B"H

Wednesday, Shevat 5, 5777 / February 1, 2017

The last three plagues, Locust, darkness and the first born, are recorded in this week’s Parsha, Bo.

Each of the first eight plagues lasted a week. Moshe would warn Pharaoh for a period of three weeks that G-d was going to bring that particular plague if Pharaoh didn’t let the people go. The plague would then last for one week.

But the plague of darkness lasted six days. Here is the Torah account as related in this week’s Parsha: “Moshe stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They didn’t see one another neither was one able to rise from their place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

The plague of darkness lasted six days. The Torah speaks of three days and three days because the second three days was a much thicker and greater darkness that they couldn’t even get up or move from their places. One who was standing couldn’t sit down and the one sitting couldn’t stand up.

Q.What purpose did the plague of darkness serve, as it didn’t physically harm the Egyptians?

A.G-d promised Abraham, over four hundred years earlier, that after their enslavement his descendants will leave with great wealth. Now, as the Jewish people were about to be freed, G-d wanted to fulfill His commitment to Abraham.

During the last three days of the plague of darkness, when the Egyptians couldn’t move, the people were able to go through the homes of the their Egyptian oppressors and see all the valuables they had. This way they were able to fulfill G-d’s promise that they will leave with great wealth. Before leaving they asked their masters for gold and silver. When they refused, claiming they didn’t have any, they were able to show them where these items were.

Q.As mentioned, every plague lasted seven days, why did the plague of darkness last only six days?

A.A week after the Exodus, the Jewish people came to the sea. G-d told them to go forward into the sea. G-d provided a pillar of fire to illuminate their way. But for the Egyptians, who were chasing after them, G-d brought forth a pillar of darkness, so they wouldn’t see where to go.

This is why G-d originally brought only six days of darkness. G-d saved the last day of darkness for the time it would be needed against the Egyptians at the sea.  Everything has a reason.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

In memory of Jeno Zoldan Z”L, Forever remembered and loved by his family.

May the Neshamah have an aliyah.

Andre, Esther, Zachary, Benjamin, Jonah.