| 1And afterwards, Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "So said the Lord God of Israel, 'Send out My people, and let them sacrifice to Me in the desert.' " |
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אוְאַחַ֗ר בָּ֚אוּ משֶׁ֣ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן וַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ לִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּֽר: |
| And afterwards, Moses and Aaron came: But the elders slipped away one by one from following Moses and Aaron, until they had all slipped away before they arrived at the palace. [They did so] because they were afraid to go, and at Sinai, He punished them, [as it is written:] “And Moses shall draw near alone, but they shall not draw near” (Exod. 24:2). He sent them back. — [from Exodus Rabbah 5:14; Tanchuma, Shemoth 24] |
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וְאַחַר בָּאוּ משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן וגו':
אֲבָל הַזְּקֵנִים נִשְׁמְטוּ אֶחָד אֶחָד מֵאַחַר מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, עַד שֶׁנִּשְׁמְטוּ כֻלָּם קֹדֶם שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לַפָּלָטִין, לְפִי שֶׁיָּרְאוּ לָלֶכֶת; וּבְסִינַי נִפְרַע לָהֶם, "וְנִגַּשׁ מֹשֶׁה לְבַדּוֹ אֶל ה' וְהֵם לֹא יִגָּשׁוּ" (שמות כ"ד) – הֶחֱזִירָם לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם (שמות רבה):
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| 2And Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should heed His voice to let Israel out? I do not know the Lord, neither will I let Israel out." |
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בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה מִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶשְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹל֔וֹ לְשַׁלַּ֖ח אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֤א יָדַ֨עְתִּי֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְגַ֥ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א אֲשַׁלֵּֽחַ: |
| 3And they said, "The God of the Hebrews has happened upon us. Now let us go on a three day journey in the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He strike us with a plague or with the sword." |
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גוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים נִקְרָ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ נֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֡א דֶּ֩רֶךְ֩ שְׁל֨שֶׁת יָמִ֜ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר וְנִזְבְּחָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ פֶּן־יִפְגָּעֵ֔נוּ בַּדֶּ֖בֶר א֥וֹ בֶחָֽרֶב: |
| lest He strike us: Heb. פֶּן יִפְגָעֵנוּ. They should have said, “ פֶּן יִפְגָעֲ, lest He strike you,” but they imparted honor to the throne [and out of respect said this]. The word פְּגִיעָה denotes a fatal encounter. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 2] |
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פֶּן־יִפְגָּעֵנוּ:
פֶּן יִפְגָּעֲךָ הָיוּ צְרִיכִים לוֹמַר, אֶלָּא שֶׁחָלְקוּ כָּבוֹד לַמַּלְכוּת. פְּגִיעָה זוֹ לְשׁוֹן מִקְרֵה מָוֶת הִיא (שם):
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| 4But the king of Egypt said to them, "Why, Moses and Aaron, do you disturb the people from their work? Go to your own labors." |
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דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לָ֚מָּה משֶׁ֣ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן תַּפְרִ֥יעוּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִמַּֽעֲשָׂ֑יו לְכ֖וּ לְסִבְלֹֽתֵיכֶֽם: |
| do you disturb the people from their work: Heb. תַּפְרִיעוּ, [meaning] you separate [them] and take them away from their work, because they listen to you and expect to rest from their work. Similarly, “Avoid it (פְּרָעֵהוּ), do not pass through it” (Prov. 4:15); [i.e.,] distance it. Similarly, “And you have avoided (וַתִּפְרְעוּ) all my advice” (Prov. 1: 25); “that it was (פָרֻעַ) ” (Exod. 32:25), [i.e.,] distanced and despised. |
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תַּפְרִיעוּ אֶת־הָעָם מִמַּֽעֲשָׂיו:
תַּבְדִּילוּ וְתַרְחִיקוּ אוֹתָם מִמְּלַאכְתָּם, שֶׁשּׁוֹמְעִין לָכֶם וּסְבוּרִים לָנוּחַ מִן הַמְּלָאכָה; וְכֵן "פְּרָעֵהוּ אַל תַּעֲבֹר בּוֹ" (משלי ד') – רַחֲקֵהוּ, וְכֵן "וַתִּפְרְעוּ כָל עֲצָתִי" (שם א'), "כִּי פָרֻעַ הוּא" (שמות ל"ב) – נִרְחָק וְנִתְעָב:
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| Go to your own labors: “Go to your work that you have to do in your houses.” But [he could not have been referring to the Egyptian bondage, because Moses and Aaron were from the tribe of Levi and] the labor of the Egyptian bondage was not incumbent upon the tribe of Levi. You should know [that this is true] for behold, Moses and Aaron were coming and going without permission. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 6; Tanchuma Buber, Va’era 4] |
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לְכוּ לְסִבְלֹֽתֵיכֶֽם:
לְכוּ לִמְלַאכְתְּכֶם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּבָתֵּיכֶם, אֲבָל מְלֶאכֶת שִׁעְבּוּד מִצְרַיִם לֹא הָיְתָה עַל שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל לֵוִי; תֵּדַע לְךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן יוֹצְאִים וּבָאִים שֶׁלֹא בִרְשׁוּת (שמות רבה):
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| 5And Pharaoh said, "Behold, now the people of the land are many, and you are stopping them from their labors." |
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הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה הֵֽן־רַבִּ֥ים עַתָּ֖ה עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁבַּתֶּ֥ם אֹתָ֖ם מִסִּבְלֹתָֽם: |
| Behold, now the people of the land are many: Those who are required to work, and you stop them from their labors. This is a great loss. |
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הֵֽן־רַבִּים עַתָּה עַם הָאָרֶץ:
שֶׁהָעֲבוֹדָה מֻטֶּלֶת עֲלֵיהֶם, וְאַתֶּם מַשְׁבִּיתִים אוֹתָם מִסִּבְלוֹתָם, הֶפְסֵד גָּדוֹל הוּא זֶה:
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| 6So, on that day, Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, |
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ווַיְצַ֥ו פַּרְעֹ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֶת־הַנֹּֽגְשִׂ֣ים בָּעָ֔ם וְאֶת־שֹֽׁטְרָ֖יו לֵאמֹֽר: |
| the taskmasters: They were Egyptians, and the officers were Israelites. The taskmaster was appointed over many officers, and the officer was appointed to drive the workers. |
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הַנֹּֽגְשִׂים:
מִצְרִיִּים הָיוּ וְהַשּׁוֹטְרִים הָיוּ יִשְׂרְאֵלִים; הַנּוֹגֵשׂ מְמֻנֶּה עַל כַּמָּה שׁוֹטְרִים וְהַשּׁוֹטֵר מְמֻנֶּה לִרְדּוֹת בְּעוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה (שמות רבה):
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| 7"You shall not continue to give stubble to the people to make the bricks like yesterday and the day before yesterday. Let them go and gather stubble for themselves. |
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זלֹ֣א תֹֽאסִפ֞וּן לָתֵ֨ת תֶּ֧בֶן לָעָ֛ם לִלְבֹּ֥ן הַלְּבֵנִ֖ים כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֑ם הֵ֚ם יֵֽלְכ֔וּ וְקֽשְׁשׁ֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם תֶּֽבֶן: |
| stubble: Heb. תֶּבֶן, estoble in Old French. They would knead it with the clay. |
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תֶּבֶן:
אשטו"בלא, הָיוּ גּוֹבְלִין אוֹתוֹ עִם הַטִּיט:
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| bricks: Heb. לְּבֵנִים, tivles in Old French, [tuiles in modern French, tiles] made from clay and dried in the sun; some people fire them in a kiln. |
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לבנים:
טיוול"ש בְּלַעַז, שֶׁעוֹשִׂים מִטִּיט וּמְיַבְּשִׁין אוֹתָן בַּחַמָּה; וְיֵשׁ שֶׁשּׂוֹרְפִין אוֹתָן בַּכִּבְשָׁן:
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| like yesterday and the day before yesterday: As you have been doing until now. |
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כִּתְמוֹל שלשום:
כַּאֲשֶׁר הֱיִיתֶם עוֹשִׂים עַד הֵנָּה;
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| and gather: Heb. וְקשְׁשׁוּ, and they shall gather. |
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וְקֽשְׁשׁוּ:
וְלָקְטוּ:
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| 8But the number of bricks they have been making yesterday and the day before yesterday you shall impose upon them; you shall not reduce it, for they are lax. Therefore they cry out, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' |
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חוְאֶת־מַתְכֹּ֨נֶת הַלְּבֵנִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵם֩ עֹשִׂ֨ים תְּמ֤וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם֙ תָּשִׂ֣ימוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א תִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־נִרְפִּ֣ים הֵ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֗ן הֵ֤ם צֹֽעֲקִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר נֵֽלְכָ֖ה נִזְבְּחָ֥ה לֵֽאלֹהֵֽינוּ: |
| But the number of bricks: The sum of the number of bricks which each one made daily when they were given stubble, that sum you shall levy upon them now too, in order that the labor may fall heavy upon them. |
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וְאֶת־מַתְכֹּנֶת הַלְּבֵנִים:
סְכוּם חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַלְּבֵנִים שֶׁהָיָה כָּל אֶחָד עוֹשֶׂה לַיּוֹם כְּשֶׁהָיָה הַתֶּבֶן נִתָּן לָהֶם, אוֹתוֹ סְכוּם תָּשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶם גַּם עַתָּה, לְמַעַן תִּכְבַּד הָעֲבוֹדָה עֲלֵיהֶם:
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| for they are lax: from the work. Therefore, their hearts turn to idleness, and they cry out, saying, “Let us go, etc.” |
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כִּֽי־נִרְפִּים:
מִן הָעֲבוֹדָה הֵם, לְכָךְ לִבָּם פּוֹנֶה אֶל הַבַּטָּלָה וְצוֹעֲקִים לֵאמֹר נלכה וגו':
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| the number: [The words], מַתְכֹּנֶת [and] וְתֹכֶן לְבֵנִים (verse 18) [mean the number of bricks, as in] “and to Him are deeds counted (נִתְפְּנוּ ” (I Sam. 2:3); “and the counted (הַמְתֻכָּן) money” (II Kings 12:12). All are terms denoting a quantity. |
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מַתְכֹּנֶת:
וְתֹכֶן לְבֵנִים, "וְלוֹ נִתְכְּנוּ עֲלִילוֹת" (שמואל א ב'), "אֶת הַכֶּסֶף הַמְתֻכָּן" (מלכים ב י"ב), כֻּלָּם לְשׁוֹן חֶשְׁבּוֹן הֵם:
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| lax: Heb. נִרְפִּים The work is neglected in their hands and abandoned by them, and they are withdrawing themselves from it, retres in Old French, [meaning] withdrawn, removed. |
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נִרְפִּים:
הַמְּלָאכָה רְפוּיָה בְיָדָם וַעֲזוּבָה מֵהֶם וְהֵם נִרְפִּים מִמֶּנָּה; רטריי"ט בְּלַעַז:
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| 9Let the labor fall heavy upon the men and let them work at it, and let them not talk about false matters." |
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טתִּכְבַּ֧ד הָֽעֲבֹדָ֛ה עַל־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וְיַֽעֲשׂוּ־בָ֑הּ וְאַל־יִשְׁע֖וּ בְּדִבְרֵי־שָֽׁקֶר: |
| and let them not talk about false matters: Heb. וְאַל יִשְׁעוּ בְּדִבְרֵי שֶׁקֶר. Let them not constantly think and talk about matters of no substance, saying, “Let us go, let us sacrifice.” Similar to it is, “and I shall constantly engage (וְאֶשְׁעָה) in Your statutes” (Ps. 119:117). “For an example and for a byword (וְלִשְׁנִינָה)” (Deut. 28:37) is rendered [by Onkelos] as וּלְשׁוֹעִין. “And [the servant] told” (Gen. 24:66) is rendered וְאִשְׁךְתָּעֵי. It is, however, impossible to say that יִשְׁעוּ is [related to the] expression of “and the Lord turned (וַיִשַׁע) to Abel” (Gen. 424); “But to Cain and to his offering He did not turn (לֹא שָׁעָה)” (Gen. 4:5); and to explain אַַַַַל יִשְׁעוּ as “and let them not turn.” If this were the case, Scripture should have written: וְאַל יִשְׁעוּ אֶל דִבְרֵי שָׁקֶר or שָׁקֶר לְדִבְרֵי, for that is the construction in all similar cases, e.g., “and shall turn (יִשְׁעֶה) to (עַל) His Maker" (Isa. 17:7); "and he shall not turn (וְלֹא יִשְׁעֶה) to (אֶל) the altars” (Isa. 17:8); “and they did not turn (וְלֹא שָׁעו) to (עַל) the Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 31:1). I have not found the prefix “beth” immediately following them; after an expression of speech, however, concerning one who is engaged in speaking of a matter, the prefix “beth” is appropriate, e.g., “who talk about you (בְּךָ);” (Ezek. 33:30); “Miriam and Aaron talked about Moses (בְּמשֶׁה)” (Num. 12: 1); “the angel who spoke with me (בִּי)” (Zech. 4:1); “to speak of them (בָּם)” (Deut. 11:19); “And I shall speak of Your testimonies (בְעֵדֹתֶי)” (Ps. 119:46). Here too, אַל יִשְׁעוּ בְּדִבְרֵי שָׁקֶר means: Let them not engage in speaking of words of vanity and nonsense. |
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וְאַל־יִשְׁעוּ בְּדִבְרֵי־שָֽׁקֶר:
וְאַל יֶהֱגוּ וִידַבְּרוּ תָמִיד בְּדִבְרֵי רוּחַ לֵאמֹר, נֵלְכָה נִזְבְּחָה; וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ "וְאֶשְׁעָה בְחֻקֶּיךָ תָמִיד" (תהילים קי"ט); "לְמָשָׁל וְלִשְׁנִינָה" (דברים כ"ח), מְתַרְגְּמִינָן "וּלְשׁוֹעֵי"; וַיְסַפֵּר – "וְאִשְׁתָּעִי"; וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר ישעו לְשׁוֹן "וַיִּשַׁע ה' אֶל הֶבֶל", "וְאֶל קַיִן וְאֶל מִנְחָתוֹ לֹא שָׁעָה" (בראשית ד'), וּלְפָרֵשׁ אַל יִשְׁעוּ – אַל יִפְנוּ, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב וְאַל יִשְׁעוּ אֶל דִּבְרֵי שָׁקֶר אוֹ לְדִבְרֵי שָׁקֶר, כִּי כֵן גִּזְרַת כֻּלָּם, "יִשְׁעֶה הָאָדָם עַל עוֹשֵׂהוּ" (ישעיהו י"ז), "וְלֹא יִשְׁעֶה אֶל הַמִּזְבְּחוֹת", (שם), "וְלֹא שָׁעוּ עַל קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל" (שם ל"א), וְלֹא מָצָאתִי שִׁמּוּשׁ שֶׁל בֵּי"ת סְמוּכָה לְאַחֲרֵיהֶם, אֲבָל אַחַר לְשׁוֹן דִּבּוּר – כְּמִתְעַסֵּק לְדַבֵּר בְּדָבָר – נוֹפֵל לְשׁוֹן שִׁמּוּשׁ בֵּי"ת, כְּגוֹן: "הַנִּדְבָּרִים בְּךָ" (יחזקאל ל"ג), "וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַהֲרֹן בְּמֹשֶׁה" (במדבר י"ב), "הַמַּלְאָךְ הַדּוֹבֵר בִּי" (זכריה ד'), "לְדַבֵּר בָּם" (דברים י"א), "וַאֲדַבְּרָה בְעֵדוֹתֶיךָ" (תהילים קי"ט), אַף כָּאן – אל ישעו בדברי שקר – אַל יִהְיוּ נִדְבָּרִים בְּדִבְרֵי שָׁוְא וַהֲבַאי:
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| 10So the taskmasters of the people and their officers came out and spoke to the people, saying, "So said Pharaoh, 'I am not giving you stubble. |
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יוַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ נֹֽגְשֵׂ֤י הָעָם֙ וְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יו וַיֹּֽאמְר֥וּ אֶל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֵינֶ֛נִּי נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם תֶּֽבֶן: |
| 11You go take for yourselves stubble from wherever you find [it], because nothing will be reduced from your work.' " |
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יאאַתֶּ֗ם לְכ֨וּ קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ תֶּ֔בֶן מֵֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר תִּמְצָ֑אוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין נִגְרָ֛ע מֵֽעֲבֹֽדַתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָֽר: |
| You go take for yourselves stubble: And you must go with alacrity. |
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אַתֶּם לְכוּ קְחוּ לָכֶם תֶּבֶן:
וּצְרִיכִים אַתֶּם לֵילֵךְ בִּזְרִיזוּת,
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| because nothing will be reduced from your work: from the entire amount of bricks that you were making daily, when you were given stubble prepared from the king’s house. |
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כִּי אֵין נִגְרָע מֵֽעֲבֹֽדַתְכֶם דָּבָֽר:
, מִכָּל סְכוּם לְבֵנִים שֶׁהֱיִיתֶם עוֹשִׂים לַיּוֹם בִּהְיוֹת הַתֶּבֶן נִתָּן לָכֶם מְזֻמָּן מִבֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ:
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| 12So the people scattered throughout the entire land of Egypt, to gather a gleaning for stubble. |
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יבוַיָּ֥פֶץ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם לְקשֵׁ֥שׁ קַ֖שׁ לַתֶּֽבֶן: |
| to gather a gleaning for stubble: Heb. לְקשֵׁשׁ קַֹש, to gather a gathering, to collect a collection for the stubble [needed] for the clay. |
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לְקשֵׁשׁ קַשׁ לַתֶּֽבֶן:
לֶאֱסֹף אֲסִיפָה, לִלְקֹט לֶקֶט, לְצֹרֶךְ תֶּבֶן הַטִּיט:
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| a gleaning: Heb., קַֹש an expression of collecting. Since it is a substance that scatters and requires collecting, it is called קַֹש in other places [also]. |
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קַשׁ:
לְשׁוֹן לִקּוּט, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁדָּבָר הַמִּתְפַּזֵּר הוּא וְצָרִיךְ לְקוֹשְׁשׁוֹ קָרוּי קַשׁ בִּשְׁאָר מְקוֹמוֹת:
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| 13And the taskmasters were pressing [them], saying, "Finish your work, the requirement of each day in its day, just as when there was stubble." |
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יגוְהַנֹּֽגְשִׂ֖ים אָצִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּלּ֤וּ מַֽעֲשֵׂיכֶם֙ דְּבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּֽהְי֥וֹת הַתֶּֽבֶן: |
| were pressing [them]: Heb אָצִים, pressing-[from Targumim] |
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אָצִים:
דּוֹחֲקִים:
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| the requirement of each day in its day: The quota of each day complete in its [i.e., on the same day, as you did when the stubble was prepared. — [from Onkelos] |
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דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ:
חֶשְׁבּוֹן שֶׁל כָּל יוֹם כַּלּוּ בְּיוֹמוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם בִּהְיוֹת הַתֶּבֶן מוּכָן:
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| 14And the officers of the children of Israel whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had appointed over them were beaten, saying, "Why have you not completed your quota to make bricks like the day before yesterday, neither yesterday nor today?" |
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ידוַיֻּכּ֗וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣מוּ עֲלֵהֶ֔ם נֹֽגְשֵׂ֥י פַרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֡וּעַ לֹא֩ כִלִּיתֶ֨ם חָקְכֶ֤ם לִלְבֹּן֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּם־תְּמ֖וֹל גַּם־הַיּֽוֹם: |
| And the officers of the children of Israel… were beaten: The officers were Israelites, and they had pity on their fellows, [and did] not press them. They would turn the bricks over to the taskmasters, who were Egyptians, and when something was missing form the [required] amount, they [the Egyptians] would flog them [the officers] because they did not press the workers. Therefore those officers merited to become the Sanhedrin, and some of the spirit that was upon Moses was taken and placed upon them, as it is said: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel” (Num. 11:16), of those about whom you know the good that they did in Egypt, “that they are the elders of the people and its officers” (ibid.). — [from Tanchuma, Beha’alothecha 13 and Sifrei, Beha’alothecha 92] |
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וַיֻּכּוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:
הַשּׁוֹטְרִים יִשְׂרְאֵלִים הָיוּ וְחָסִים עַל חַבְרֵיהֶם מִלְּדָחְקָם, וּכְשֶׁהָיוּ מַשְׁלִימִים הַלְּבֵנִים לַנּוֹגְשִׂים שֶׁהֵם מִצְרִיִּים, וְהָיָה חָסֵר מִן הַסְּכוּם, הָיוּ מַלְקִין אוֹתָם עַל שֶׁלֹּא דָּחֲקוּ אֶת עוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה; לְפִיכָךְ זָכוּ אוֹתָם שׁוֹטְרִים לִהְיוֹת סַנְהֶדְרִין וְנֶאֱצַל מִן הָרוּחַ אֲשֶׁר עַל מֹשֶׁה וְהוּשַׂם עֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "אֶסְפָה לִּי שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ מִזִּקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ'" – מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁיָּדַעְתָּ הַטּוֹבָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם – כִּי הֵם זִקְנֵי הָעָם וְשׁוֹטְרָיו (במדבר י"א), (שמות רבה):
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| And the officers of the children of Israel… were beaten: [I. e.,] those whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had appointed as officers over them-saying, “Why, etc.” Why were they beaten? Because they [the Egyptian taskmasters] said to them [the officers], “Why have you not completed either yesterday or today the fixed quota set upon you to make bricks, as [you did] the ‘third yesterday’?” This is the day before yesterday, which was when they had been given stubble. |
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וַיֻּכּוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר־שָׂמוּ נֹֽגְשֵׂי פַרְעֹה:
אוֹתָם לְשׁוֹטְרִים עליהם, לאמר מדוע וגו'. לָמָּה ויכו? שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לָהֶם מדוע לא כליתם גם תמול גם היום חֹק הַקָּצוּב עֲלֵיכֶם ללבן כִּתְמוֹל הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, שֶׁהוּא יוֹם שֶׁלִּפְנֵי אֶתְמוֹל; וְהוּא הָיָה בִּהְיוֹת הַתֶּבֶן נִתָּן לָהֶם:
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| were beaten: Heb. וַיֻכּוּ They were the object of an action. [The word is in the “hoph’al” conjugation, the recipient of the “hiph’il.”] They were beaten by others; the taskmasters beat them. |
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וַיֻּכּוּ:
לְשׁוֹן וַיֻּפְעֲלוּ, הֻכּוּ מִיַּד אֲחֵרִים – הַנּוֹגְשִׂים הִכּוּם:
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| 15So the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you do this to your servants? |
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טווַיָּבֹ֗אוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֧מָּה תַֽעֲשֶׂ֦ה כֹ֖ה לַֽעֲבָדֶֽיךָ: |
| 16Stubble is not given to your servants, but they tell us, 'Make bricks,' and behold, your servants are beaten, and your people are sinning." |
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טזתֶּ֗בֶן אֵ֤ין נִתָּן֙ לַֽעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּלְבֵנִ֛ים אֹֽמְרִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ עֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ מֻכִּ֖ים וְחָטָ֥את עַמֶּֽךָ: |
| but they tell us, ‘Make bricks’: The taskmasters [tell us]: “Make bricks, as many as the original number.” |
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וּלְבֵנִים אומרים לָנוּ:
הַנּוֹגְשִׂים עשו, כַּמִּנְיָן הָרִאשׁוֹן:
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| and your people are sinning: Heb. וְחָטָאתעַמֶ. If it were vowelized with a “pattach” (חַטָאת), I would say that it is connected, [i.e., in the construct state, and so it means:] and this thing is the sin of your people. However, since it is [vowelized with] a “kamatz” (חָטָאת), it is a noun [in the absolute state], and this is its meaning: and this thing brings sin upon your people, as if it were written: וְחַָטָאת לְעַמֶךָ, like “when they came to Beth-lehem (בֵּית לָחֶם)” (Ruth 1:19), which is the equivalent of לְבֵית לָחֶם, and similarly with many [others]. |
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וְחָטָאת עַמֶּֽךָ:
אִלּוּ הָיָה נָקוּד פַּתָּח, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁהוּא דָבוּק, וְדָבָר זֶה חַטַּאת עַמְּךָ הוּא, עַכְשָׁו שֶׁהוּא קָמָץ, שֵׁם דָּבָר הוּא, וְכָךְ פֵּרוּשׁוֹ: וְדָבָר זֶה מֵבִיא חַטָּאת עַל עַמְּךָ, כְּאִלּוּ כָתוּב וְחַטָּאת לְעַמֶּךָ; כְּמוֹ "כְּבֹאָנָה בֵּית לֶחֶם" (רות א'), שֶׁהוּא כְּמוֹ לְבֵית לֶחֶם, וְכֵן הַרְבֵּה:
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| 17But he said, "You are lax, just lax. Therefore, you say, 'Let us go, let us sacrifice to the Lord.' |
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יזוַיֹּ֛אמֶר נִרְפִּ֥ים אַתֶּ֖ם נִרְפִּ֑ים עַל־כֵּן֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹֽמְרִ֔ים נֵֽלְכָ֖ה נִזְבְּחָ֥ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה: |
| 18And now, go and work, but you will not be given stubble. Nevertheless, the [same] number of bricks you must give." |
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יחוְעַתָּה֙ לְכ֣וּ עִבְד֔וּ וְתֶ֖בֶן לֹֽא־יִנָּתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם וְתֹ֥כֶן לְבֵנִ֖ים תִּתֵּֽנוּ: |
| Nevertheless the [same] number of bricks: Heb. וְתֹכֶן לְבֵנִים, the count of the bricks, and similarly, " הַכֶּסֶף הַמְתֻכָּן, the counted money” (II Kings 12:12), as is stated in that section, “and packed and counted the money” (II Kings 12:11). — [from Onkelos] |
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וְתֹכֶן לְבֵנִים:
חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַלְּבֵנִים; וְכֵן "אֶת הַכֶּסֶף הַמְתֻכָּן" (מלכים ב י"ב) – הַמָּנוּי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמוּר בָּעִנְיָן "וַיָּצֻרוּ וַיִּמְנוּ אֶת הַכֶּסֶף":
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| 19The officers of the children of Israel saw them in distress, saying, "Do not reduce [the number] of your bricks, the requirement of each day in its day." |
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יטוַיִּרְא֞וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵ֧י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֹתָ֖ם בְּרָ֣ע לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹֽא־תִגְרְע֥וּ מִלִּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם דְּבַר־י֥וֹם בְּיוֹמֽוֹ: |
| The officers of the children of Israel saw: their fellows who were driven by them. |
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וַיִּרְאוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל:
אֶת חַבְרֵיהֶם הַנִּרְדִּים עַל יָדָם,
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| in distress: They saw them in the distress and trouble that befell them when they had to make the work heavy upon them, saying, “Do not reduce, etc.” |
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בְּרָע:
, רָאוּ אוֹתָם בְּרָעָה וְצָרָה הַמּוֹצֵאֵת אוֹתָם, בְּהַכְבִּידָם הָעֲבוֹדָה עֲלֵיהֶם לאמר לא תגרעו וגו':
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| 20They met Moses and Aaron standing before them when they came out from Pharaoh's presence. |
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כוַיִּפְגְּעוּ֙ אֶת־משֶׁ֣ה וְאֶת־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן נִצָּבִ֖ים לִקְרָאתָ֑ם בְּצֵאתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥ת פַּרְעֹֽה: |
| They met: Men of Israel [met] Moses and Aaron, etc. Our Rabbis expounded: Every [instance of] נִצִים, quarreling, and נִ צָּבִים, standing, is a reference to Dathan and Abiram, about whom it is said: “came out and stood upright” (Num. 16:27). — [from Ned. 64b] |
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וַיִּפְגְּעוּ:
אֲנָשִׁים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל את משה ואת אהרן וגו'. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָּרְשׁוּ: כָּל "נִצִּים" "וְנִצָּבִים" דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם הָיוּ, שֶׁנֶּ' בָּהֶם "יָצְאוּ נִצָּבִים" (במדבר ט״ז:כ״ד), (נדרים ס"ד):
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| 21And they said to them, "May the Lord look upon you and judge, for you have brought us into foul odor in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, to place a sword into their hand[s] to kill us." |
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כאוַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם יֵ֧רֶא יְהֹוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם וְיִשְׁפֹּ֑ט אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִבְאַשְׁתֶּ֣ם אֶת־רֵיחֵ֗נוּ בְּעֵינֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ וּבְעֵינֵ֣י עֲבָדָ֔יו לָֽתֶת־חֶ֥רֶב בְּיָדָ֖ם לְהָרְגֵֽנוּ: |
| 22So Moses returned to the Lord and said, "O Lord! Why have You harmed this people? Why have You sent me? |
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כבוַיָּ֧שָׁב משֶׁ֛ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֗י לָמָ֤ה הֲרֵעֹ֨תָה֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה שְׁלַחְתָּֽנִי: |
| Why have You harmed this people?: And if You ask, “What is it to you?” [I answer,] “I am complaining that You have sent me.” -[from Tanchuma, Va’era 6] |
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לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה:
וְאִם תֹּאמַר מָה אִכְפַּת לְךָ? קוֹבֵל אֲנִי עַל שֶׁשְּׁלַחְתַּנִי (שמות רבה):
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| 23Since I have come to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has harmed this people, and You have not saved Your people." |
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כגוּמֵאָ֞ז בָּ֤אתִי אֶל־פַּרְעֹה֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר בִּשְׁמֶ֔ךָ הֵרַ֖ע לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה וְהַצֵּ֥ל לֹֽא־הִצַּ֖לְתָּ אֶת־עַמֶּֽךָ: |
| he has harmed this people: Heb. הֵרַע, a causative expression. He brought much harm upon them, and the targum renders: אַבְאֵשׁ |
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הֵרַע:
לְשׁוֹן הִפְעִיל הוּא – הִרְבָּה רָעָה עֲלֵיהֶם, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "אַבְאִישׁ":
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