Daily Verse: Exodus 10:9 and 11
Just the Men or Everyone?
Exodus 10:9 and 11
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה בִּנְעָרֵ֥ינוּ וּבִזְקֵנֵ֖ינוּ נֵלֵ֑ךְ בְּבָנֵ֨ינוּ וּבִבְנוֹתֵ֜נוּ בְּצֹאנֵ֤נוּ וּבִבְקָרֵ֙נוּ֙ נֵלֵ֔ךְ כִּ֥י חַג־יְהֹוָ֖ה לָֽנוּ׃
Moses replied, “We will all go we will go with our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds; for we must observe HaShem's festival.”
לֹ֣א כֵ֗ן לְכֽוּ־נָ֤א הַגְּבָרִים֙ וְעִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אֹתָ֖הּ אַתֶּ֣ם מְבַקְשִׁ֑ים וַיְגָ֣רֶשׁ אֹתָ֔ם מֵאֵ֖ת פְּנֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה׃
No! You gentlemen go and worship HaShem, since that is what you want.” And they were expelled from Pharaoh’s presence.
Pharaoh restricted religious life to adult males only. For the others, religious life was not important. Judaism, however, insists that everyone should be able to participate in a religious life and experience. Moses says: we will go with one another, with the old, with the young, with the men and with the women, anyone who wants to go can go with us. Even non-Jews who wished to accompany the Jews were allowed to go with them. Thus, the Jews eventually took everything from Egypt what was worthy of redemption.
What Does this Teach Us About the Final Redemption?
Just as when the Jews moved out of Egypt and took non-Jews with them, we see today that the Jews are returning to their land and there are those who are moving with them and doing giur or consciously living a life as Noachied.
Pharaoh wished to keep a religious life limited to a small group of people. But it is HaShem who wants everyone to know and acknowledge Him.
As it is said in Isaiah 11:9
כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֗רֶץ דֵּעָה֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּמַּ֖יִם לַיָּ֥ם מְכַסִּֽים
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
And as we read in Psalm 150:6
כֹּ֣ל הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּ֥ל יָ֗הּ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
Let all that breathes praise the L-RD. Hallelujah.
Sources: Kehot Chumash, Sefaria
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the NoahideAcademy.org website. She contributes for the admin of the website in English and Dutch. She teaches Hebrew to beginners and intermediate students at the Academy.
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