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Exodus 10:19 - Divine wind banishes plague.

Exodus 10:19 - שמות 10:19

Hebrew Text

וַיַּהֲפֹךְ יְהוָה רוּחַ־יָם חָזָק מְאֹד וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת־הָאַרְבֶּה וַיִּתְקָעֵהוּ יָמָּה סּוּף לֹא נִשְׁאַר אַרְבֶּה אֶחָד בְּכֹל גְּבוּל מִצְרָיִם׃

English Translation

And the Lord turned a very strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Sea of Suf; there remained not one locust in all the borders of Miżrayim.

Transliteration

Vayahafokh Adonai ruach-yam chazak me'od vayisa et-ha'arbe vayitka'ehu yama suf lo nish'ar arbe echad bechol gvul Mitzrayim.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיַּהֲפֹ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֤ה רֽוּחַ־יָם֙ חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֔ד וַיִּשָּׂא֙ אֶת־הָ֣אַרְבֶּ֔ה וַיִּתְקָעֵ֖הוּ יָ֣מָּה סּ֑וּף לֹ֤א נִשְׁאַר֙ אַרְבֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֥וּל מִצְרָֽיִם׃
וַיַּהֲפֹ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֤ה רֽוּחַ־יָם֙ חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֔ד וַיִּשָּׂא֙ אֶת־הָ֣אַרְבֶּ֔ה וַיִּתְקָעֵ֖הוּ יָ֣מָּה סּ֑וּף לֹ֤א נִשְׁאַר֙ אַרְבֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֥וּל מִצְרָֽיִם׃

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Parasha Commentary

Rashi's Explanation of the Wind's Role

Rashi (Exodus 10:19) explains that the "very strong west wind" (רוּחַ־יָם) was a deliberate act of divine precision. The wind came from the west (yam) rather than the east (kadim), as an east wind would have brought new locusts into Egypt. This demonstrates Hashem's meticulous control over nature—using a wind that could remove the plague without risk of introducing more locusts.

Midrashic Insights on the Locusts' Disposal

The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 13:7) notes that the locusts were cast into the "Sea of Suf" (יָמָּה סּוּף) to prevent any possibility of their return. Unlike other plagues where remnants might remain (e.g., frogs dying in the fields), here not a single locust was left—fulfilling the Torah's emphatic statement: "לא נשאר ארבה אחד" ("there remained not one locust"). This underscores the completeness of Hashem's judgment against Pharaoh.

Rambam on Natural Forces in Miracles

Rambam (Guide for the Perplexed 2:48) discusses how Hashem often employs natural phenomena (like winds) to execute miracles, thereby maintaining the integrity of creation's order. Here, the wind's strength and direction were orchestrated to achieve a supernatural outcome—total eradication of the locusts—while operating within a natural framework.

Symbolism of the Sea of Suf

  • The Sea of Suf (Red Sea) later becomes the site of Egypt's ultimate downfall during the Exodus, foreshadowing their future judgment.
  • The Zohar (Beshalach) connects this event to the concept of "measure for measure": just as Egypt drowned Hebrew infants (Exodus 1:22), the locusts—a symbol of their cruelty—were drowned in turn.

Halachic Implication: Destroying Harmful Creatures

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 105b) derives from this verse that one may annihilate a destructive species entirely when it poses a threat. The phrase "לא נשאר ארבה אחד" ("not one locust remained") is cited as a precedent for eradicating existential dangers to a community.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 10:19 mean?
A: Exodus 10:19 describes how Hashem ended the plague of locusts in Egypt by sending a strong west wind that carried all the locusts into the Sea of Suf (Red Sea), leaving not a single locust in Egypt. This shows Hashem's complete control over nature and His ability to bring and remove plagues as He wills.
Q: Why is the removal of the locusts significant?
A: The removal of the locusts is significant because it demonstrated that the plague was not a natural disaster but a divine act. According to Rashi, the fact that not even one locust remained showed that the Egyptians couldn't claim they simply flew away on their own—it was clearly Hashem's intervention.
Q: What can we learn from Exodus 10:19 today?
A: We learn that Hashem has absolute power over nature and can reverse even the most devastating situations in an instant. The Midrash teaches that this event was a lesson in divine justice—just as the locusts were completely removed, so too can suffering be lifted when people repent and turn to Hashem.
Q: Why did Hashem use a wind to remove the locusts?
A: The Rambam explains that Hashem often uses natural forces (like wind) to perform miracles, showing that He works within the framework of creation. The strong west wind (רוּחַ־יָם) was a deliberate choice to demonstrate that even the winds obey Hashem's command.
Q: What is the Sea of Suf mentioned in this verse?
A: The Sea of Suf (יָם סּוּף), often called the Red Sea, is the same body of water where the Israelites later crossed during the Exodus. Rashi notes that drowning the locusts there was a hint of the future miracle that would happen at the same sea, reinforcing Hashem's consistent power over Egypt.