Parshat Bo

The Exodus

Towards the end of this week's parsha, the children of Israel leave Egypt after a period of 430 years in Egypt.

The Torah gives two separate reports of the Exodus:

"It came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, and it came to pass on that very day, that all the legions of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt" (Shemot 12:41).

And…

"It came to pass on that very day, that the Lord took the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with their legions" (ibid 51).

Only ten pesukim separate these two accounts. Indeed, the language of these two pesukim is extraordinarily similar. Most notable is the double use of the rare expression "on that very day" (בעצם היום הזה).

Interestingly enough, this expression appears again twice in quick succession in two separate accounts of Avraham's circumcision.

"Avraham took Yishmael his son and all those born in his house and all those purchased with his money, every male of the people of Avraham's household, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, as God had spoken with him" (Bereshit 17:23).

And…

"On that very day, Abraham was circumcised, and[so was]Ishmael his son, all the people of his household, those born in his house and those bought with money from foreigners, were circumcised with him" (ibid 26:27).

Once again, both these pesukim give exactly the same information. Why is there a need for two almost identical accounts in quick succession?

If we examine the pesukim carefully, we will notice that while they are very similar, in one aspect, they are very different.

The first account of both stories is written in the active, while the second account of both stories is written in the passive.

In the first account of the Exodus, Israel leaves Egypt; while in the second account, they are taken out of Egypt.

In the first account of the circumcision, Avraham actively circumcises everyone; while in the second account, everyone is circumcised.

These two ideas represent humans doing the will of God, with God accepting their actions. While we all look for God's help in our lives, we must recognize that in order for Him to intervene in our lives, we must first go forward and be an active partner.

Last year's Sedra Short on Parshat Bo, entitled: "They will Go Forth with Great Possessions" appears at http://parshablog.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html.

Another Sedra Short on Parshat Bo, entitled: "The Humiliation of Ra" appears at http://parshablog.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_parshablog_archive.html