The plague of the firstborn, in which firstborn Egyptian sons died, was the last of ten plagues that God wrought upon the Egyptians when Pharoah refused to let the enslaved Israelites go. It is described throughout Exodus 11:1—12:36.
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The Plague of the Firstborn
TANAKH
The direct intervention of God in the plague of the firstborn demonstrates God's power and the immediate, widespread impact on Egyptian households. The Torah describes how God, unaided, struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, leading to a loud cry throughout the land.
Unseen Judgment's Wide Reach
COMMENTARY
The inclusion of the firstborn of the captives in the plague highlights the comprehensive nature of God's judgment. Rashi, in his renowned 11th-century commentary on the Torah, provides an explanation of why even the firstborn of captives were smitten during the tenth plague in Egypt.
The Night of Devastation
MIDRASH
The final plague in Egypt was so extensive that it affected every household, causing widespread death and despair. Midrash Tanchuma, an early medieval collection of midrash, provides a detailed and dramatic account of this event, emphasizing its pervasive impact on Egyptian society.
Divine Judgment Revealed
KABBALAH
The hierarchical progression of the plagues reaches its apex when God strikes the firstborn, emphasizing God's ultimate authority. The Zohar, a foundational text of Jewish mysticism, delves into the profound significance of the plagues within the Exodus narrative.
Aligning Thought with Divine Service
CHASIDUT
The spiritual interpretation of the plague of the firstborn emphasizes the importance of aligning one's thoughts with divine service. Rabbi Avraham Dov Baer of Ovruch, in his work Bat Ayin, connects the biblical event of the firstborn's death to the spiritual task of rectifying thought through prayer and action.
The Paschal Offering's Symbolism
JEWISH THOUGHT
The midrashic interpretation reveals deep symbolic connections between the paschal offering and the broader narrative of the Jewish people's history and their relationship with God. The Maharal of Prague, in his work Gevurot Hashem, explores the allegorical significance of the paschal lamb and its role in divine mercy and atonement during the Exodus.
Consecration of the Firstborn
GUIDES
The consecration of the firstborn to God stands as a poignant reminder of the salvation of Jewish firstborns during the plague in Egypt. The Babylonian Talmud discusses the obligation to consecrate human firstborn sons, male firstborns of kosher domesticated animals, and male firstborn donkeys to God, linking this practice directly to the Exodus from Egypt.
Commemorating the Miracle of the Firstborn
HALAKHAH
The fast of the firstborn commemorates the miraculous salvation of the Israelite firstborns during the plague in Egypt. The Tur, a 14th-century legal code by Rabbi Jacob ben Asher, outlines the practice of firstborns fasting on the eve of Passover and includes practical considerations for its observance.
Civil War Among the Egyptians
COMMENTARY
The information about the expected killing of the firstborn leaked out, leading to a civil war among the Egyptians as the firstborn fought for their lives. Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky offers a unique perspective on the plague of the firstborn, suggesting internal conflict among the Egyptians as a result of the impending plague.
Full-page miniature, upper register: the tenth plague: the death of the first-born including Pharaoh's son,  lower regsiter: the Israelites leaving Egypt. Image taken from f. 16 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew
Full-page miniature, upper register: the tenth plague: the death of the first-born including Pharaoh's son, lower regsiter: the Israelites leaving Egypt. Image taken from f. 16 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew
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