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There are many questions on this pasuk. If Hashem hardened Paroh’s heart, what was his sin? (See Rambam, Hilchot Teshuva, and Ramban.) Why did Hashem need to redeem the Jews with Paroh’s consent? Could He not have taken them out against his will? While we understand Paroh’s behavior during the last five makot, when Hashem hardened his heart, how could he have been so obstinate during the first five makot, despite all that occurred?
Rashi on "I will harden..." explains as follows. After Paroh blasphemed Hashem so wickedly, it was clear that Paroh would never repent with a full heart. Hashem, therefore, hardened Paroh’s heart in order to increase His wonders so that the Jews would come to recognize His might. Rashi concludes that even though the above holds true, during the first five makot, the Torah only says that Paroh’s heart was hardened; it does not say that Hashem hardened it. Rashi implies that even at this early stage (before the first makot) Paroh’s atrocious actions and his denial of Hashem ("who is Hashem that I should listen to His voice?" (Shemot, 5:2)) were sufficient grounds for Hashem to harden his heart. However, Hashem enabled him to repent until after the fifth makah. We should note that even Paroh’s ultimate decision to free the Jews was not repentance, just as a thief who sneaks into a house and flees because of a noise is not considered a ba’al teshuva.
Regarding why Paroh’s consent was necessary, one can claim that since Bnei Yisrael’s enslavement was decreed to last for 400 years, which had not yet elapsed, Paroh was needed to agree to free them. Or, as Rav Yisraeli explained, since the Jews were slaves, if they would leave without their master’s consent, they would remain slaves. Rav Charlap explains that Paroh’s stubbornness stemmed in part from the need for his permission. When one makes a request of an arrogant person, it increases his feeling of power. Although he already realized that his power was limited, Paroh used the request to free Bnei Yisrael to demonstrate his apparent power to refuse. Thus, the first makot, where Paroh hardened his own heart, not only show Hashem’s power, but also teach the folly of a man who thinks he is almighty.
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
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Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
