Parsha discussion

  Question:  When was the complaint of 14:12 made? Approach: Various midrashim refer to a number of Israelites who didn't make it out of מצרים due to an unwillingness to leave, or to take the leap of faith needed. But perhaps we can suggest that this is hinted at in 6:9 - ולא שמעו אל משה מקוצר רוח ועבודה קשה. So whilst the people had, over the course of the מכות and subsequent leaving helped convince them, it's possible that the "what if" was always niggling, and came to the fore at the first sign of trouble.

  Question:  11:4 Why aren’t we told explicitly who משה was talking to? Approach: It could be that, whilst the reading of the rest of the paragraph makes it clear that משה is talking to פרעה, the intention was for בני ישראל to hear the message as well. Especially as this must have happened after the command to prepare the קרבן פסח, and eat in a manner commensurate with being ready to leave the country. This statement of משה was therefore also intended to encourage the people that this is really going to happen.

Question:  Why does אהרן turn his staff into a תנין before being asked to by פרעה, despite a command to the contrary? Approach: It is possible to read the verse that this in indeed what happened. But it could also be that the concept of being asked for a "sign" didn't require פרעה to say anything. But rather, his attitude and body language implied that he didn't take משה & אהרן seriously, and hence needed the "sign" performed.

  Question:  Why does משה not respond to the retort of the two people who were fighting? Approach:  Apart from the obvious understand that the retort was rhetorical, perhaps משה's response was to run away as we're told in the text. There was no need to respond, as the implications were clear.