Today we will discuss the fourth and final pasuk.
After we discussed how G-d turned us from a family into a nation in the first pasuk, we discussed how we had assimilated in the second pasuk. Then in the third we discussed how we cried out to Hashem, and now, finally, we discuss the fourth pasuk:
וַיּוֹצִאֵנוּ ה' מִמִצְרַיִם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה-וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה-וּבְמֹרָא גָּדֹל-וּבְאֹתוֹת-וּבְמֹפְתִים
And G-d took us out Egypt with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm, with awesome sights (or great fear), with signs and wonders
There are actually two explanations to this pasuk. The fist breaks this pasuk into six units.
Unit one is וַיּוֹצִאֵנוּ ה' מִמִצְרַיִם
And G-d took us out Himself, not through through an angel, not through a fiery angel, not with a messenger (i.e.Moshe). Hashem Himself took us out, as the pasuk says, in order to prove that it happened through G-d directly. This shows G-d’s tremendous love for us; that He acted in such a direct fashion, to take us out.
The next thing we explain is
בְּיָד חֲזָקָה
With a strong hand
and וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה an outstretched arm
These refer, respectively, to the fifth plague, and to the sword. Why are these things singled out?
Many Rishonim explain that Yad Hazaka/ Strong Hand, refers the first five plagues, (because a hand has five fingers) which end in Dever- the fifth plague. And an outstretched arm refers to the next five plagues . The sword refers to the killing of the first born- the tenth plague.
וּבְמֹרָא גָּדֹל
With great sights- What sights?
G-d’s Shechina. This is a very important part of the pasuk. We saw that G-d revealed Himself on the night of Pesach, and Rav Wolbe says that this repeats itself every year.
In order to get us out of our spiritual low point, G-d had to lift us up. But in order to lift us up, it wasn’t enough to merely beat the Egyptians. He had to show us how great we were. He had to show us our greatness. So He revealed the Shechina, which in turn revealed how great the Jewish people were, because they were able to accept G-d’s Shechina. This was a revelation of G-d’s presence, which Rav Wolbe says means a clarity of Emunah, a clarity of God’s existence and presence, that we can reach on the night of the Seder.
וּבְאֹתוֹת
God took us out with signs/miracles, is the simple meaning. But it can also refer to “the staff.” As we have said in the past, Moshe Rabbenu’s staff had letters on it, and the word אתות otot, can also refer to these letters of the alef bet. The staff had the letters דצך עדש באחב, which are an acronym for the ten plagues, and this staff was created at the time of creation. So the plagues could not have been happenstance.
וּבְמֹפְתִים
Wonders
This refers to the plague of blood. The word מפת/mofet refers to blood, as in the pasuk that says, “I put wonders in the heavens and the earth,” and includes the word דם/dam/blood.
The Haggadah continues with the words
דָבָר אַחֵר
Another explanation-
Each of the previous pesukim were explained, but this fourth pasuk, as we mentioned above, has two explanations.
The main goal here is for us to expound on the 10 plagues. We have to look, with more depth at the 10 plagues. Our segue to discuss the 10 plagues in the first explanation was that b’yad hazaka / strong hand, referred to the first five plagues, and “outstretched arm” referred to the 6th through 10th plague.
In this second approach to this pasuk, the segue to the ten plagues comes when we take the words and break them down a little differently.
ביד חזקה -שתים
Two words- two plagues
וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה-שתים
Another two words, represent another two plagues.
וּבְמֹרָא גָּדֹל
Also two words, so that’s another two plagues.
אתות
is plural for signs
So that’s another two plagues.
מפתים
Is also plural, so that’s two more plagues.
That adds up to ten plagues, which creates a segue to list the ten plagues.
If you have the PDF that was sent a few days ago, page 47 describes what to talk about for the plagues. For homework we should all look at this and be able to explain it. For example, regarding Dam/blood- it was everywhere. Imagine someone trying to brush his teeth and having blood on his toothbrush.
Frogs- these weren’t cute little tadpoles but rather thousands and thousands of ferocious frogs.
Lice-The eggs were the size of ostrich eggs.
You have to read the midrash in order to fully appreciate this.
Wild beasts- Every type the zoo has, came with its own habitat. The polar bear came with its ice, and the scorpion came with a patch of sand.
Pestilence was the plague that killed out the animals,
Then they had large boils all over their faces and bodies..
The hail was fire mixed with water.
The locusts were ferocious.
They couldn’t move for three days in the darkness,
Then Makat Bechorot, when the first born died..
Talk about these things and act them out at the seder.
All of this is to show how Hashem creates everything, controls everything, is aware of what is going on, and punishes those that deserve to be punished.
Our fundamentals of Emunah and Bitachon are found in the ten plagues. Hashem controls the heavens and the earth. He controls the animals, the pestilence, the epidemics and pandemics, and microscopic creatures.
Everything is in His control, to start and stop at will.
We have spent four lessons on these four pesukim, which adds up to less than 30 minutes from time. We should try to devote that much time at the Seder, to discuss these pesukim. They are really the meat and potatoes of the seder.
If you have any time, it should be spent stressing these pesukim. Don’t rush through it. This is the fulfillment of the Mitzvah of Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim (telling the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim) and that’s where all the Emunah and Bitachon will come from, B’ezrat Hashem, for you and your family, for the entire year, because that is what the Seder is.
Hag Sameach.
We will, B’ezrat Hashem, have our final class tomorrow.