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Exodus 7:11 - Can magic challenge divine power?

Exodus 7:11 - שמות 7:11

Hebrew Text

וַיִּקְרָא גַּם־פַּרְעֹה לַחֲכָמִים וְלַמְכַשְּׁפִים וַיַּעֲשׂוּ גַם־הֵם חַרְטֻמֵּי מִצְרַיִם בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם כֵּן׃

English Translation

Then Par῾o also called the wise men and the sorcerers: and the magicians of Miżrayim, they also did in like manner with their secret arts.

Transliteration

Vayikra gam-Paroh la'khakhamim velam'kashfim vaya'asu gam-hem khartumei Mitzrayim belahateihem ken.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיִּקְרָא֙ גַּם־פַּרְעֹ֔ה לַֽחֲכָמִ֖ים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֨וּ גַם־הֵ֜ם חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י מִצְרַ֛יִם בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃
וַיִּקְרָא֙ גַּם־פַּרְעֹ֔ה לַֽחֲכָמִ֖ים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֨וּ גַם־הֵ֜ם חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י מִצְרַ֛יִם בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

The verse appears in Shemot (Exodus) 7:11, describing Pharaoh's response to Aharon's staff turning into a serpent. Pharaoh summons his own wise men and sorcerers to replicate the miracle through their occult practices.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi explains that the term חַרְטֻמֵּי (chartumim) refers to Egyptian magicians who performed illusions through demonic forces or trickery. He notes that their abilities were limited compared to the divine miracles performed by Moshe and Aharon, as later events would prove (e.g., their inability to replicate the plague of lice).

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 11:16) emphasizes that Egyptian sorcery was rooted in deception and falsehood, not true divine power. He categorizes such practices as forbidden darkei ha'Emori (superstitious customs) and contrasts them with the authentic miracles from Hashem.

Midrashic Interpretation

The Midrash Tanchuma (Va'eira 9) elaborates that Pharaoh's magicians were only able to replicate the initial miracles because Hashem allowed it—to demonstrate that even their greatest efforts would ultimately fail against divine will. This foreshadowed the eventual recognition of Hashem's supremacy.

Key Lessons

  • Limits of Sorcery: Egyptian magic, though impressive, was finite and ultimately powerless against Hashem's will (as seen in later plagues).
  • Divine Strategy: Hashem permitted temporary replication of miracles to harden Pharaoh's heart and amplify the eventual revelation of divine truth.
  • Torah's Rejection of Occult: The episode reinforces the Torah's prohibition against sorcery (Devarim 18:10-12) and its insistence on relying solely on Hashem.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 67b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the nature of magic and sorcery, comparing the actions of Pharaoh's magicians to the prohibitions against witchcraft in Jewish law.
📖 Sotah 11a
The verse is mentioned in the context of discussing the plagues in Egypt and the role of Pharaoh's magicians in attempting to replicate Moses' miracles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 7:11 mean when it says Pharaoh's magicians did the same as Moshe and Aharon?
A: The verse describes how Pharaoh's magicians (chartumim) used their secret arts to replicate the first plague of turning water into blood (as seen in the following verses). Rashi explains that these were not true miracles, but illusions and tricks meant to challenge Moshe and Aharon's divine signs.
Q: Why did Pharaoh call his magicians in Exodus 7:11?
A: Pharaoh summoned his magicians to match Moshe and Aharon's miracles to show that his own 'powers' were equal. The Midrash teaches this demonstrates Pharaoh's arrogance and refusal to recognize Hashem's supremacy, despite clear signs of divine intervention.
Q: Who were the 'chartumim' (magicians) mentioned in Exodus 7:11?
A: The chartumim were Egyptian sorcerers who practiced occult arts. Rambam (Hilchos Avodah Zarah 11:16) explains they used demonic forces and trickery. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 67b) states they could manipulate nature temporarily, but their powers were limited compared to true miracles from Hashem.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Exodus 7:11 about Pharaoh's reaction to miracles?
A: The verse teaches that when people are stubborn in their beliefs (like Pharaoh), they may rationalize even clear miracles. As the Sforno notes, Pharaoh's reliance on magicians instead of accepting truth shows how arrogance can blind a person to divine messages.
Q: How does Exodus 7:11 connect to the larger story of the plagues?
A: This verse sets the stage for the plagues by showing Pharaoh's resistance. While his magicians could imitate the first plagues (like blood and frogs), they failed by the third plague (lice), proving their limitations (as Rashi notes on Exodus 8:14). This progression highlights Hashem's ultimate power.