Parsha Vaera

(6,2) Elohim spoke to Moshe and said to him, “I am Adonoy.

(6,3) I revealed Myself to Avraham, to Yitzchok, and to Yaakov as Almighty Shaddai, but My Name Adonoy I did not make known to them.

(6,4) I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojourning where they lived as strangers.

(6,5) And also I have heard the groaning of the B’nei Yisrael, that the Egyptians are enslaving them, and I have remembered My covenant.

(6,6) Therefore say to the B’nei Yisrael, ‘I am Adonoy. I will bring you out from under the burdens of Egypt, and I will save you from their slavery. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with acts of great judgments.

(6,7) I will take you to Myself as a people, and I will be to you Elohim. You will know that I am Adonoy, your God Who is bringing you out from under the burdens of Egypt.

(6,8) I will bring you to the land regarding which I raised My hand [in oath] that I would give it to Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov, and I will give it to you as an inheritance. I am Adonoy.’”

(6,9) Moshe spoke [these words] to the B’nei Yisrael, but they would not listen to Moshe because of [their] shortness of wind and hard labor.

(6,10) Adonoy spoke to Moshe saying,

(6,11) “Come, speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that he send the B’nei Yisrael out of his land.”

(6,12) Moshe spoke before Adonoy, saying, “Behold the B’nei Yisrael have not listened to me, how then will Pharaoh listen to me—I whose lips are covered.”

(6,13) Adonoy [then] spoke to Moshe and Aharon, commanding them regarding the B’nei Yisrael and Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring out the B’nei Yisrael from the land of Egypt.

(6,14) These are the heads of their paternal households: the sons of Reuvein, the first-born of Yisrael [are]: Chanoch, Pallu, Chetzron and Carmi. These are the families of Reuvein.

(6,15) The sons of Shimon: Yemuel, Yamin, Ohad, Yachin, Tzochar and Shaul, the son of the Canaanite woman. These are the families of Shimon.

(6,16) These are the names of the sons of Leivi, according to their generations: Gershon, Kehos, and Merari. The years of Leivi’s life were one hundred and thirty-seven years.

(6,17) The sons of Gershon: Livni and Shimi, and their families [descending from them].

(6,18) The sons of Kehos: Amram, Yitzhar, Chevron and Uzziel. The years of Kehos’s life were one hundred and thirty-three years.

(6,19) The sons of Merari: Machli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their [descending] generation.

(6,20) Amram took his aunt Yocheved for his wife and she bore him Aharon and Moshe. The years of Amram’s life were one hundred and thirty-seven years.

(6,21) The sons of Yitzhar: Korach, Nefeg and Zichri.

(6,22) The sons of Uzziel: Mishaeil, Eltzaphan and Sisri.

(6,23) Aharon took Elisheva, daughter of Aminadav, sister of Nachshon, for a wife, and she bore him Nadav, Avihu, Elazar and Isamar.

(6,24) The sons of Korach: Assir, Elkanah and Aviasaf. These are the families of the Korachites.

(6,25) Elazar, son of Aharon took, for himself one of the daughters of Putieil, for a wife, and she bore him Pinchas. These are the heads of the Levites’ patriarchs according to their families.

(6,26) This is [the lineage of] Aharon and Moshe to whom Adonoy had said, “Bring the B’nei Yisrael out of the land of Egypt with their multitudes.”

(6,27) They are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the B’nei Yisrael out of Egypt. These are Moshe and Aharon.

(6,28) It was the day when Adonoy spoke to Moshe in the land of Egypt.

(6,29) Adonoy spoke to Moshe saying, “I am Adonoy. Speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I am speaking to you.”

(6,30) Moshe said before Adonoy, “Behold, I have covered lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

(7,1) Adonoy said to Moshe, “See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and Aharon, your brother will be your spokesman.

(7,2) You will speak all that I command you and Aharon, your brother, will speak to Pharaoh, that he send the B’nei Yisrael out of his land.

(7,3) I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, [in order to] increase My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.

(7,4) [Thus] Pharaoh will not listen to you. But then I will display My hand against Egypt, and I will bring My multitude, My people, the B’nei Yisrael out of the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment.

(7,5) Egypt will then know that I am Adonoy when I send forth My hand over Egypt and bring out the B’nei Yisrael from among them.”

(7,6) Moshe and Aharon did so. They did exactly as Adonoy commanded them.

(7,7) Moshe was eighty years old and Aharon was eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

(7,8) Adonoy said to Moshe and Aharon, saying:

(7,9) “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Give yourselves [credibility by displaying] a marvel;’ you [Moshe] should then say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and throw it down before Pharaoh.’ It will become a serpent.’”

(7,10) Moshe and Aharon came to Pharaoh and they did exactly as Adonoy commanded [them]. Aharon threw his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a serpent.

(7,11) Pharaoh too called [his] wise men and magicians. The sorcerers of Egypt also did likewise with their magic art.

(7,12) When each man threw down his rod they (the rods) became serpents, and Aharon’s rod swallowed their rods.

(7,13) Pharaoh’s heart [remained] hard and he did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had foretold.

(7,14) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Pharaoh’s heart is heavy [unmoved]. He refuses to let the people go.

(7,15) Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out to the water, and stand there to meet him by the bank of the river. The rod that was turned into a snake, take in your hand.

(7,16) Say to him, “Adonoy, God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say [to you], ‘Send out My people that they may worship Me in the wilderness. Behold, thus far you have not listened.

(7,17) This is what Adonoy has said, ‘By this you will know that I am Adonoy. Behold, with the rod that is in my hand, I will strike the water of the river and it will turn into blood.

(7,18) The fish that is in the river will die, and the river will become polluted. The Egyptians will weary themselves [trying to purify] drinking water from the river.’”

(7,19) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and extend your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers, over their canals, over their lakes, and over every place where their water is gathered, and it [the water] will become blood. There will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, [even] in [vessels] of wood and [vessels] of stone.”

(7,20) Moshe and Aharon did exactly as Adonoy commanded them. He [Aharon] lifted the rod and struck the water in the river before the eyes of Pharaoh and before the eyes of his [Pharaoh’s] servants, and all the water of the river turned into blood.

(7,21) The fish that were in the river died, and the river became so polluted that the Egyptians were unable to drink the water from the river. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

(7,22) The sorcerers of Egypt did likewise with their magic art. Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened and he did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had spoken.

(7,23) Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and paid no attention even to this [miracle].

(7,24) The Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, for they could not drink from the waters of the river.

(7,25) Seven full days [passed] after Adonoy had struck the river.

(7,26) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy has said, “Send out my people so they may worship Me.

(7,27) If you refuse to send [them,] behold I will plague all your borders [territories] with frogs.

(7,28) The river will swarm with frogs. They will emerge and come into your house, into your bedroom, and on your bed, into the houses of your servants and your people, into your ovens and into your kneading bowls.

(7,29) Upon you and upon your people and upon all your servants the frogs will emerge.

(8,1) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, ‘Extend your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams and over the lakes, and bring up the frogs upon the land of Egypt.’”

(8,2) Aharon extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frog emerged and covered the land of Egypt.

(8,3) The sorcerers did likewise with their magic art, and made the frogs emerge upon the land of Egypt.

(8,4) Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon and said, “Pray to Adonoy, and let Him remove the frogs from me and from my people, and I will send the people to sacrifice to Adonoy.”

(8,5) Moshe said to Pharaoh, “Glorify yourself at my expense. [Exactly for] when shall I pray for you, and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and from your houses, remaining only in the river.”

(8,6) [Pharaoh] said, “By tomorrow.” [Moshe] said, “As you say. You will then know that there is none like Adonoy, our God.

(8,7) The frogs will be removed from you, from your houses, from your servants and from your people. They will remain only in the river.

(8,8) Moshe and Aharon left Pharaoh, and Moshe cried out to Adonoy concerning the frogs that He had set upon Pharaoh.

(8,9) Adonoy did as Moshe said, the frogs died, [those that were in] the houses, the courtyards, and the fields.

(8,10) They gathered them into [many] heaps, and the land was polluted.

(8,11) [When] Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as Adonoy had spoken.

(8,12) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Say to Aharon, Extend your rod and strike the dust of the earth; and it will turn into lice throughout the whole land of Egypt.”

(8,13) They did so. Aharon extended his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and there was lice on man and beast. All the dust of the earth turned into lice throughout the whole land of Egypt.

(8,14) The sorcerers did likewise with their magic art. They tried to bring forth lice but they could not, and there were lice on man and beast.

(8,15) The sorcerers said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of Elohim;” but Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened and he did not listen to them, as Adonoy had spoken.

(8,16) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Rise up early in the morning and set yourself before Pharaoh, when he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy has said, ‘Send out My people so they may worship Me.

(8,17) For if you do not send out My people, behold, I will send against you and your servants, and your nation, and your houses, swarms of wild animals. The houses of Egypt will be full of the wild animals, and so too the ground upon which they stand.

(8,18) On that day, I will set apart the land of Goshen upon which My people stand [dwell], so that there will not be any wild animals there, so that you will know that I am Adonoy in the midst of the earth.

(8,19) I will set a [sign of] deliverance (distinction) between My people and between your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.”

(8,20) Adonoy did so. Huge throngs of wild animals came to the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants. Throughout the whole land of Egypt the land was devastated by the wild animals.

(8,21) Pharaoh called for Moshe and Aharon, and he said, “Go! Sacrifice to your God [here] in the land.”

(8,22) Moshe said, “It would not be proper to do so. For that which is abominable [sacred] to Egypt we intend to sacrifice to Adonoy, our God. Could we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes and not have them stone us?

(8,23) We must make a three day trip into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Adonoy, our God, in the manner that He will tell us.”

(8,24) Pharaoh, said, “I will send you out so that you may sacrifice to Adonoy, your God in the wilderness, as long as you do not go too far away. Pray for me.”

(8,25) Moshe said, “Behold, when I leave your presence I will pray to Adonoy, and the wild animals will depart from Pharaoh, and from his servants and from his people, tomorrow. But let Pharaoh never again deceive us [by] refusing to send the people to sacrifice to Adonoy.”

(8,26) Moshe went out from Pharaoh[’s presence] and prayed to Adonoy.

(8,27) Adonoy did as Moshe spoke [requested]. He caused the wild animals to depart from Pharaoh from his servants and from his people. Not a single one remained.

(8,28) But Pharaoh hardened his heart again, this time and he did not send out the people.

(9,1) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy, God of the Hebrews has said, Send out My people and let them serve Me.

(9,2) For if you refuse to send them out, and continue holding them;

(9,3) behold, the hand of Adonoy is directed at your livestock that are in the field—upon the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the cattle and the sheep—there will be a very heavy [serious] plague.

(9,4) Adonoy will distinguish between the livestock of the [B’nei] Yisrael and the livestock of Egypt. None belonging to the B’nei Yisrael will die.’”

(9,5) Adonoy has set a time, saying, Tomorrow Adonoy will do this thing in the land.

(9,6) Adonoy did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock in Egypt died, but of the livestock of the B’nei Yisrael, not one died.

(9,7) Pharaoh sent [scouts] and behold not a single animal of the B’nei Yisrael died. The heart of Pharaoh remained hard and he did not send out the people.

(9,8) Adonoy spoke to Moshe and Aharon, “Both of you take full handfuls of furnace soot and let Moshe throw it heavenward before the eyes of Pharaoh.

(9,9) It will become a fine dust [and settle] over the whole land of Egypt. It will settle on man and beast causing a rash which will break out into boils [affecting] the whole land of Egypt.”

(9,10) They took the furnace soot and stood before Pharaoh. Moshe threw it heavenward, and it caused a rash which broke into boils in man and beast.

(9,11) The sorcerers could not stand before Moshe as a result of the rash, for the rash affected the sorcerers as well as all of Egypt.

(9,12) Adonoy caused Pharaoh’s heart to remain hard and he did not listen to them just as Adonoy had spoken to Moshe.

(9,13) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘This is what Adonoy, God of the Hebrews, has said, “Send out My people and let them serve Me.

(9,14) For this time, I will send all My plagues against your [very] heart. [They will strike] your servants and your people, so that you will know that there is none like Me in all the earth.

(9,15) For now I [could] have extended My hand, and struck you and your people with the pestilence, and you would have been obliterated from the earth.

(9,16) Nevertheless, for this reason I have let you survive—to show you My strength—so that My Name will be declared throughout all the earth.

(9,17) But you are still oppressing My people refusing to send them out.

(9,18) Tomorrow at this time, I will cause it to rain a tremendously heavy hail. There was never anything like it in Egypt, from the time it was founded until now.

(9,19) Now send [word] and gather [shelter] your livestock and all that you have in the field. Any man or beast that is found [remains] in the field and will not be brought into the house [indoors]—the hail will descend upon them and they will die.”

(9,20) He that feared the word of Adonoy among Pharaoh’s servants, made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses [indoors].

(9,21) But he whose heart did not heed the word of Adonoy, left his servants and his livestock in the field.

(9,22) Adonoy said to Moshe, “Extend your hand toward the heavens, and there will be hail throughout the land of Egypt—on man and on beast, and upon all the vegetation in the land of Egypt.”

(9,23) Moshe extended his rod toward the heavens, and Adonoy sent thunder and hail, and fire came streaming down upon the earth. Adonoy caused it to rain hail on the land of Egypt.

(9,24) There was hail and fire [lightning] flashing among the hailstones. It was an extremely heavy [downfall]. There had never been anything like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

(9,25) The hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, [killing] all that was in the field [outdoors]—both man and beast. All the vegetation in the fields was struck by the hail and every tree in the fields was shattered.

(9,26) Only in the land of Goshen where the B’nei Yisrael were, there was no hail.

(9,27) Pharaoh sent, and called for Moshe and Aharon, and he said to them, “This time I have sinned. Adonoy is the righteous One and I and my people are the sinners.

(9,28) Pray to Adonoy There has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will send you out without further delay.”

(9,29) Moshe said to him, “When I leave the city, I will spread my hands to Adonoy. The thunder will cease and their will be no more hail, so that you will know that the earth belongs to Adonoy.

(9,30) But regarding you and your servants, I know that you are not yet in fear of Adonoy, Elohim.

(9,31) The flax and barley have been broken since the barley was ripe, and the flax had formed into stalks.

(9,32) But neither the wheat or the spelt were broken since they are late in sprouting.”

(9,33) Moshe [then] left Pharaoh’s presence, and left the city. He spread his hands [in prayer] to Adonoy. The thunder ceased, and the hail and the rain did not reach the earth.

(9,34) [When] Pharaoh saw that the rain, and the hail and the thunder ceased, he continued his sin[ful ways]. He and his servants hardened their hearts.

(9,35) Pharaoh’s heart was strengthened, and he did not send the B’nei Yisrael out. This was just as Adonoy had spoken through Moshe.