Torah: Exodus 10-13:16
Haftorah: Jer 46:13-28
Aliyot:
1. Ex 10:1-11
2. Ex 10:12-23
3. Ex 10: 24-11:3
4. Ex 11:4-12:12:20
5. Ex 12:21-28
6. Ex 12:29-51
7. Ex 13:1-16
Overview: Negotiations between Moses and Pharaoh continue: The last three plagues, Locusts, Darkness and Death of the Firstborn, descend upon the terrified Egyptians. Pharaoh temporarily relents when his son dies. The Israelites get ready to shift as they celebrate their first Passover. Israel's redemption appears through the darkness settling over the land. Darkness sympbolizes spiritual blindness, the despair of an enslaved people or those overburdened by the injustice of the world.
In Focus: Moses replied," We will all go, young and old; we will go with our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds; for we must observe the Lord's festival." Ex 10:9
Moshe is incorrigible. He returns once more to Pharaoh.This time, Moshe warns of an impending plague of locusts that will devour whatever survived through the last seven plagues.
"What is the purpose of that?" Can the Pharaoh do anything about an impending plague that derives from a natural source? Moses puts it bluntly, "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let my people go so that they may worship Me." Ex 10:3
Pharaoh questions his motives. Perhaps Moses will abscond with the slaves. He bargains. They can go on condition that the children stay behind. Moses departs and the locusts arrive.
A deified King, Pharaoh is a god with absolute authority. Although his ministers perceive a lose-lose situation, insisting on concession, "How long shall this one be a snare to us? Let the men go to worship the Lord their God! Are you not yet aware that Egypt is lost?" (Ex 10:7), yet Pharaoh does not. Again, Pharaoh begs reprieve; only send the locusts away. Take the children, but leave their flocks behind. Negotiations break off. The new refusal incurs the plague of darkness, palpable as a woolen blanket, laying over the land.
Could Pharaoh reverse a natural plague or avoid it? Was Moses merely the advanced public warning system? The conflict is between the two different types of social structures and power bases. Pharaoh represents absolute autonomy. The leader of his country, he expects obedience regardless of the damage inflicted on his country and its economy. Concession involves loss of face and admission of fallibility. Moreover, the entire hierarchal Egyptian social structure would crumble, dependent on the strict control of authority. Religious and political authority were not shared, but tools to control society. An effective tool, religion, exerts psychological control over ignorant people. Fearful and susperstitious, society is easily intimidated by religious authority that threatens with terrors beyond death and supernatural repercussions. Focusing heavily on the cult of the dead, the rites in ancient Egyptian society were held in secret of a few people, having tremendous power over the political authority within the social structure. Even in contemporary society the interplay between religion and politics is highly influential, determining the outcome of social laws and political candidates. Consider the public furor over issues such as gay marriage or abortion. Such issues are not approached rationally, but through the manipulation of emotions causing psychological insecurity and anxiety within the public forum. "If gay marriage is allowed, it will degrade real marriage," but the question is never asked or answered what "real marriage is" or whether marriage is a contract between two people rather than the public with a couple.
