Parashat HaShavua 5785: Lech Lecha

(17) But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his household with mighty plagues on the word of Sarai, the wife of Abram.

(2) When a person has on the skin of the body a swelling, a rash, or a discoloration, and it develops into a leprous sore on the skin of the body, it shall be reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.

(1) And the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring but one more plague upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; after that he shall let you go from here; indeed, when he lets you go, he will drive you out of here one and all.”

(18) Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me! Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? (19) Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife; take her and begone!”

"They journeyed from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. Speaking about Abraham and Sarah, as it is written (Genesis 12:10), "Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land." No one was allowed to oppress them, these Egyptians. Kings, such as Abimelech and Pharaoh, were rebuked, as it is written (Genesis 12:17), "But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife."

Furthermore, I will make an example of Pharaoh and his household, as it is said: And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of the word of Sarai (Gen. 12:17). What is indicated by the phrase Because of the word of Sarai? An angel descended with a staff from heaven at that moment, and when Pharaoh later approached her to remove her shoe, he struck him upon the hand, and when he approached to touch her clothing, the angel struck him again. However, the angel consulted Sarah before administering each blow. How do we know that? We know that because it is written: Because of the word of Sarai. Scripture does not say “Because of” or “For the sake of” or “On account of her merit,” but simply, Because of the word of Sarai. If Sarah told the angel to strike him, he struck him, and if she told him to desist, momentarily, he desisted. The officials, the officers, and all the members of his household were smitten by the angel simultaneously, as it is said: And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of the word of Sarai. Every plague already known to man, and those yet to be experienced by mankind, descended upon him, his household, his many servants, the walls, the columns, the utensils, and all his possessions to fulfill the verse: There shall no mischief befall the righteous, but the wicked are filled with evil (Prov. 12:21).

§ Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Leprous marks come for seven matters: For malicious speech, for bloodshed, for an oath taken in vain, for forbidden sexual relations, for arrogance, for theft, and for stinginess.

And for forbidden sexual relations, as it is written: “And the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great afflictions because of Sarai, Abram’s wife” (Genesis 12:17).

'וינגע יי וגו AND THE LORD PLAGUED PHARAOH etc. — He was smitten with the disease of Ratan for which marital relations are harmful.

With a kind of skin disease ... There are twenty-four types of rashes, none of which is more harmful for marital relations than this kind (ראתן). And [it must be that] Pharaoh was afflicted with it, for otherwise how did Pharaoh know she was his wife, so that he immediately called for Avraham [and said, “She is your wife”]?

וינגע ה׳ את פרעה. G'd brought plagues on Pharaoh. The word וינגע is related to נגע, touched. When Pharaoh was about to touch Sarah, G'd revealed to him that she was married to Abraham.

'וינגע ה, immediately, in the night following Sarai’s abduction. G’d’s objective was to prevent Pharaoh from defiling Sarai through sexual contact with her.

וינגע יי את פרעה, “The Lord smote Pharaoh with plagues, etc.” It is difficult to understand why G’d punished Pharaoh for a crime committed inadvertently. He had not been warned not to take Sarai as a wife, as had been the case with Avimelech. Some commentators are of the opinion that Pharaoh did indeed sin intentionally as G’d had informed him that Sarai was Avram’s wife. The fact that Pharaoh reacted by saying to Avraham: “here is your wife, take her and leave,” is proof that someone had informed him. Clearly, this had been G’d, although He may not have spelled it out in these words. According to Nachmanides when these plagues struck Pharaoh and his household suddenly, he wondered what G’d had done to him and why; he asked Sarai if she could account for this and she told him the reason. Thereupon Pharaoh called in Avraham and accused him without being specific, as he was not sure that the plagues were indeed related to this matter. Alternatively, as our sages explained this, the plague consisted of Pharaoh suddenly becoming impotent so that it dawned on him that this could be related to the fact that the woman in question was someone’s wife. He accused Avraham only tentatively, questioning him, afraid to accuse him explicitly. Had Avraham said: “she is my sister,” he would not have said to him: take your wife and go.” Avraham remained silent throughout, as he was far too afraid. Pharaoh interpreted his silence as an admission, this is why he added: “take your wife and depart!”