire. And the Israeli army is ready to suspend its offensive. Yes, really! All the Pharaoh of Gaza has to do is surrender and free the Israelis. Let them come out of his captivity. As Anthony Blinken said this week (see below), the solution to this conflict is 100% in Hamas’s hands. So why doesn’t the leader of the Palestinians free the Israelis held captive by him? Why does he continue to bring about the destruction of his cities and the ruin of the citizens he is supposed to protect?
The leaders of Gaza seem to act with the same arrogance as the Egyptian monarch and act towards his people with the same disregard for their lives that the Pharaoh had.
This insistence on preferring the destruction of Gaza and the loss of lives to “turn back and free the captive Israelis” has put them at a dead end. They have crossed the red line, and once there, the Mighty Hand (יד חזקה ) of HaShem’s army gives them a well-deserved punishment for the terrible massacre they have caused to our people.
Some political commentators are also surprised by the self-destructive irrationality of the Houthis in Yemen: why did they begin these maritime aggressions by provoking the United States and a coalition of European countries? Will the same happen with the pharaohs of Hezbollah, who, despite having so much to lose by provoking Israel – as has been demonstrated up to this point – do not stop their attacks? Could the Pharaohs of Yemen, Lebanon, and Tehran follow the same path as those of Gaza? Or could the invisible Mighty Hand of Heaven be hardening the hearts of the new Pharaohs to bring an epic victory to the State of Israel and reshape the Middle East, as Netanyahu anticipated?
As we watch these events unfolding day by day, I confess that to me, this confrontation between Israel and its bad neighbors looks more and more like “a biblical story.”
May God protect Medinat Israel.
May the Creator grant our heroic soldiers final victory.
May God grant our political leaders the wisdom, temperance, and courage to make the best possible decisions.
Rabbi Yosef Bitton
