Weekly Portion "BO"
Parashat 'Bo' literally 'Come.' Translated as 'Go' in the first sentence 'Go to Pharaoh.' It should be 'Come unto Phariah.'
Exodus chapters 10, 11, 12, and most of ch. 13 (13:1-16).
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Moses and his brother Aharon had been sent by God to release the Hebrews from servitude in Egypt. Pharaoh, the King of Egypt refused to let the People of Israel go. Consequently God through Moses had already sent 7 plagues upon the Egyptians.
The plagues that had already been sent were:
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Plague 1 - Water turning into blood; fish dying, etc.. ...
Plague 2 - Frogs over everywhere and in everything. ...
Plague 3 - Fleas or some type of flea-like insect
Plague 4 - Mixed hordes of wild animals invading human habitations
Plague 5 - livestock dying
Plague 6Â - boils.
Plague 7Â - hail and brimstone i.e. a fiery substance falling from heaven destroying plant life and hurting people.
In this portion "BO" 3 more plagues are described:
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Plague 8 - Locusts. ...
Plague 9 - Darkness over all Habitations of the Egyptians but not of the Hebrews.
Plague 10 - Firstborn Death of the Egyptians and their foreign captives and their animals BUT NOT Of the Hebrew firstborn and not of those foreigners who went to sojourn with the Hebrews.
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Plague 8. The Plague of LocustsÂ
Exodus (MEV)Â 10
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I might show these signs of Mine before him, 2 in order that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your sons son, what things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.
3 Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and said to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.Â
Note the expression:
The LORD, the God of the Hebrews.
God is the Creator, the ONLY GOD. He created everything and rules over everything yet HE deiced to particularize HIS Presence in this world through becoming the God of Israel. This is how HE has made HIMSELF known.
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Moses warned Pharaoh that if he did not release the locusts a plague of locusts would come over the land. Pharaoh refused and sent Moses and Aharon away.
The servants of Pharaoh exhorted him to the let the Israelites go so he called Moses and Aharon back.
Pharaoh was prepared to let the adult men go (and return) but nobody else. Moses demanded that the men women and children and the livestock all be set free.
So 10:11 Then they were driven out from Pharaohs presence.
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After that plague of locusts was sent over Egypt.
Plague 9.  Darkness
Exodus 10:
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness which may be felt. 22 So Moses stretched forth his hand toward the heavens, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, Go, serve the LORD. Only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even let your little ones also go with you.
25 But Moses said, You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock will go with us also. Not a hoof will be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God. And we do not know with what we must serve the LORD, until we get there.
27 But the LORD hardened Pharaohs heart, and he would not let them go. 28 So Pharaoh said to him, Get away from me! Watch yourself, do not see my face anymore; for in the day you see my face you shall die.
29 Then Moses said, As you wish. I will never see your face again.
Warning of the Final Plague
Exodus 11:
1 Now the LORD said to Moses, I will still bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt. Afterwards he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he shall surely thrust you out from here altogether. 2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold. 3 Then the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaohs servants, and in the sight of the people.
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4 Moses said, Thus says the LORD, About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill, as well as all the firstborn of beasts.
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Maidservant. Later when the Plague struck we are told that the firstborn of foreign captives also died.Cf.
Exodus 12: 29 At midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of livestock.Â
Why were the firstborn of foreign captives also stricken?Â
Midrash Rabba ("Bo") 18: 10
Many miracles the Holy One, Blessed be He, did for Israel, killing the firstborn of Egypt, who were likened to the beast, as it is said (Ezekiel 23:20) that the flesh of donkeys is their flesh. [Ezekiel 23: 20 For she lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses.]
 The killing of the firstborn of the captives. If it would have been said to the foreign captive who was in the prison, "Do you want Israel to go out and be redeemed?" He would have replied, "We will not leave in order that Israel should remain in captivity." For that reason they were punished alongside the Egyptians.
.... The Good People among the Egyptian came and made Passover with Israel and went up out of Egypt with them as it says (Exodus 12: 38)Â "A mixed multitude also went up with them." All those Egyptians who wished that Israel not be saved, died with the firstborn, as it is written (Psalm 78:51) "And struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham."
The Commandment to consecrate the First Month of Nisan was given:Â
Exodus 12:
1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 2 This month shall be the beginning of months to you. It shall be the first month of the year to you.
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This is the Hebrew month of Nisan. It is the first month for ceremonial purposes and for matters connected with the Festivals. Otherwise the month of Tishrei is the 1st month and Nisan is the 7th month.
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Plague no.10: Death of the Firstborn
Exodus 12:
29 At midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not someone dead.
The Exodus
Exodus 12:
31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, Rise up, and get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel, and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also.
33 The Egyptians urged the people, so that they might send them out of the land in haste, for they said, We all will be dead. 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses, and they requested of the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them along with flocks and herds, a large amount of livestock. 39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened because they were driven out of Egypt and could not linger, nor had they prepared for themselves any food.
40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on the very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be observed to the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night for the LORD to be observed by all the children of Israel in their generations.
The Ordinance of PassoverÂ
Exodus 12:
43 So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance of the Passover:
No foreigner may eat of it. 44 But every mans servant bought with money, when you have circumcised him, may eat it. 45 A foreigner or a hired servant shall not eat it.
46 In one house shall it be eaten. You shall not carry any of the flesh outside of the house, nor shall you break a bone of it. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48 Now when a stranger sojourns with you and keeps the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it. And he shall be as one that is born in the land. However, no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 The same law shall apply to him that is a native and to the stranger who sojourns among you.
50 So all the children of Israel did it. They did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And that same day the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
Consecration of the Firstborn
Exodus 12:
13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, the firstborn of every womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast. It is Mine.
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The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Exodus 12:
3 Moses said to the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place. Nothing leavened shall be eaten. 4 On this day, you are going out, in the month of Aviv. 5 It shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this ceremony in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And there shall be no leavened bread seen among you, nor shall there be leaven seen among you in all your borders. 8 You shall declare to your son on that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt. 9 It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial on your forehead, in order that the LORDs law may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall, therefore, keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.
The Law of the FirstbornÂ
Exodus 12:
11 It shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, just as He swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it you, 12 that you shall set apart to the LORD the first offspring of every womb and the first offspring of every beast which you have. The males shall be the LORDs. 13 But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck, and all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
The penalty of losing a donkey if not redeeming the firstborn with a lamb reminds us that donkeys were once valuable and were the primary beast of burden.
The Prophect Zechariah prophesied that just before the End Times there will be no need to hire animals for labor. It will be an Era of mechanicisation and Automation. This is our time.
Zechariah 8:
10 For before those days there were no wages for a man nor any hire for an animal; and there was no peace from an enemy for him who went out or came in; for I set every man against his neighbor.
The narrative continues:
Exodus 12:
14 It shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that you shall say to him, With a strong hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. 16 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets on your forehead, for with a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.
 a sign on your hand and as frontlets on your forehead. These are known as 'Tefilin.' They are square leather boxes with scrolls of parchment inserted within them.
The verses written on the parchment are:
"Sanctify to me ..." (Exodus 13:1-10).
"When the LORD brings you ..." (Exodus 13:11-16).
 "Hear, O Israel ..." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
"If you observe My Commandments ..." (Deuteronomy 11:13-21).
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Frontlets. In Hebrew 'TOTAFOTH.'
In our opinion this word in Hebrew describes what the boxes are:
We consider the word TOTAFOTH to be derived from a word root 'TOPH' connoting 'empty leather containers.' This is what they are.
The Obligation to Teach our Children.
Exodus 12: 14 It shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that you shall say to him, With a strong hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage.
 This is a central theme running through the Parashah. We are commanded to tell our children about the Coming out of Egypt and the miracles that God did for the Children of Israel.Â
Exodus 10:
2 in order that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your sons son, what things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.
Exodus 12:
26 And when your children shall say to you, What does this service mean to you? 27 that you shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORDs Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our households.
Exodus 13:
8 You shall declare to your son on that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORDÂ did for me when I came forth out of Egypt. 9 It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial on your forehead, in order that the LORDs law may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.
Exodus 13:
14 It shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that you shall say to him, With a strong hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. 16 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets on your forehead, for with a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.