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Exodus 11:10 - Divine justice through hardened heart

Exodus 11:10 - שמות 11:10

Hebrew Text

וּמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן עָשׂוּ אֶת־כָּל־הַמֹּפְתִים הָאֵלֶּה לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה וַיְחַזֵּק יְהוָה אֶת־לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא־שִׁלַּח אֶת־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצוֹ׃

English Translation

And Moshe and Aharon did all these wonders before Par῾o: and the Lord hardened Par῾o’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Yisra᾽el go out of his land.

Transliteration

U-Moshe ve-Aharon asu et-kol-ha-moftim ha-eleh lifnei Faroh va-yechazek Adonai et-lev Faroh ve-lo-shilach et-bnei-Yisrael me-artzo.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּמֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאַהֲרֹ֗ן עָשׂ֛וּ אֶת־כׇּל־הַמֹּפְתִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹֽא־שִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃ <span class="mam-spi-samekh">{ס}</span>        
וּמֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאַהֲרֹ֗ן עָשׂ֛וּ אֶת־כׇּל־הַמֹּפְתִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלֹֽא־שִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃ {ס}        

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Parasha Commentary

Moshe and Aharon's Miracles Before Pharaoh

The verse states that Moshe and Aharon performed all the wonders (mofetim) before Pharaoh. Rashi (Shemot 7:3) explains that these wonders refer to the ten plagues, demonstrating Hashem's absolute power over creation. The term mofetim implies not merely signs but extraordinary supernatural events that defy nature, as emphasized by Ramban (Shemot 7:9), who notes that these acts were undeniable proofs of divine intervention.

The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart

The phrase "Hashem hardened Pharaoh's heart" raises theological questions about free will. Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 6:3) explains that Pharaoh, through his persistent evil choices, forfeited his ability to repent. Hashem's hardening was a consequence of Pharaoh's own wickedness, not an arbitrary divine decree. Similarly, the Sforno (Shemot 7:3) teaches that Pharaoh's heart was hardened to demonstrate the full measure of divine justice—giving him ample opportunity to relent before the final punishments.

Purpose of the Plagues

  • Divine Revelation: The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 9:14) states that the plagues revealed Hashem's mastery over all domains—water (blood, frogs), land (lice, wild beasts), and heavens (hail, darkness)—proving His sovereignty to Egypt and Israel.
  • Justice for Oppression: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 90a) connects each plague to a specific cruelty Pharaoh inflicted upon Bnei Yisrael, measure for measure.
  • Strengthening Emunah: The Netziv (Ha'amek Davar, Shemot 7:17) explains that the hardening ensured the plagues would escalate, thereby solidifying Israel's faith in their redemption.

Pharaoh's Resistance and Free Will

The Ohr HaChaim (Shemot 7:3) offers a nuanced interpretation: Pharaoh retained free will initially, but after repeatedly defying Hashem's signs, his heart became spiritually desensitized. This aligns with the principle that repeated sin dulls moral sensitivity (Yoma 39a). The hardening was thus a natural consequence of his obstinacy, not a revocation of his free will at the outset.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Hashem harden Pharaoh's heart?
A: According to Rashi and other commentators, Hashem hardened Pharaoh's heart after the first five plagues when Pharaoh himself had hardened his heart repeatedly. This was a form of Divine justice - since Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let the Israelites go despite clear signs, Hashem removed his free will temporarily as punishment, leading to greater demonstrations of Divine power through the later plagues.
Q: What is the significance of Moshe and Aharon performing the wonders?
A: The Torah emphasizes that Moshe and Aharon performed the miracles to show that they were acting as Hashem's true messengers. As the Rambam explains, authentic prophets must demonstrate their connection to the Divine through signs and wonders that come to pass exactly as predicted, which establishes their credibility to lead the Jewish people.
Q: Why does the Torah mention that the wonders were done 'before Pharaoh'?
A: The Midrash explains that performing the miracles specifically before Pharaoh served two purposes: 1) To give Pharaoh every opportunity to repent and let the Israelites go, and 2) To demonstrate clearly to the Egyptian ruler that the plagues came from Hashem and weren't mere coincidences or magic tricks.
Q: How does this verse connect to the concept of free will?
A: The Talmud discusses how Pharaoh initially exercised his free will to harden his own heart against freeing the Israelites. Only after he repeatedly chose evil did Hashem intervene to harden his heart further. This teaches that while humans have free will, persistent wrongdoing can lead to diminished capacity for repentance as a form of Divine justice.
Q: What lesson can we learn today from Pharaoh's hardened heart?
A: The Sages teach that Pharaoh's story warns us not to become stubborn in wrongdoing. When a person repeatedly ignores clear signs and opportunities to do what's right, they risk becoming spiritually 'hardened.' The verse reminds us to remain open to truth and moral improvement before opportunities pass.