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Exodus 10:20 - Divine will tests Pharaoh's defiance.

Exodus 10:20 - שמות 10:20

Hebrew Text

וַיְחַזֵּק יְהוָה אֶת־לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא שִׁלַּח אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

English Translation

But the Lord hardened Par῾o’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Yisra᾽el go.

Transliteration

Vaychazek Adonai et-lev Paroh velo shilach et-bnei Yisrael.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שִׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ <span class="mam-spi-pe">{פ}</span><br>
וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שִׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart

The verse states: "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go" (Shemot 9:12). This concept appears multiple times during the plagues, raising theological and ethical questions about free will and divine intervention.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Shemot 7:3) explains that Hashem hardened Pharaoh’s heart after Pharaoh had already demonstrated his own wickedness by refusing to release Bnei Yisrael despite witnessing the first five plagues. At that point, Hashem removed Pharaoh’s ability to repent fully, ensuring he would face the consequences of his earlier choices. This aligns with the principle of "measure for measure" (middah k'neged middah)—Pharaoh hardened his own heart first, so Hashem allowed it to remain hardened.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 6:3) addresses the philosophical dilemma, teaching that while humans have free will, a person who sins repeatedly may reach a point where repentance becomes impossible as a form of divine punishment. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened because he had already chosen evil consistently, demonstrating his refusal to change.

Midrashic Insights

  • Midrash Tanchuma (Va'era 7) compares Pharaoh to a debtor whose creditor first asks for repayment gently, then forcefully seizes collateral. Similarly, Hashem gave Pharaoh chances to repent before hardening his heart.
  • Shemot Rabbah (13:3) teaches that Pharaoh’s stubbornness served a greater purpose: to demonstrate Hashem’s power through all ten plagues, ensuring both Egypt and Bnei Yisrael would recognize His sovereignty.

Moral and Theological Implications

The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart underscores key Jewish beliefs:

  • Divine Justice: Pharaoh’s punishment was a consequence of his own actions, not arbitrary cruelty.
  • Free Will: Initially, Pharaoh had the choice to relent; only after persistent defiance did his capacity for repentance diminish.
  • Kiddush Hashem: The plagues and Pharaoh’s resistance ultimately revealed Hashem’s glory to the world.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Berakhot 9a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about divine intervention in human free will, specifically regarding Pharaoh's hardened heart.
📖 Sanhedrin 105b
The verse is cited in a broader discussion about the nature of Pharaoh's stubbornness and divine justice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Hashem harden Pharaoh's heart?
A: According to Rashi and other commentators, Hashem hardened Pharaoh's heart after he repeatedly chose evil on his own. This was a punishment for his stubbornness and refusal to let the Israelites go despite witnessing Hashem's miracles. The hardening ensured Pharaoh would receive full punishment for his earlier free-willed decisions (Rashi on Exodus 7:3).
Q: Does this mean Pharaoh had no free will?
A: No, the Rambam explains that Pharaoh first hardened his own heart through his evil choices (Exodus 7:13-14, 8:11). Only after multiple willful refusals did Hashem intervene to prevent him from repenting, as a form of divine justice (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah 6:3).
Q: What lesson can we learn from Pharaoh's hardened heart?
A: The Midrash teaches that this shows how consistently choosing evil can make repentance difficult. Just as Pharaoh's heart became hardened through repeated wrongdoing, we must be careful not to let our own hearts become hardened to doing good (Midrash Tanchuma, Va'era 7).
Q: How many times was Pharaoh's heart hardened?
A: The Torah mentions Pharaoh's heart being hardened 20 times - 10 times it says Pharaoh hardened his own heart, and 10 times it says Hashem hardened it (Exodus Rabbah 13:3). This shows the progression from his initial free choice to the eventual divine punishment.
Q: Why is this important in the Exodus story?
A: The hardening of Pharaoh's heart allowed for all ten plagues to occur, demonstrating Hashem's complete power over nature and false gods. Each plague targeted a different Egyptian deity, proving Hashem's absolute sovereignty (Rashi on Exodus 12:12).