The eighth of Av

Pharaoh- Dead on Arrival

נגזר סופו של פרעה לפני ההתחלה

Shmot 4.23- שמות

23.’ And I say to you, Release My son so that he may serve Me, and you shall refuse to release him. Behold, I will slay your firstborn son-וָאֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ שַׁלַּח אֶת בְּנִי וְיַעַבְדֵנִי וַתְּמָאֵן לְשַׁלְּחוֹ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הֹרֵג אֶת בִּנְךָ בְּכֹרֶךָ (3196=19=10=1 or 5286+14 words=5300=8 counting final Nun and Kafs as 700 and 600).

The verse can be divided so:

· And I say to you, Release My son so that he may serve Me-וָאֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ שַׁלַּח אֶת בְּנִי וְיַעַבְדֵנִי (1261=10=1);

· And you shall refuse to release him. Behold, I will slay your firstborn son-וַתְּמָאֵן לְשַׁלְּחוֹ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הֹרֵג אֶת בִּנְךָ בְּכֹרֶךָ (1935=18).

The verse can also be divided so:

· And I say to you, Release My son so that he may serve Me-וָאֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ שַׁלַּח אֶת בְּנִי וְיַעַבְדֵנִי (1261=10=1);

· And you shall refuse to release him- וַתְּמָאֵן לְשַׁלְּחוֹ ֹ(871+2 words=18);

· Behold, I will slay your firstborn son- הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הֹרֵג אֶת בִּנְךָ בְּכֹרֶךָ (1064+6 words =1070=8).

Rashi comments here that Moses was His agent. Hashem informs Moses of the final Plague before he has even stepped foot in Egypt. Moses is to inform Pharaoh from the outset that this is the final outcome. The end is related to Pharaoh at the beginning. From this we learn that Hashem informs the sinner and warns him to repent before He metes out punishment. This is in contrast to men who conceal their words when taking vengeance (Shmot Rabbah 9.9).

Here, however, Pharaoh had no choice. He was dead on Moses’ arrival.

The Exodus from Egypt had been decided upon from the outset. This is proved from the following:

1. RELEASE MY FIRSTBORN SON ISRAEL- יִשְׂרָאֵל שַׁלַּח אֶת בְּנִי בְכֹרִי= 1574=17 =8

2. YOU WILL REFUSE- תְּמָאֵן = 491=14 =8

3. I SHALL KILL YOUR FIRSTBORN SON- אָנֹכִי הֹרֵג אֶת בִּנְךָ בְּכֹרֶךָ =1004+5 words=10 =1

3069=18

4679=26=8 (final letters)

Exodus from Egypt= 881 = יְצִאַת מִצְרָיִם

As Pharaoh had slayed many of Hashem’s Firstborn, so Hashem was to pay him back in kind. The final plague is mentioned at the beginning. The first plague of Blood corresponds to the final plague of the Slaying of the firstborn of Egypt. Hashem was thus informing Pharaoh-you are dead before we start "playing". Game over at the outset! The end of Egypt had already been decided as Moses sets out at the beginning of his journey, even before Moses had set foot in Egypt or confronted Pharaoh.