Bo
Parshat Bo
We have reached the climax leading up to the Exodus. After the tenth plague, Pharaoh could no longer resist; he had to let the people go. In preparation for the journey out of Egypt, the people celebrate the first Passover.
First Aliyah Exodus chapter 10:1-11 pp. 374-375
Moses and Aaron warn Pharaoh of the eighth plague - locusts. Now Pharaoh’s servants begin to complain of the suffering and urge him to let the people go. Pharaoh asks Moses and Aaron who will go and they reply that all will go; young and old, men and women. Pharaoh says only the men can go and he sends Moses and Aaron away.
Second Aliyah 10:12-23 pp. 376-377
God sends the locusts and they destroy all the crops left over from the hail. Pharaoh admits his mistake and says that he has sinned. God then causes the locusts to depart and Pharaoh’s heart is hardened again. God then causes the next plague, darkness, to cover the land. It was dark in all of Egypt, except where the Israelites lived, for three days.
Third Aliyah 1-:24-11:3 pp. 377-379
Pharaoh agrees to let all out except the sheep and cattle Moses says that all must leave and God hardens Pharaoh’s heart. God tells Moses that He will bring one more plague and then Pharaoh will let them go.
Fourth Aliyah - 11:4-12:20 pp. 379-385
God tells Moses of the impending death of the first born males. God then commands the people to make preparations for the Passover. They are to take a lamb, slaughter it, and put the blood on the doorposts of their homes. On the night of the 14th day of the month, the people should gather as families to eat the lamb. The blood will serve as a sign to God to pass over their homes. God then tells the people not to eat any leavened products for seven days. Anybody who eats leavened products will be cut off from the people.
Fifth Aliyah - 12:21-28 pp. 385-386
Moses explains the commandments to the elders and tells them that this is to be observed for all generations. We are told how to explain Passover to our children. That is why we have the section of the four sons in the Haggadah.
Sixth Aliyah - 12:29-51 pp. 387-390
God smites the first born and Pharaoh agrees to let the people go. The people leave with the silver and gold of the Egyptians; “they despoiled the Egyptians”. The people had been in Egypt 430 years and 600,000 men (not counting women and children) left.
Seventh Aliyah - 13:1-16 pp. 391-394
Moses reminds the people of Passover. The first born males and first born of the animals are to be dedicated to God to remember the plague of the first born. Finally, we are to wear tefillin as a reminder of the exodus from Egypt.
Maftir - 13:14-16 pp. 393-394
Haftorah - Jeremiah 46:13-28 pp. 395-398
Jeremiah foresees the destruction of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia not only will conquer Israel, but will conquer Egypt as well. Just as our portion saw the defeat of the Egyptians, so too does Jeremiah.
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