“The Lord spoke to Moses: Come to Pharaoh, and say to him: So said the Lord: Let My people go, and they will worship Me. If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your borders with frogs” (Exodus 7:26–27). “The Lord spoke to Moses: Come to Pharaoh.… If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite…” – that is what is written: “But the advantage of a land is in every way” (Ecclesiastes 5:8), and the entire midrash as it is written in Vayikra Rabba and in “This is the statute of the law” (Numbers 19:2):1See Vayikra Rabba 22:2; Bemidbar Rabba 18:22. Our Rabbis say: “But the advantage of a land is in every way” – even items that you view as extraneous in the world, like flies, fleas, and mosquitos, they were included in the creation of the world, regarding which it is stated: “God saw everything that He had made [and behold, it was very good]” (Genesis 1:31). Rabbi Aḥa son of Rabbi Ḥanina said: Even items that you view as extraneous in the world, like snakes and scorpions, they were included in the creation of the world. The Holy One blessed be He said to the prophets: ‘What do you think, that if you do not go on My mission I will have no emissary? “But the advantage of a land is in every way” – I will accomplish My mission even by means of a snake, or even by means of a scorpion, or even by means of a frog.’ Know that it is so, as were it not for the hornet, how would the Holy One blessed be He exact retribution against the Emorites,2See Sota 36a. and were it not for the frogs, how would He exact retribution from the Egyptians? That is what is written: “Behold, I will smite [all your borders with frogs].”
What is “behold, I will smite [nogef]”? The Holy One blessed be He said: Behold, I am forcing all the plagues upon you, as it is written: “If the ox of one man hurts [yigof]3The term nogef, translated generally “hurts,” means more specifically pushing or shoving. [another’s]” (Exodus 21:35). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Each and every plague that would come upon the Egyptians in Egypt, pestilence would accompany it, as it is stated: “Behold, I will smite.” Behold, this is the pestilence, as it is stated: “Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon your cattle” (Exodus 9:3).4According to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi nogef is in the sense of magefa, meaning plague. “[I will smite] all your borders with frogs.” Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: The plagues that the Holy One blessed be He brought upon the Egyptians caused them to make peace between them. How so? There was a dispute between the Kushites and the Egyptians. The Egyptians claimed: Our borders are until here, and the Kushites claimed: Our borders are until here. Once the frogs came they made peace between them. The border within which the frogs would enter, it was known that the field was not his,5It did not belong to the Kushites. as it is stated: “All your borders”; “your borders,” but not those of others. “The Nile will swarm with frogs that will ascend and come into your house, and into your bedchamber, and onto your bed, and into the house of your servants, and upon your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls” (Exodus 7:28). “Will ascend and come into your house” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Shalom said: The most outstanding among them will be in your house. The way of the world is that when a king of flesh and blood enters a city, each one6Each member of the king’s party is given a residence according his status, with the higher-ranking officials residing in a more elevated residence. is given a residence in accordance with his status. However, the king resides in his palace on a flat area. If so, why is it stated: “Will ascend [ve’alu] and come into your house”?7Presumably Pharaoh’s residence was not on the top of a hill, which would have made it difficult to enter. Consequently, the term “ascend” seems out of place. It is because the most outstanding [hame’ulot] among them will be in Pharaoh’s house. “And into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls” – when an Egyptian woman would knead dough and ignite the oven, the frogs would come, descend into the dough, eat the dough, descend into the oven, cool it, and adhere to the bread, as it is stated: “And into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls.” When is the time for the dough to be stuck to the oven [to bake]? When it is ignited. Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya drew an a fortiori inference for themselves from the frogs and descended into the fiery furnace.8Rather than worship idols; see Daniel, chap. 3. What is “The Nile will swarm with frogs”? The Holy One blessed be He said to him [Pharaoh]: ‘You said: “My river is mine” (Ezekiel 29:3). I will show you whether it is mine or yours, as its plague will come from Me upon it, and when I decree it will produce frogs. Just as I have decreed regarding the water: At the outset, I said: “Let the water swarm” (Genesis 1:20), and it performed My command; so, too, the Nile will perform My decree.’
“Upon you, upon your people, and upon all your servants, the frogs will ascend” (Exodus 7:29). “Upon you, upon your people” – Pharaoh began with the transgression first, as it is stated: “He said to His people…” (Exodus 1:9), and the plague began with him first, as it is stated: “Upon you,” then “upon your people,” and then “and upon all your servants.” Rabbi Aḥa said: “Upon you” – this is an indication that he would drink water and one drop would descend onto his heart and would become a frog, and it would split there.9It would split there into many frogs. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Every place where there was soil and a drop of water, a frog would be created there. Ḥizkiya son of Rabbi said: If it were in accordance with this opinion, the houses of the prominent people, which were made of marble and tiles, would not have been afflicted. Rather, it teaches that a frog would ascend from the depths and say to the marble: ‘Make room for me so I can ascend and perform the will of my Creator.’ The marble would split, and [the frog] would [then] ascend and remove their genitals and neuter them, as it is stated: “And frogs that destroyed them [vatashḥitem]” (Psalms 78:45), as it is stated: “Because their corruption [moshḥatam] is in them” (Leviticus 22:25).10This verse is written in the context of the prohibition to bring a castrated animal as an offering.
“The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause frogs to ascend upon the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:1). “The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your hand” – Rabbi Tanḥum said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The water that protected you when you were cast into the Nile will not be stricken by you.’ “Aaron extended his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs ascended and covered the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:2). “Aaron extended his hand” – why did He bring frogs upon them? It is because they were enslaving Israel and saying to them: ‘Bring us repugnant creatures and creeping animals’;11The Israelites considered this a revolting and humiliating task. therefore, He brought frogs upon them. When they would pour into a cup it would fill with frogs. “And the frogs [hatzfarde’a]12Both Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya expound their opinions from the fact that the Hebrew word for frogs is in the singular. ascended and covered…” – it is taught: Rabbi Akiva says: It was one frog, and it spawned and filled the entire land of Egypt. Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya said to him: ‘Akiva, what are you doing engaged in aggada; stop your statements, and go engage in the laws of leprosy and impurity of tents.13Your expertise is in matters of halakha, including the most intricate topics, but not aggada. There was one frog that whistled to [the others], and they came.’ “The magicians did so with their spells, and caused the frogs to ascend upon the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:3). “The magicians did so with their spells” – because they believed these were the actions of demons.
“Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: Entreat the Lord, and He will remove the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, and they will sacrifice to the Lord. Moses said to Pharaoh: Have this glory over me; for what time shall I entreat for you, for your servants, and for your people, so that the frogs will be destroyed from you and you houses, and will remain only in the Nile?” (Exodus 8:4–5). “Pharaoh called” – when the punishment began in his body, he felt it immediately and began screaming: “Entreat the Lord, and He will remove the frogs…” “Moses said… and will remain only in the Nile” – all of them will die, and the only ones remaining will be those remaining in the Nile. “He said: For tomorrow” (Exodus 8:6) – from here you learn that this was the day that the seven days would conclude. Therefore, Moses said to him: “For what time shall I entreat for you?” – for tomorrow I will entreat for you, but not for today; [and only then,] “the frogs will depart from you” (Exodus 8:7).
“Moses and Aaron emerged from Pharaoh; and Moses cried to the Lord regarding the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” (Exodus 8:8). “Moses…emerged…and…cried to the Lord regarding the frogs” – our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: It was not just the destruction that the frogs caused the Egyptians, but the sound of the frogs was harsher for them than the physical damage, as they would enter their bodies and scream inside them, as it is stated: “Regarding [al devar] the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” – regarding the speech [al dibur] of the frogs. “The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died from the houses, from the courts, and from the fields” (Exodus 8:9). “The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died” – it is because [the Egyptians] could derive no benefit from their carcasses or their skin; that is why they died.14This is in contrast to the wild animals and the locusts, which departed from Egypt (see Exodus 8:27 and 10:19) so that the Egyptians would not benefit from the hides of the animals or be able to eat the locusts. “They gathered them in heaps; and the land stank” (Exodus 8:10). “They gathered them in heaps” – this teaches that each and every one of them made four piles, and the land reeked. Because Israel reeked from the blows administered by the Egyptians, it is measure for measure. “Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and did not heed them; as the Lord had spoken” (Exodus 8:11). “Pharaoh saw that there was respite” – this is the way of the wicked; when they are in trouble they scream, but when there is respite they return to their evil ways. “As the Lord had spoken” – where did He speak? “I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go” (Exodus 3:19).
“The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your staff, and strike the dust of the earth, and it will become lice throughout the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:12). “The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your staff, and strike the dust of the earth” – Rabbi Tanḥum said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘It is not proper that the dust that protected you when you killed the Egyptian15See Exodus 2:12. will be stricken by you.’ Therefore, they were stricken with these three plagues by means of Aaron.16The first three plagues came from either the water or the dust, both of which had protected Moses in his youth. “They did so; and Aaron extended his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were lice upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:13). “Aaron extended his hand with his staff” – why did He bring lice upon them? It is because they designated [the Israelites] as sweepers of the streets and the marketplaces; that is why their dust turned into lice. They would dig a square cubit but there was no dust there, as it is stated: “All the dust of the earth became lice.” “The magicians did so with their spells to bring out the lice, but they could not; and there were gnats upon man, and upon beast” (Exodus 8:14). “The magicians did so with their spells to bring out the lice, but they could not” – Rabbi Elazar said: From here you learn that a demon is unable to create something smaller than a barley-bulk. The Rabbis say: They cannot even create something the size of a camel; rather, this it can gather and this it cannot gather.17If the item is smaller than a barley-bulk, the demons cannot even gather it from a different location. “The magicians said to Pharaoh: It is the finger of God; but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he did not heed them, as the Lord had spoken” (Exodus 8:15). “The magicians said to Pharaoh: It is the finger of God” – when the magicians saw that they were unable to produce the lice, they were immediately aware that the actions were the actions of God and not the action of demons, and they no longer sought to compare themselves to Moses and produce the plagues.
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה בֹּא אֶל פַּרְעֹה, אִם מָאֵן אַתָּה לְשַׁלֵּחַ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נֹגֵף וגו', הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (קהלת ה, ח): וְיִתְרוֹן אֶרֶץ בַּכֹּל הוּא, וְכָל הַמִּדְרָשׁ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּוַיִּקְרָא רַבָּה וּבְזֹאת חֻקַּת הַתּוֹרָה. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרִין מַהוּ וְיִתְרוֹן אֶרֶץ בַּכֹּל הוּא, אֲפִלּוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹאֶה אוֹתָן כְּאִלּוּ הֵם מְיֻתָּרִין בָּעוֹלָם, כְּגוֹן זְבוּבִים וּפַרְעוֹשִׁים וְיַתּוּשִׁין, הֵן הָיוּ בִּכְלַל בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית א, לא): וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וְרַבִּי אַחָא בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹאֶה אוֹתָן כְּאִלּוּ הֵן מְיֻתָּרִין בָּעוֹלָם, כְּגוֹן נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים, הֵן הָיוּ בִּכְלַל בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. אָמַר לָהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַנְּבִיאִים מָה אַתֶּם סְבוּרִים אִם אֵין אַתֶּם הוֹלְכִין בִּשְׁלִיחוּתִי וְכִי אֵין לִי שָׁלִיחַ, וְיִתְרוֹן אֶרֶץ בַּכֹּל הִיא, אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה שְׁלִיחוּתִי אֲפִלּוּ עַל יְדֵי נָחָשׁ אֲפִלּוּ עַל יְדֵי עַקְרָב וַאֲפִלּוּ עַל יְדֵי צְפַרְדֵּעַ, תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁאִלּוּלֵי הַצִּרְעָה הֵיאַךְ הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פּוֹרֵעַ מִן הָאֱמוֹרִיִּים, וְאִלּוּלֵי הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ הֵיאַךְ הָיָה פּוֹרֵעַ מִן הַמִּצְרִיִּים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נוֹגֵף וגו'.
“The Lord spoke to Moses: Come to Pharaoh, and say to him: So said the Lord: Let My people go, and they will worship Me. If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your borders with frogs” (Exodus 7:26–27).
“The Lord spoke to Moses: Come to Pharaoh.… If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite…” – that is what is written: “But the advantage of a land is in every way” (Ecclesiastes 5:8), and the entire midrash as it is written in Vayikra Rabba and in “This is the statute of the law” (Numbers 19:2):1See Vayikra Rabba 22:2; Bemidbar Rabba 18:22. Our Rabbis say: “But the advantage of a land is in every way” – even items that you view as extraneous in the world, like flies, fleas, and mosquitos, they were included in the creation of the world, regarding which it is stated: “God saw everything that He had made [and behold, it was very good]” (Genesis 1:31).
Rabbi Aḥa son of Rabbi Ḥanina said: Even items that you view as extraneous in the world, like snakes and scorpions, they were included in the creation of the world. The Holy One blessed be He said to the prophets: ‘What do you think, that if you do not go on My mission I will have no emissary? “But the advantage of a land is in every way” – I will accomplish My mission even by means of a snake, or even by means of a scorpion, or even by means of a frog.’ Know that it is so, as were it not for the hornet, how would the Holy One blessed be He exact retribution against the Emorites,2See Sota 36a. and were it not for the frogs, how would He exact retribution from the Egyptians? That is what is written: “Behold, I will smite [all your borders with frogs].”
מַהוּ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נֹגֵף, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֲרֵינִי דּוֹחֵק עָלֶיךָ אֶת הַמַּכּוֹת, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב (שמות כא, לה): וְכִי יִגֹּף שׁוֹר אֶת אִישׁ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר כָּל מַכָּה וּמַכָּה שֶׁהָיְתָה בָּאָה עַל הַמִּצְרִיִּים בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיָה הַדֶּבֶר מְמַשְׁמֵשׁ וּבָא עִמָּהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נוֹגֵף, הִנֵּה זֶה הַדֶּבֶר, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות ט, ג): הִנֵּה יַד ה' הוֹיָה בְּמִקְנְךָ. אֶת כָּל גְּבוּלְךָ בַּצְפַרְדְּעִים, רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה אָמְרוּ, הַמַּכּוֹת שֶׁהֵבִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל הַמִּצְרִיִּים גָּרַם לָהֶם שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם, כֵּיצַד הָיָה מַחְלֹקֶת בֵּין בְּנֵי כּוּשׁ וּבֵין בְּנֵי הַמִּצְרִיִּים, הַמִּצְרִיִּים אוֹמְרִים עַד כָּאן תְּחוּמֵנוּ, וְהַכּוּשִׁים אוֹמְרִים עַד כָּאן תְּחוּמֵנוּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ הַצְפַרְדְּעִים עָשׂוּ שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם, הַגְּבוּל שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְנָסוֹת לְתוֹכוֹ הַדָּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁאֵין הַשָֹּׂדֶה שֶׁלּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֶת כָּל גְּבוּלְךָ, גְּבוּלְךָ וְלֹא שֶׁל אֲחֵרִים. וְעָלוּ וּבָאוּ בְּבֵיתֶךָ, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר שָׁלוֹם, הַמְעֻלּוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם יִהְיוּ בְּבֵיתֶךָ, בְּנֹהַג שֶׁל עוֹלָם מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם נִכְנַס בַּמְדִינָה כָּל אֶחָד נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מָדוֹר לְפִי כְבוֹדוֹ אֲבָל הַמֶּלֶךְ לְתוֹךְ הַפַּלְטֵרִין שֶׁלּוֹ הוּא דָר בִּמְקוֹם מִישׁוֹר, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר: וְעָלוּ וּבָאוּ בְּבֵיתֶךָ, הַמְּעֻלּוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶן הָיוּ בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה. וּבְתַנּוּרֶיךָ וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶיךָ, כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה הַמִּצְרִית לָשָׁה אֶת הָעִסָּה וּמַסֶּקֶת אֶת הַתַּנּוּר, בָּאִין הַצְפַרְדְּעִים וְיוֹרְדִין לְתוֹךְ הָעִסָּה וְאוֹכְלִין אֶת הַבָּצֵק וְיוֹרְדִין לְתוֹךְ הַתַּנּוּר וּמְצַנְּנִין אוֹתוֹ וְנִדְבָּקוֹת בַּפַּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וּבְתַנּוּרֶיךָ וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶיךָ, וְאֵימָתַי עוֹנָתָהּ שֶׁל עִסָּה לְהִדָּבֵק בַּתַּנּוּר, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא מֻסָּק, מִן הַצְפַרְדְּעִים נָשְׂאוּ חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה קַל וָחֹמֶר בְּעַצְמָן, וְיָרְדוּ לְתוֹךְ כִּבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ. וּמַהוּ וְשָׁרַץ הַיְאֹר צְפַרְדְּעִים, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ (יחזקאל כט, ג): לִי יְאֹרִי, אַרְאֶה אוֹתְךָ אִם הוּא שֶׁלִּי אוֹ שֶׁלְךָ, שֶׁמַּכָּתוֹ מִמֶּנִּי תָּבוֹא עָלָיו וַאֲנִי גּוֹזֵר עָלָיו וְהוּא יַעֲלֶה צְפַרְדְּעִים, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁגָּזַרְתִּי עַל הַמַּיִם, שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה אָמַרְתִּי (בראשית א, כ): יִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם וְעָשׂוּ צִוּוּיִי, כֵּן הַיְאוֹר יַעֲשֶׂה גְּזֵרָתִי.
What is “behold, I will smite [nogef]”? The Holy One blessed be He said: Behold, I am forcing all the plagues upon you, as it is written: “If the ox of one man hurts [yigof]3The term nogef, translated generally “hurts,” means more specifically pushing or shoving. [another’s]” (Exodus 21:35). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Each and every plague that would come upon the Egyptians in Egypt, pestilence would accompany it, as it is stated: “Behold, I will smite.” Behold, this is the pestilence, as it is stated: “Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon your cattle” (Exodus 9:3).4According to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi nogef is in the sense of magefa, meaning plague.
“[I will smite] all your borders with frogs.” Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: The plagues that the Holy One blessed be He brought upon the Egyptians caused them to make peace between them. How so? There was a dispute between the Kushites and the Egyptians. The Egyptians claimed: Our borders are until here, and the Kushites claimed: Our borders are until here. Once the frogs came they made peace between them. The border within which the frogs would enter, it was known that the field was not his,5It did not belong to the Kushites. as it is stated: “All your borders”; “your borders,” but not those of others.
“The Nile will swarm with frogs that will ascend and come into your house, and into your bedchamber, and onto your bed, and into the house of your servants, and upon your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls” (Exodus 7:28).
“Will ascend and come into your house” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Shalom said: The most outstanding among them will be in your house. The way of the world is that when a king of flesh and blood enters a city, each one6Each member of the king’s party is given a residence according his status, with the higher-ranking officials residing in a more elevated residence. is given a residence in accordance with his status. However, the king resides in his palace on a flat area. If so, why is it stated: “Will ascend [ve’alu] and come into your house”?7Presumably Pharaoh’s residence was not on the top of a hill, which would have made it difficult to enter. Consequently, the term “ascend” seems out of place. It is because the most outstanding [hame’ulot] among them will be in Pharaoh’s house.
“And into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls” – when an Egyptian woman would knead dough and ignite the oven, the frogs would come, descend into the dough, eat the dough, descend into the oven, cool it, and adhere to the bread, as it is stated: “And into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls.” When is the time for the dough to be stuck to the oven [to bake]? When it is ignited. Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya drew an a fortiori inference for themselves from the frogs and descended into the fiery furnace.8Rather than worship idols; see Daniel, chap. 3.
What is “The Nile will swarm with frogs”? The Holy One blessed be He said to him [Pharaoh]: ‘You said: “My river is mine” (Ezekiel 29:3). I will show you whether it is mine or yours, as its plague will come from Me upon it, and when I decree it will produce frogs. Just as I have decreed regarding the water: At the outset, I said: “Let the water swarm” (Genesis 1:20), and it performed My command; so, too, the Nile will perform My decree.’
וּבְכָה וּבְעַמְּךָ, פַּרְעֹה הִתְחִיל בַּעֲבֵרָה תְּחִלָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות א, ט י): וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל עַמּוֹ, וּבוֹ הִתְחִילָה הַמַּכָּה תְּחִלָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וּבְכָה, וְאַחַר כָךְ וּבְעַמְּךָ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ וּבְכָל עֲבָדֶיךָ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא וּבְכָה רְאָיָה שֶׁהָיָה שׁוֹתֶה מַיִם וְטִפָּה אַחַת יוֹרֶדֶת עַל לִבּוֹ וְנַעֲשָׂה צְפַרְדֵּעַ וְנִבְקַעַת שָׁם. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה שָׁם עָפָר וְהָיָה טִפָּה שֶׁל מַיִם בּוֹ הָיָה נַעֲשָׂה צְפַרְדֵּעַ. חִזְקִיָּה בְּרַבִּי אָמַר אִם כַּשִּׁיטָה הַזּוֹ לֹא לָקוּ בָּתֵּיהֶם שֶׁל גְּדוֹלִים שֶׁהָיוּ עֲשׂוּיִין בְּשַׁיִשׁ וּבִפְסִיפַס, אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ עוֹלָה מִן הַתְּהוֹם וְאוֹמֶרֶת לַשַּׁיִשׁ עֲשֵׂה לִי מָקוֹם שֶׁאֶעֱלֶה וְאֶעֱשֶׂה רְצוֹן בּוֹרְאִי, וְהָיָה נִבְקַע הַשַּׁיִשׁ וְעוֹלָה וְנוֹטֶלֶת בֵּית הַסְּתָרִים שֶׁלָּהֶם וּמְסָרְסָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים עח, מה): וּצְפַרְדֵּעַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵם, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ויקרא כב, כה): כִּי מָשְׁחָתָם בָּהֶם.
“Upon you, upon your people, and upon all your servants, the frogs will ascend” (Exodus 7:29).
“Upon you, upon your people” – Pharaoh began with the transgression first, as it is stated: “He said to His people…” (Exodus 1:9), and the plague began with him first, as it is stated: “Upon you,” then “upon your people,” and then “and upon all your servants.” Rabbi Aḥa said: “Upon you” – this is an indication that he would drink water and one drop would descend onto his heart and would become a frog, and it would split there.9It would split there into many frogs. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Every place where there was soil and a drop of water, a frog would be created there.
Ḥizkiya son of Rabbi said: If it were in accordance with this opinion, the houses of the prominent people, which were made of marble and tiles, would not have been afflicted. Rather, it teaches that a frog would ascend from the depths and say to the marble: ‘Make room for me so I can ascend and perform the will of my Creator.’ The marble would split, and [the frog] would [then] ascend and remove their genitals and neuter them, as it is stated: “And frogs that destroyed them [vatashḥitem]” (Psalms 78:45), as it is stated: “Because their corruption [moshḥatam] is in them” (Leviticus 22:25).10This verse is written in the context of the prohibition to bring a castrated animal as an offering.
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן נְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ, אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה, הַמַּיִם שֶׁשְּׁמָרוּךָ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהֻשְׁלַכְתָּ לַיְאוֹר לֹא יִלְקוּ עַל יָדֶיךָ. וַיֵּט אַהֲרֹן אֶת יָדוֹ, לָמָּה הֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם צְפַרְדְּעִים, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיוּ מְשַׁעְבְּדִין בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמְרִין לָהֶן, הָבִיאוּ לָנוּ שְׁקָצִים וּרְמָשִׂים, לְפִיכָךְ הֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶן צְפַרְדְּעִים. וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיוּ מוֹזְגִין אֶת הַכּוֹס הָיָה מִתְמַלֵּא מִן הַצְפַרְדְּעִים. וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּעַ וַתְּכַס אֶת וגו', תָּנֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר צְפַרְדֵּעַ אַחַת הָיְתָה וְהִיא הִשְׁרִיצָה וּמִלְּאָה אֶת אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם, אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה עֲקִיבָא מַה לְּךָ אֵצֶל הַגָּדָה, כַּלֵּה מִדַּבְּרוֹתֶיךָ וְלֵךְ אֵצֶל נְגָעִים וְאָהֳלוֹת, צְפַרְדֵּעַ אַחַת הָיְתָה וְשָׁרְקָה לָהֶן וּבָאוּ. וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן הַחַרְטֻמִּים בְּלָטֵיהֶם, שֶׁהָיוּ סְבוּרִין שֶׁהֵן מַעֲשֶׂה שֵׁדִים.
“The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause frogs to ascend upon the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:1).
“The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your hand” – Rabbi Tanḥum said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The water that protected you when you were cast into the Nile will not be stricken by you.’
“Aaron extended his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs ascended and covered the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:2).
“Aaron extended his hand” – why did He bring frogs upon them? It is because they were enslaving Israel and saying to them: ‘Bring us repugnant creatures and creeping animals’;11The Israelites considered this a revolting and humiliating task. therefore, He brought frogs upon them. When they would pour into a cup it would fill with frogs. “And the frogs [hatzfarde’a]12Both Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya expound their opinions from the fact that the Hebrew word for frogs is in the singular. ascended and covered…” – it is taught: Rabbi Akiva says: It was one frog, and it spawned and filled the entire land of Egypt. Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya said to him: ‘Akiva, what are you doing engaged in aggada; stop your statements, and go engage in the laws of leprosy and impurity of tents.13Your expertise is in matters of halakha, including the most intricate topics, but not aggada. There was one frog that whistled to [the others], and they came.’
“The magicians did so with their spells, and caused the frogs to ascend upon the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:3).
“The magicians did so with their spells” – because they believed these were the actions of demons.
וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה. כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִתְחִלָּה הַפֻּרְעָנוּת בְּגוּפוֹ, מִיָּד הִרְגִּישׁ וְהִתְחִיל צוֹעֵק, הַעְתִּירוּ לַה' וְיָסֵר הַצְפַרְדְּעִים וגו'. וַיֹּאמֶר משֶׁה רַק בַּיְאֹר תִּשָּׁאַרְנָה, כֻּלָּן יָמוּתוּ וְלֹא יִשְׁתָּאֲרוּ מֵהֶן אֶלָּא אוֹתָן הַנִּשְׁאָרוֹת בַּיְאוֹר. וַיֹּאמֶר לְמָחָר, מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הָיָה לוֹ לְהַשְׁלִים שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, לְכָךְ אָמַר לוֹ משֶׁה: לְמָתַי אַעְתִּיר לְךָ, לְמָחָר אַעְתִּיר לְךָ וְלֹא לְאוֹתוֹ יוֹם. וְסָרוּ הַצְפַרְדְּעִים.
“Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: Entreat the Lord, and He will remove the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, and they will sacrifice to the Lord. Moses said to Pharaoh: Have this glory over me; for what time shall I entreat for you, for your servants, and for your people, so that the frogs will be destroyed from you and you houses, and will remain only in the Nile?” (Exodus 8:4–5).
“Pharaoh called” – when the punishment began in his body, he felt it immediately and began screaming: “Entreat the Lord, and He will remove the frogs…” “Moses said… and will remain only in the Nile” – all of them will die, and the only ones remaining will be those remaining in the Nile. “He said: For tomorrow” (Exodus 8:6) – from here you learn that this was the day that the seven days would conclude. Therefore, Moses said to him: “For what time shall I entreat for you?” – for tomorrow I will entreat for you, but not for today; [and only then,] “the frogs will depart from you” (Exodus 8:7).
וַיֵּצֵא משֶׁה וַיִּצְעַק אֶל ה' עַל דְּבַר הַצְפַרְדְּעִים, רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה אָמְרוּ, לֹא דַי לָהֶם לַמִּצְרִיִּים הַשְׁחָתַת הַצְפַרְדְּעִים, אֶלָא שֶׁהָיָה קוֹלָן שֶׁל צְפַרְדְּעִים קָשֶׁה לָהֶם מִמַּכָּתָן, שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְנָסוֹת בְּגוּפָן וְצוֹעֲקִין בְּתוֹכָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: עַל דְּבַר הַצְפַרְדְּעִים אֲשֶׁר שָׂם לְפַרְעֹה, עַל דִּבּוּר הַצְּפַרְדְּעִים. וַיַּעַשׂ ה' כִּדְבַר משֶׁה וַיָּמֻתוּ הַצְפַרְדְּעִים, לְפִי שֶׁלֹא הָיָה לָהֶם שׁוּם הֲנָאָה בְּנִבְלָתָם וּבְעוֹרָן, לְכָךְ מֵתוּ. וַיִּצְבְּרוּ אֹתָם חֳמָרִם חֳמָרִם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶן הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה אַרְבַּע אַשְׁפּוֹת, וְהָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ מַבְאֶשֶׁת, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִבְאָשִׁין מִמַּכּוֹת הַמִּצְרִיִּים, מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה. וַיַּרְא פַּרְעֹה כִּי הָיְתָה הָרְוָחָה, כָּךְ דֶּרֶךְ הָרְשָׁעִים כְּשֶׁהֵן בְּצָרָה הֵם צוֹעֲקִים וּבְעֵת הָרְוָחָה חוֹזְרִין לְקִלְקוּלָן. כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה', וְהֵיכָן דִּבֵּר (שמות ג, יט): וַאֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי לֹא יִתֵּן אֶתְכֶם מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם לַהֲלֹךְ.
“Moses and Aaron emerged from Pharaoh; and Moses cried to the Lord regarding the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” (Exodus 8:8).
“Moses…emerged…and…cried to the Lord regarding the frogs” – our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: It was not just the destruction that the frogs caused the Egyptians, but the sound of the frogs was harsher for them than the physical damage, as they would enter their bodies and scream inside them, as it is stated: “Regarding [al devar] the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” – regarding the speech [al dibur] of the frogs.
“The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died from the houses, from the courts, and from the fields” (Exodus 8:9).
“The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died” – it is because [the Egyptians] could derive no benefit from their carcasses or their skin; that is why they died.14This is in contrast to the wild animals and the locusts, which departed from Egypt (see Exodus 8:27 and 10:19) so that the Egyptians would not benefit from the hides of the animals or be able to eat the locusts.
“They gathered them in heaps; and the land stank” (Exodus 8:10).
“They gathered them in heaps” – this teaches that each and every one of them made four piles, and the land reeked. Because Israel reeked from the blows administered by the Egyptians, it is measure for measure.
“Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and did not heed them; as the Lord had spoken” (Exodus 8:11).
“Pharaoh saw that there was respite” – this is the way of the wicked; when they are in trouble they scream, but when there is respite they return to their evil ways. “As the Lord had spoken” – where did He speak? “I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go” (Exodus 3:19).
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן נְטֵה אֶת מַטְּךָ וְהַךְ אֶת עֲפַר הָאָרֶץ, אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה עָפָר שֶׁהֵגֵן עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁהָרַגְתָּ אֶת הַמִּצְרִי אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיִּלְקֶה עַל יָדֶךָ, לְפִיכָךְ לָקוּ שָׁלשׁ מַכּוֹת אֵלּוּ עַל יְדֵי אַהֲרֹן. וַיֵּט אַהֲרֹן אֶת יָדוֹ בְּמַטֵּהוּ, לָמָּה הֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם כִּנִּים, לְפִי שֶׁשָֹּׂמוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְכַבְּדֵי חוּצוֹת וּשְׁוָקִים, לְפִיכָךְ נֶהְפַּךְ עֲפָרָם לְכִנִּים וְחוֹפְרִין אַמָּה עַל אַמָּה וְלֹא הָיָה שָׁם עָפָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כָּל עֲפַר הָאָרֶץ הָיָה כִנִּים. וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן הַחַרְטֻמִּים בְּלָטֵיהֶם לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַכִּנִּים וְלֹא יָכֹלוּ, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁאֵין הַשֵּׁד יָכוֹל לִבְראוֹת פָּחוֹת מִכִּשְׂעוֹרָה. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אֲפִלּוּ כְּגַמְלָא לָא מָצֵי בָרְאוּ, אֶלָּא הַאי מִכְנִיף לֵיהּ וְהַאי לָא מִכְנִיף לֵיהּ. וַיֹּאמְרוּ הַחַרְטֻמִּים אֶל פַּרְעֹה אֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים הִיא, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַחַרְטֻמִּים שֶׁלֹא יוּכְלוּ לְהוֹצִיא הַכִּנִּים, מִיָּד הִכִּירוּ שֶׁהָיוּ הַמַּעֲשִׂים מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים וְלֹא מַעֲשֵׂה שֵׁדִים, וְעוֹד לֹא חָשְׁשׁוּ לְדַמּוֹת עַצְמָן לְמשֶׁה לְהוֹצִיא הַמַּכּוֹת.
“The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your staff, and strike the dust of the earth, and it will become lice throughout the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:12).
“The Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Extend your staff, and strike the dust of the earth” – Rabbi Tanḥum said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘It is not proper that the dust that protected you when you killed the Egyptian15See Exodus 2:12. will be stricken by you.’ Therefore, they were stricken with these three plagues by means of Aaron.16The first three plagues came from either the water or the dust, both of which had protected Moses in his youth.
“They did so; and Aaron extended his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were lice upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout the land of Egypt” (Exodus 8:13).
“Aaron extended his hand with his staff” – why did He bring lice upon them? It is because they designated [the Israelites] as sweepers of the streets and the marketplaces; that is why their dust turned into lice. They would dig a square cubit but there was no dust there, as it is stated: “All the dust of the earth became lice.”
“The magicians did so with their spells to bring out the lice, but they could not; and there were gnats upon man, and upon beast” (Exodus 8:14).
“The magicians did so with their spells to bring out the lice, but they could not” – Rabbi Elazar said: From here you learn that a demon is unable to create something smaller than a barley-bulk. The Rabbis say: They cannot even create something the size of a camel; rather, this it can gather and this it cannot gather.17If the item is smaller than a barley-bulk, the demons cannot even gather it from a different location.
“The magicians said to Pharaoh: It is the finger of God; but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he did not heed them, as the Lord had spoken” (Exodus 8:15).
“The magicians said to Pharaoh: It is the finger of God” – when the magicians saw that they were unable to produce the lice, they were immediately aware that the actions were the actions of God and not the action of demons, and they no longer sought to compare themselves to Moses and produce the plagues.