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The Nile River was essential to life in Egypt, serving as the main source of the country's water supply. It was also revered and worshiped by the Egyptians. Notably, this river was where the Egyptians cast Jewish infants during their oppression, and it played a significant role in the Passover story when it turned to blood.
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The Confrontation at the Nile
TANAKH
Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh at the Nile, turning its waters into blood, was a direct challenge to Egyptian deities and a powerful demonstration of God's might. The Torah recounts how Moses, following God's command, struck the Nile with his rod to turn its waters into blood, delivering a clear message to Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
The Plagues Against Egyptian Deities
COMMENTARY
The plagues in Egypt were not just natural disasters but strategic strikes against the Egyptian deities, particularly the Nile god Hapi and the frog goddess Heket. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' commentary on the Torah portion Bo in the Book of Exodus provides a profound analysis of how the plagues undermined the Egyptian gods and highlighted the power of the God of Israel.
The Pervasive Plague of Blood
SECOND TEMPLE
The plague of blood was so comprehensive that it left the Egyptians with no drinkable water, even causing blood to spout from the ground when they tried to dig for water. Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish philosopher from the first century BCE, provides a detailed account of the pervasive nature of the plague of blood in Egypt.
The Miraculous Staff of Moses
COMMENTARY
Moses' staff not only turned the Nile's water into blood but also later produced drinkable water, showcasing its divine power and countering heretical claims. Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar's 18th-century commentary, Or HaChaim, delves into the miraculous nature of Moses' staff and its role in the plagues and the Israelites' journey.
The Mystical Challenges of the Nile
KABBALAH
The Zohar delves into the complexities of how Aaron could have reached all the bodies of water in Egypt to turn them into blood, and the significance of the seven-day duration after the river was smitten. This mystical text from the Zohar, a foundational work of Kabbalah, offers an esoteric interpretation of the Torah portion Vaera, focusing on the logistical and symbolic challenges of the plague of blood.
Miracles at the Nile
MIDRASH
Pharaoh's daughter underwent a miraculous transformation when she rescued Moses from the Nile, showcasing divine intervention and her own righteousness. The medieval midrash, Shemot Rabbah, adds depth to this biblical story by emphasizing themes of divine intervention and personal growth. It explores how her actions not only reflect God's will but also lead to her own moral transformation.
Striking the Nile
COMMENTARY
G-d first punishes a people’s deities and then the people themselves, as illustrated by the striking of the Nile, a major deity of the Egyptians, before the people suffered. The medieval Torah commentary Chizkuni explains the sequence of divine retribution during the plagues in Egypt, starting with the Nile River.
Measure for Measure in the Plagues
COMMENTARY
The plagues in Egypt were not random but were direct retributions for the specific actions the Egyptians took against the Israelites. Rabbeinu Bachya’s commentary on the Torah portion Shemot (Exodus) 12:29 explains the principle of 'measure for measure' (midah k'neged midah) in divine retribution.
Saving Moses
COMMENTARY
Moses' mother took extraordinary measures to protect him from Pharaoh's decree, demonstrating immense faith and courage. She placed him in a waterproof basket among the reeds by the Nile River, a significant setting in the story. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s modern translation and commentary on the Hebrew Bible provides a clear and accessible account of this foundational narrative.
Pharaoh and the Nile
TANAKH
Pharaoh's arrogance and self-deification are vividly portrayed as he claims ownership and creation of the Nile River for himself. The prophet Ezekiel, speaking from Babylonian exile, delivers God's message to Pharaoh, depicting him as a mighty monster who arrogantly claims the Nile River.
The Tragedy of the Nile
MIDRASH
The Egyptians employed tragic and detailed methods to identify and capture Jewish infants for casting into the Nile. The 7th-century midrash Shir HaShirim Rabbah provides an allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs, reflecting on Jewish history and experiences, including the suffering in Egypt.
Smiting the Nile
COMMENTARY
The Nile was the backbone of Egypt’s economy and worshipped as a deity, so smiting it first demonstrated the impotence of their gods. The medieval rabbinic commentary Daat Zkenim explains the reasoning behind the first plague in Egypt.
The Lament of Egypt's Fishermen
TANAKH
The decline of Egypt's primary water source brought immense sorrow and economic hardship to those who depended on it. The Book of Isaiah, a prophetic text from the period of the First Temple, vividly describes the lament of the fishermen and the broader impact on Egyptian society.
The Nile's Devastation
COMMENTARY
The Nile River was the lifeblood of Egyptian society, and its transformation during the plague of blood had devastating economic and social impacts. The Midrash elaborates on the Ten Plagues, particularly focusing on how the plague of blood disrupted the Egyptians' dependence on the Nile for fish, food, and work.
Pharaoh's Dream by the Nile
TANAKH
Pharaoh's dream by the Nile foreshadows the river's crucial role in the events that follow. The Torah’s book of Genesis recounts Pharaoh’s dream, which sets the stage for Joseph’s rise to power and the Israelites' eventual settlement in Egypt.
Pharaoh's daughter finds Moses on the Nile, from the Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah', 14th century).
Pharaoh's daughter finds Moses on the Nile, from the Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah', 14th century).
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