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Exodus 11:1 - Final plague frees Israel.

Exodus 11:1 - שמות 11:1

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה עוֹד נֶגַע אֶחָד אָבִיא עַל־פַּרְעֹה וְעַל־מִצְרַיִם אַחֲרֵי־כֵן יְשַׁלַּח אֶתְכֶם מִזֶּה כְּשַׁלְּחוֹ כָּלָה גָּרֵשׁ יְגָרֵשׁ אֶתְכֶם מִזֶּה׃

English Translation

And the Lord said to Moshe, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Par῾o, and upon Miżrayim; afterwards he will let you go from here: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out altogether from here.

Transliteration

Vayomer Adonai el-Moshe od nega echad avi al-Paro ve'al-Mitzrayim acharei-chen yeshalach etchem mizeh k'shalcho kala garesh yegaresh etchem mizeh.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה ע֣וֹד נֶ֤גַע אֶחָד֙ אָבִ֤יא עַל־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְעַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֕ן יְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּ֑ה כְּשַׁ֨לְּח֔וֹ כָּלָ֕ה גָּרֵ֛שׁ יְגָרֵ֥שׁ אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּֽה׃
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה ע֣וֹד נֶ֤גַע אֶחָד֙ אָבִ֤יא עַל־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְעַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֕ן יְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּ֑ה כְּשַׁ֨לְּח֔וֹ כָּלָ֕ה גָּרֵ֛שׁ יְגָרֵ֥שׁ אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּֽה׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Shemot 11:1) appears just before the final plague, Makat Bechorot (the Plague of the Firstborn), which would ultimately compel Pharaoh to release Bnei Yisrael from Egypt. Hashem informs Moshe that after this last plague, Pharaoh will not merely permit their departure but will forcefully expel them.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi comments on the phrase "עוֹד נֶגַע אֶחָד" ("one plague more"), noting that this refers to the death of the firstborn. He explains that the term "נֶגַע" (plague) is used here instead of "מכה" (strike) to emphasize that this affliction would be particularly severe, as it would strike the firstborn of every household, including Pharaoh's own son.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 6:4) discusses the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in the broader context of free will and divine justice. Here, Hashem foretells that Pharaoh will ultimately relent, demonstrating that even a stubborn ruler is subject to Hashem's will when the time for redemption arrives.

Midrashic Insights

  • The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 13:4) highlights the phrase "כְּשַׁלְּחוֹ כָּלָה גָּרֵשׁ יְגָרֵשׁ" ("he shall surely thrust you out altogether"), teaching that Pharaoh would not merely allow Bnei Yisrael to leave but would actively drive them out in haste, fulfilling the promise made to Avraham Avinu (Bereishit 15:14).
  • Another Midrash (Tanchuma Bo 7) notes that the term "מִזֶּה" ("from here") alludes not only to physical departure from Egypt but also to liberation from the spiritual impurity (tumah) of Egyptian culture.

Ibn Ezra's Commentary

Ibn Ezra explains that the doubling of the verb "גָּרֵשׁ יְגָרֵשׁ" ("thrust you out altogether") emphasizes the completeness of the expulsion. Pharaoh would not retain any Israelites as slaves; their liberation would be total and irreversible.

Halachic Implications

The Sforno connects this verse to the mitzvah of Pesach Mitzrayim, noting that the urgency of Pharaoh's expulsion is why Bnei Yisrael had to eat the Korban Pesach in haste (Shemot 12:11), with their dough not having time to rise—a foundational element of the prohibition of chametz on Pesach.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 11:1 mean when it says 'one plague more'?
A: Exodus 11:1 refers to the final and most severe plague—the death of the firstborn (מכת בכורות). Rashi explains that this was the 'one plague more' that would finally break Pharaoh's resistance and force him to let the Israelites leave Egypt completely (גרש יגרש).
Q: Why did Hashem tell Moshe about the final plague in advance?
A: Hashem informed Moshe beforehand to strengthen his leadership and reassure Bnei Yisrael (the Children of Israel) that their redemption was certain. The Ramban notes that this prophecy gave them confidence that Pharaoh would ultimately relent, despite his previous stubbornness.
Q: What does 'thrust you out altogether' (גרש יגרש) mean in Exodus 11:1?
A: The double language (גרש יגרש) emphasizes that Pharaoh would not merely permit the Israelites to leave—he would urgently expel them. The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah) explains that after the final plague, the Egyptians would insist on their immediate departure, even providing them with gifts to hasten their exit (as later seen in Exodus 12:33-36).