1)

Bearing in mind that all the Egyptians' animals died in Egypt (See 9:6) and Yisrael took all their animals with them (See 10:26), from where did the Egyptians obtain horses to harness their chariots?

1.

Rashi and Targum Yonasan: They obtained the animals of the G-d-fearing Egyptians 1 who took their animals inside 2 (See Sh'mos 9:20).

2.

Oznayim la'Torah: It is not Hashem that they feared, but the the word of Hashem, the punishment that followed each threat issued by Moshe. And now that Yisrael had fled with all their silver and gold, and the army wanted to chase after them to retrive their money, they were happy to lend them their animals. 3


1

Rashi: R. Shimon had this episode in mind, when he stated 'If you come across the most righteous Egyptian, kill him; the best snake, crush its skull!'

2

The Ramban holds that even the animals inside died! Refer to 9:6:151:2 and note.

3

Oznayim la'Torah: Since it was not Hashem that they feared, but their money that they loved. So whenever it was a case of Safek Mamon, they went le'Chumra - to make sure that it stayed with them.

2)

What is the meaning of "ve'Shalishim al Kulo"?

1.

Rashi, Rashbam and Targum Onkelos: It means that each chariot was under the command of an officer, a seasoned warrior. 1

2.

Seforno: It means that Par'oh appointed officers over all his troops, even the mercenaries who were not officially part of his army. 2

3.

Moshav Zekenim: For each Yisrael, Par'oh intended 3 to bring three Egyptians, some say thirty, and others three hundred. 4

4.

Targum Yonasan and Yerushalmi Kil'ayim, 8:2: It refers to Par'oh's innovation of adding a third horse to each chariot, 5 to increase its speed (and the Romans, a fourth - Yerushalmi). 6


1

To whom the Torah refers later in 15:4 (Rashbam).

2

Seforno: Because the success of the army lies with the officers.

3

Moshav Zekenim: Par'oh did not know that most Yisre'elim died during Choshech. According to the opinions (refer to 13:18:1:2*) that only one out of every five, or 50, or 500 lived, beforehand there were three million, 30 million, or 300 million Yisraelim, and 300, 30 or three Egyptians for each Yisrael, respectively.

4

Moshav Zekenim, citing Midrash Seichel Tov 12:12: They all agree that Hashem brought nine hundred million angels against them - one for each Egyptian. Why were so many angels needed? One angel killed Sancheriv's army, which was even bigger (Sanhedrin 95b)! Perhaps there was one angel to punish each Egyptian. Perhaps there were not so many Egyptians, but for each Egyptian, a separate angel punished him for each Yisrael that he afflicted! This resolves another question. If there were 300 times as many Egyptians as Yisraelim, the average Egyptian benefited from less than three minutes of Yisrael's labor per day. Why did the fathers fight their Bechoros (refer to 11:5:152:1), preferring the death of their Bechoros over the loss of the slaves?! (PF).

5

Yerushalmi Kil'ayim, 8:2: Initially there was one horse per chariot. Yosef added a second, as the Torah writes in Mikeitz Bereishis, 41:43 "be'Mirkeves ha'Mishneh asher lo" (even though that Pasuk is discussing a carriage, and not war charriots).

6

Hadar Zekenim writes that it was Shlomoh who added the fourth horse, as the Pasuk states in Melachim 10:29 "Merkavah mi'Mitzrayim be'Sheish Me'os Kesef ve'Sus ba'Chamishim u'Me'ah". See also Torah Temimah, note 4.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

3)

Rashi writes that one should kill the most righteous Egyptian. But the Gemara states in Avodah Zarah, 26a, that we do not raise a Nochri from a pit (to save his life), but nor may we throw him in?

1.

Moshav Zekenim #1: Rashi is speaking when Yisrael are in control, whereas the Gemara is speaking when when Nochrim are in control.

2.

Moshav Zekenim #2: Rashi is referring to a time of war, 1 when one is permitted to kill even a Yisrael who seeks to kill one - only if there is no other way to stop him. Regarding a Nochri, it is permitted even if it is possible to stop him in some other way..

3.

R. Bachye: Rashi is referring specificsally to the Egyptians, who saw Hashem's power and rebelled against him. Consequently, is was a war on behalf of Hashem - and they deserve to be killed.


1

R. Bachye: Even in war, we offer a city to surrender before we kill them!

4)

Rashi writes that the best snake, crush its skull! What is the source for this?

1.

Riva (citing R"A): Rashi is referring to Par'oh, who is called a Tanin and a Nachash, and who was the greatest snake.

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