SH'MOT, A New King

Tevet 19, 5768, 12/28/2007

This Shabbat we begin reading the second book of the Bible, שמות, Names, or Exodus, as it's called in English. After reading the list of the names of the Hebrews who went down to Egypt, we read:

ז וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, פָּרוּ וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ וַיִּרְבּוּ וַיַּעַצְמוּ--בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד; וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ, אֹתָם. {פ}	7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. {P}
ח וַיָּקָם מֶלֶךְ-חָדָשׁ, עַל-מִצְרָיִם, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדַע, אֶת-יוֹסֵף.	8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

Notice that it says "king," not Pharaoh. Then it continues:

ט וַיֹּאמֶר, אֶל-עַמּוֹ: הִנֵּה, עַם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--רַב וְעָצוּם, מִמֶּנּוּ.	9 And he said unto his people: 'Behold, the people of the children of Israel are too many and too mighty for us;
י הָבָה נִתְחַכְּמָה, לוֹ: פֶּן-יִרְבֶּה, וְהָיָה כִּי-תִקְרֶאנָה מִלְחָמָה וְנוֹסַף גַּם-הוּא עַל-שֹׂנְאֵינוּ, וְנִלְחַם-בָּנוּ, וְעָלָה מִן-הָאָרֶץ.	10 come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there befalleth us any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.'
יא וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלָיו שָׂרֵי מִסִּים, לְמַעַן עַנֹּתוֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָם; וַיִּבֶן עָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת, לְפַרְעֹה--אֶת-פִּתֹם, וְאֶת-רַעַמְסֵס.	11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses.

I guess I'm influenced by what's happening today, when the Israeli Government treats us--the most loyal in the Land--as enemies and follows the dictates of those who wouldn't care if our country went up in smoke. Olmert Caves in to US: No Construction in Har Homa, Atarot.

Maybe the "king" isn't the newest pharaoh. Maybe he's a Jew, like Joseph, working for the government.

Re-read verse 7. The Jews were very successful, and gave the impression to those who didn't like them that they had taken over the country.

You know, like in the United States. People think that the Jews control everything, and the Jews in high positions try to "out pope the pope."

Back to the Bible, it was the Jewish/Hebrew People who forgot Joseph. They became " עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרָיִם, 'We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt;" and G-d had to make them suffer more and more until they cried out to Him.

What are you waiting for?

Come home! We need you here! We need you now!

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach!

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