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The Ten Plagues: Discover What Really Happened?

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The Ten Plagues: Discover What Really Happened? TT THE TEN PLAGUES: Sources in these sheets were adapted from Otzer Hamidrashim,Haggadda DISCOVER WHAT V’Agadata, Let My Nation Go, The Katz Passover REALLY HAPPENED? Haggadah Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Blood דָּ ם 1) In addition to the Nile river, 5) Cement from Pharaohs palace all water in Egypt turned to began to bleed. (Midrash blood, even if it was in a jug Hagadol) (Yalkut Shimoni) 6) An Egyptian and a Jew filled a 2) The saliva of the Egyptians cup from the same barrel of turned to blood (Yalkut water. For the Egyptian it was Shimoni) blood, and for the Jew it was water. the egyptian said “give me 3) Fruit juice turned to blood. some of that water”. when the (Midrash Hagadol) Jew gave it over, it turned to blood. the egyptian said “let’s 4) The water component of the drink from the barrel at the trees turned to blood, and exact same time”, yet again the dripped from the trees. Blood Egyptian had blood, and the Jew would drip out of the wood had water. Then the Egyptian used to cook and extinguish paid the Jew for the water, and their ovens. (MIdrash it remained water. (Shmos Hagadol) Rabbah) 1 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Frogs צְ פַרְ דֵּעַַ 1) In addition to frogs, 5) The frogs threw themselves crocodiles also attacked the into the Egyptian ovens Egyptians. (Hemek Davar) without fear of injury. (Midrash Tehillim) 2) The frogs came from the sea and gathered together in the 6) Many frogs died when they street in an orderly fashion, were baked in the Egyptian and then marched all bread. However, when the together to Pharaohs palace, Egyptians ate the bread, the to attack him in his bed. frogs came back to life in After, they went to his their bellies. (Midrash servants, and then to the Seichel Tov/ Sifsei Kohen) entire nation. (Matnas Chaim) 7) Egyptian drops of sweat 3) When the Egyptians lifted a turned to frogs. (Meam Loez) stick or stone to kill a frog, the frog exploded and burst 8) Droplets of water turned into 6 frogs, until it became into frogs. (Shmos Rabbah impossible to get Near them. 10:3) (Targum Zohar) 9) The croaking in their 4) The frogs jumped into the stomachs was so intense, that Egyptians stomachs, and they couldn’t hear each croaked from within. (Sifsei other, even if they were Kohen) right next to one another. (Mean Loez) 2 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Lice כִּנִּים 1) All The dust in Egypt turned all over their bodies. (Baal to lice. (Midrash Rabbah) Haturim/Rokeach/Rabbeinu Efrayim) 2) A cloud of lice arose from the earth and spread across 7) The lice feasted on their all of Egypt. Rashbam/ Even flesh and blood, causing them Ezra) excruciating pain. (Midrash Hagadol) 3) There were 24 different forms of lice that struck 8) The lice created a carpet on Egypt ranging in size from a the ground that was 2 Amos hen’s egg to a goose egg. (approx. 4 feet) deep. (Yalkut Shimoni) (Midrash Seichel Tov) 4) Every person had 10 Kavin 9) The lice would enter their (volume of 240 eggs) of lice on ovens, their dishes, and their them. (Rabbeinu Efraim) food. (Midrash Bchidush) 5) The lice crawled into their 10) Egyptians would run to the clothing, their hair, And the sea to get away from the lice, skin on their faces. yet the lice would chase after them. (Baal Haturim) 6) They even went inside their nostrils and ears, and spread 3 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Wild Animals עָּרֹוב 1) the egyptians didn’t see the climate conditions suited for animals coming from outside, it. (be’er yosef 8:17) they just miraculously showed up in their houses. 4) Since Jews were not being (Midrash Hagadol) attacked, the Egyptians asked them to accompany 2) The ground of each of the them to their homes, and to wild animal’s natural take their kids inside. habitat, came with them, so However, the animals they should feel most recognized who was Egyptian comfortable, and therefore and who was not. (Meam Loez) have full strength in their attack. (Meam Loez) 5) Octopuses reached into the 3) Some animals came from a hot houses and unlocked the climate, and some came from a doors, allowing the other cold climate. Hashem animals to enter. (Sefer miraculously had each animal Hayashar) come with the specific 4 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Death of Animals דֶּבֶּ ר 1) An animal that rightfully 3) Not one Jewish owned belonged to a Jew, but was animal died, even the ones in the possession of an were destined to die now egyptian didn’t die. due to age or illness. Through this Hashem made (Maharil Diskin) it clear who the real owner is. (Shmos Rabbah) 4) Do not think that some Egyptian animals died, and 2) If a Jew and Egyptian made some did not. Rather ALL a deal the day before, the Egyptian animals died giving the Jew rights to immediately. the animal, the animal was not harmed. (Midrash Seichel Tov) 5 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Boils שְחִּ ין 1) Egyptians were covered in boils from head to toe (MeaM 5) Even the animals (that they Loez 9:11) purchased after Dever) were afflicted with boils. 2) The boils developed into (Abarbanel) infectious blisters that destroyed the skin of the Egyptians, and spread across 6) All the different boils had their bodies like a flame. opposite remedies, so the (Sefer Hayashar) medicine used to heal one, caused others to become even 3) The infected flesh began to more inflamed. (Midrash peel away, causing limbs to be Hagadol 9:10) exposed, and ultimately decay. (Sefer Hayashar) 4) There were 24 different forms of boils that were brought to Egypt. (Midrash Hagadol) 6 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Hail בָּרָּ ד 1) This plague consisted of a began to shake. Then the combination of: Noise, Rain, Hailstones came down and Fire, Hail, Stones, Sulfur, and exploded, releasing flame all Snow. (Tur) over. Additionally, the flames burst open, and shot 2) The hail destroyed all grass, out a destructive ball of ice. trees, people, and animals (Midrash Hagadol) that were in the field. (RabbeiNu Bachaye) 6) When a hailstone fell on a person or animal, they were 3) Hashem changed the killed immediately on impact. regular order of the world (Malbim) and mixed fire within the hail, so they know there is a 7) The hailstones were the size Master of the world. of bricks. (Sefer Hayashar) (Midrash Hagadol) 8) Egyptians killed 4) This plague was extremely their animals to eat. While wondrous, since it was not running and carrying them normal to rain or hail in back to their homes, birds Egypt. (Mincha Belula) came down and took the meat from them. (Midrash Hagadol 5) Initially there was thunder 9:25) and lightning, and the ground 7 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Locusts אַרְ בֶּ ה the locusts consumed the 1) The locusts would rest on the ground and all that belonged faces of the Egyptians, and to the Egyptian, and did not poke out their eyes. (Lekach touch the wood. (Meam Loez) Tov) 5) The locusts closed up the 2) The locusts went into their springs in Egypt. (Midrash mouths, noses, and eyes. (Riy Hagadol) Mevina) 6) There were so many locusts, 3) The locusts consumed not that they blocked the sun, only the trees and moon, and stars, making Egypt vegetation, but also Egyptian extremely dark. One could clothing, jewelry, and other not recognize if it was day or precious items. (Midrash night. (Midrash Hagadol) Hagadol) 7) The locusts did not touch the 4) If a Jew purchased wood from Jewish fields in Goshen, even an Egyptian, and it was on the though they were right next ground of the Egyptian, to the Egyptian fields. 8 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Darkness חשֶּ ְך 1) The darkness that came to wanted to get up, was able to Egypt was as thick as a coin get up and vice versa. For the or a wall. (Shmos Rabbah 14:1) next three days whoever was sitting could not get up, and 2) Even if you brought all the whoever was standing could candles and torches in the not sit. They got stuck in world and lit them, there whatever position they were would not have been light. in. (Midrash Bchidush) (Midrash Hagadol) 6) The darkness gave off toxic 3) While the Egyptians did not fumes, and they would have to have light even during close their mouths and noses, daytime, the Jews had light even though they were stuck even at nighttime. (Kli Yakar) in difficult positions. (Malbim) 4) The thick darkness extinguished any light that 7) When a Jew approached an was lit by the Egyptians. Egyptian the light came with (Midrash Seichel Tov) the Jew, yet the Egyptian still could not see. (Midrash Hagadol) 5) For the first three days, Whoever was sitting and 9 | P a g e Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz Killing of the מַכַת בְ כֹורֹות Firstborn 1) The plague began at exactly 5) Sculptures and statues of midnight, yet all of Egypt was individuals that were lit up as if it were midday. firstborns, fell to the (Ohr Hachaim) ground and broke. (Sefer Hayashar) 2) All firstborns in Egypt were killed that night, whether 6) During this plague Hashem firstborn from the father, destroyed all Egyptian gods.
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