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Exodus 8:16 - Morning plea for divine service

Exodus 8:16 - שמות 8:16

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה הַשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר וְהִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה הִנֵּה יוֹצֵא הַמָּיְמָה וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה שַׁלַּח עַמִּי וְיַעַבְדֻנִי׃

English Translation

And the Lord said to Moshe, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Par῾o; lo he comes forth to the water; and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Transliteration

Vayomer Adonai el-Moshe hashkem baboker vehityatzev lifnei Par'o hine yotze hamayma ve'amarta eilav koh amar Adonai shalach ami veya'avduni.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם בַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וְהִתְיַצֵּב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה הִנֵּ֖ה יוֹצֵ֣א הַמָּ֑יְמָה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שַׁלַּ֥ח עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם בַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וְהִתְיַצֵּב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה הִנֵּ֖ה יוֹצֵ֣א הַמָּ֑יְמָה וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שַׁלַּ֥ח עַמִּ֖י וְיַֽעַבְדֻֽנִי׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Shemot 8:16) occurs during the narrative of the ten plagues, specifically before the plague of wild beasts (עָרוֹב). Hashem instructs Moshe to confront Pharaoh early in the morning as he goes to the Nile, demanding the release of Bnei Yisrael so they may serve Him.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi explains that Pharaoh would go to the Nile in the morning to relieve himself, as he pretended to be a deity and claimed not to need bodily functions. By confronting him there, Moshe exposed Pharaoh's false divinity (Rashi on Shemot 7:15). Additionally, Rashi notes that "הַשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר" (rise early in the morning) emphasizes urgency—Hashem wanted Moshe to act promptly in fulfilling the divine mission.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 6:5) derives from this episode that true service of Hashem requires freedom from external oppression. Pharaoh's refusal to "let My people go that they may serve Me" highlights that avodat Hashem must be performed willingly, not under duress.

Midrashic Insights

  • Shemot Rabbah (10:4): The Nile was significant because Pharaoh and the Egyptians worshipped it. By meeting him there, Moshe demonstrated Hashem's supremacy over their false gods.
  • Mechilta (Bo 12:1): The phrase "כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה" (Thus says the Lord) is a recurring formula in nevuah, affirming Moshe's role as Hashem's faithful messenger.

Halachic Implications

The Sifrei (Devarim 26) links this verse to the mitzvah of zerizut (alacrity) in divine service. Just as Moshe was commanded to act early, we learn to prioritize mitzvot with enthusiasm—a principle codified in Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 1:1).

Symbolism of the Nile

The Kli Yakar notes that Pharaoh's reliance on the Nile—a source of Egypt's sustenance—symbolized his arrogance in believing he controlled life’s necessities. Moshe’s confrontation there underscored that true sustenance comes only from Hashem.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Hashem tell Moshe to meet Pharaoh by the water in the morning?
A: According to Rashi, Pharaoh would go to the Nile River early in the morning to worship it as a god (since the Nile was central to Egypt's agriculture). Hashem instructed Moshe to confront Pharaoh there to demonstrate that the true G-d has power even over what Pharaoh considered divine.
Q: What does 'Let my people go, that they may serve me' mean?
A: The Rambam explains that the ultimate purpose of the Exodus wasn't just freedom from slavery, but freedom to serve Hashem. True liberation means being able to fulfill our spiritual purpose through Torah and mitzvot. This verse establishes that Jewish freedom is intrinsically linked to divine service.
Q: Why does the Torah emphasize that Moshe should rise early?
A: The Midrash teaches that rising early shows zeal in fulfilling Hashem's commandments. Additionally, the Talmud (Yoma 28b) notes that Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov all rose early to serve G-d, establishing this as a model for Jewish devotion. Moshe's early rising demonstrated his commitment to redeeming Israel.
Q: How does this verse relate to our lives today?
A: The Sfas Emes explains that just as Moshe was told to confront Pharaoh where he felt most powerful, we too must face our personal 'Egypts' - the areas where we feel most enslaved to negative habits or attitudes. The call to serve Hashem reminds us that true freedom comes through Torah observance.
Q: Why does Hashem keep saying 'Let my people go' throughout the plagues?
A: The Ohr HaChaim explains that each repetition reinforced that: 1) The Israelites are Hashem's chosen people, 2) Pharaoh had no legitimate claim over them, and 3) The purpose was always spiritual service, not just physical freedom. Each plague made this message clearer as Pharaoh's resistance became increasingly irrational.