Save " Shemot ~ Yocheved, Miriam and Bityah "
Shemot ~ Yocheved, Miriam and Bityah
(כב) וַיְצַ֣ו פַּרְעֹ֔ה לְכׇל־עַמּ֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר כׇּל־הַבֵּ֣ן הַיִּלּ֗וֹד הַיְאֹ֙רָה֙ תַּשְׁלִיכֻ֔הוּ וְכׇל־הַבַּ֖ת תְּחַיּֽוּן׃ {פ} (א) וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִ֖ישׁ מִבֵּ֣ית לֵוִ֑י וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־בַּת־לֵוִֽי׃ (ב) וַתַּ֥הַר הָאִשָּׁ֖ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֹתוֹ֙ כִּי־ט֣וֹב ה֔וּא וַֽתִּצְפְּנֵ֖הוּ שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יְרָחִֽים׃ (ג) וְלֹא־יָכְלָ֣ה עוֹד֮ הַצְּפִינוֹ֒ וַתִּֽקַּֽח־לוֹ֙ תֵּ֣בַת גֹּ֔מֶא וַתַּחְמְרָ֥ה בַחֵמָ֖ר וּבַזָּ֑פֶת וַתָּ֤שֶׂם בָּהּ֙ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וַתָּ֥שֶׂם בַּסּ֖וּף עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיְאֹֽר׃ (ד) וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב אֲחֹת֖וֹ מֵרָחֹ֑ק לְדֵעָ֕ה מַה־יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה לֽוֹ׃ (ה) וַתֵּ֤רֶד בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ עַל־הַיְאֹ֔ר וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֥יהָ הֹלְכֹ֖ת עַל־יַ֣ד הַיְאֹ֑ר וַתֵּ֤רֶא אֶת־הַתֵּבָה֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַסּ֔וּף וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֶת־אֲמָתָ֖הּ וַתִּקָּחֶֽהָ׃ (ו) וַתִּפְתַּח֙ וַתִּרְאֵ֣הוּ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד וְהִנֵּה־נַ֖עַר בֹּכֶ֑ה וַתַּחְמֹ֣ל עָלָ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִיַּלְדֵ֥י הָֽעִבְרִ֖ים זֶֽה׃ (ז) וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲחֹתוֹ֮ אֶל־בַּת־פַּרְעֹה֒ הַאֵלֵ֗ךְ וְקָרָ֤אתִי לָךְ֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה מֵינֶ֔קֶת מִ֖ן הָעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת וְתֵינִ֥ק לָ֖ךְ אֶת־הַיָּֽלֶד׃ (ח) וַתֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֥הּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵ֑כִי וַתֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ הָֽעַלְמָ֔ה וַתִּקְרָ֖א אֶת־אֵ֥ם הַיָּֽלֶד׃ (ט) וַתֹּ֧אמֶר לָ֣הּ בַּת־פַּרְעֹ֗ה הֵילִ֜יכִי אֶת־הַיֶּ֤לֶד הַזֶּה֙ וְהֵינִקִ֣הוּ לִ֔י וַאֲנִ֖י אֶתֵּ֣ן אֶת־שְׂכָרֵ֑ךְ וַתִּקַּ֧ח הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַתְּנִיקֵֽהוּ׃ (י) וַיִּגְדַּ֣ל הַיֶּ֗לֶד וַתְּבִאֵ֙הוּ֙ לְבַת־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַֽיְהִי־לָ֖הּ לְבֵ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמוֹ֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַתֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֥י מִן־הַמַּ֖יִם מְשִׁיתִֽהוּ׃
(22) Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, “Every boy that is born you shall throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” (1) A certain man of the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. (2) The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw how beautiful he was, she hid him for three months. (3) When she could hide him no longer, she got a wicker basket for him and caulked it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child into it and placed it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. (4) And his sister stationed herself at a distance, to learn what would befall him. (5) The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the Nile, while her maidens walked along the Nile. She spied the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to fetch it. (6) When she opened it, she saw that it was a child, a boy crying. She took pity on it and said, “This must be a Hebrew child.” (7) Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a Hebrew nurse to suckle the child for you?” (8) And Pharaoh’s daughter answered, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. (9) And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. (10) When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, who made him her son. She named him Moses, explaining, “I drew him out of the water.”
~ What is strange about the superposing of the last verse of the first chapter and the beginning of the second chapter?
~ What is missing about the characters in the story?
~ Why can't the mother hide him?
~ Who is the daughter of Pharaoh?
The very beginning
וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֵוִי לְהֵיכָן הָלַךְ אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה בַּר זְבִינָא שֶׁהָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת בִּתּוֹ תָּנָא עַמְרָם גְּדוֹל הַדּוֹר הָיָה כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאָמַר פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע כׇּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד הַיְאֹרָה תַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ אָמַר לַשָּׁוְא אָנוּ עֲמֵלִין עָמַד וְגֵירַשׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ עָמְדוּ כּוּלָּן וְגֵירְשׁוּ אֶת נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן אָמְרָה לוֹ בִּתּוֹ אַבָּא קָשָׁה גְּזֵירָתְךָ יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁל פַּרְעֹה שֶׁפַּרְעֹה לֹא גָּזַר אֶלָּא עַל הַזְּכָרִים וְאַתָּה גָּזַרְתָּ עַל הַזְּכָרִים וְעַל הַנְּקֵיבוֹת פַּרְעֹה לָא גָּזַר אֶלָּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְאַתָּה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּלְעוֹלָם הַבָּא פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע סָפֵק מִתְקַיֶּימֶת גְּזֵירָתוֹ סָפֵק אֵינָהּ מִתְקַיֶּימֶת אַתָּה צַדִּיק בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁגְּזֵירָתְךָ מִתְקַיֶּימֶת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְתִגְזַר אוֹמֶר וְיָקׇם לָךְ עָמַד וְהֶחְזִיר אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ עָמְדוּ כּוּלָּן וְהֶחְזִירוּ אֶת נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן וַיִּקַּח וַיַּחְזִור מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה בַּר זְבִינָא שֶׁעָשָׂה לוֹ מַעֲשֵׂה לִיקּוּחִין הוֹשִׁיבָהּ בְּאַפִּרְיוֹן וְאַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם מְרַקְּדִין לְפָנֶיהָ וּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אָמְרוּ אֵם הַבָּנִים שְׂמֵחָה
The verse states: “And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took for a wife a daughter of Levi” (Exodus 2:1). The Gemara asks: To where did he go? Rav Yehuda bar Zevina says: He went according to the advice of his daughter Miriam, as the Gemara will proceed to explain. A Sage teaches: Amram, the father of Moses, was the great man of his generation. Once he saw that the wicked Pharaoh said: “Every son that is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive” (Exodus 1:22), he said: We are laboring for nothing by bringing children into the world to be killed. Therefore, he arose and divorced his wife. All others who saw this followed his example and arose and divorced their wives. His daughter, Miriam, said to him: Father, your decree is more harsh for the Jewish people than that of Pharaoh, as Pharaoh decreed only with regard to the males, but you decreed both on the males and on the females. And now no children will be born. Additionally, Pharaoh decreed to kill them only in this world, but you decreed in this world and in the World-to-Come, as those not born will not enter the World-to-Come. Miriam continued: Additionally, concerning Pharaoh the wicked, it is uncertain whether his decree will be fulfilled, and it is uncertain if his decree will not be fulfilled. You are a righteous person, and as such, your decrees will certainly be fulfilled, as it is stated with regard to the righteous: “You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you” (Job 22:28). Amram accepted his daughter’s words and arose and brought back, i.e., remarried, his wife, and all others who saw this followed his example and arose and brought back their wives. The Gemara asks: If Amram remarried Jochebed, rather than say: “And took for a wife a daughter of Levi” (Exodus 2:1), it should have stated: “And returned for a wife the daughter of Levi.” Rav Yehuda bar Zevina says: He performed an act of marriage just as one would do for a first marriage. He sat her on a palanquin [appiryon], and Aaron and Miriam danced before her, and the ministering angels said: “A joyful mother of children” (Psalms 113:9).
~ What is the midrash question and its solution?
~ What is the image of Miriam in this midrash?
~ In typical form, the Gemara challenges the midrash on a verbal basis. What is the answer?
וילך. בערים רבות היו ישראל יושבים כי רבים היו. וכלם יקראו ארץ רעמסם אולי בעיר אחרת היתה זאת:
AND THERE WENT. Because of their great number the Israelites lived in many cities. All of the latter were called the land of Rameses. Perhaps this woman was in another city.
~ Ibn Ezra proposes a different solution. What is it? What is strange about this solution?
בת לוי. בן ישראל והיא אחות אביו. ולא דבר נכונה האומר. כי תבואת השדה הנזרעת בשדה אחרת רק באותו שדה עצמו לא תצליח כראוי כי עיקר איסור ערוה היה להיות ישראל קדושים:
A DAUGHTER OF LEVI. Son of Israel. She was the sister of his father.The person who says that wheat sown in another field will succeed, while wheat planted in the same field will not, does not speak the truth. The main reason that close relatives are forbidden to have sexual relations with each other is to sanctify Israel.
~ Amram and Yocheved are related more than just by marriage. What is Ibn Ezra's defense of this wedding?
(טז) וְאֵ֨לֶּה שְׁמ֤וֹת בְּנֵֽי־לֵוִי֙ לְתֹ֣לְדֹתָ֔ם גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן וּקְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִ֑י וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י לֵוִ֔י שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה׃ (יז) בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן לִבְנִ֥י וְשִׁמְעִ֖י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃ (יח) וּבְנֵ֣י קְהָ֔ת עַמְרָ֣ם וְיִצְהָ֔ר וְחֶבְר֖וֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵ֑ל וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י קְהָ֔ת שָׁלֹ֧שׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה׃ (יט) וּבְנֵ֥י מְרָרִ֖י מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֛לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַלֵּוִ֖י לְתֹלְדֹתָֽם׃ (כ) וַיִּקַּ֨ח עַמְרָ֜ם אֶת־יוֹכֶ֤בֶד דֹּֽדָתוֹ֙ ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֔וֹ אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְאֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וּשְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י עַמְרָ֔ם שֶׁ֧בַע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה׃
(16) These are the names of Levi’s sons by their lineage: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and the span of Levi’s life was 137 years. (17) The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their families. (18) The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and the span of Kohath’s life was 133 years. (19) The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their lineage. (20) Amram took to wife his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the span of Amram’s life was 137 years.
(יב) עֶרְוַ֥ת אֲחוֹת־אָבִ֖יךָ לֹ֣א תְגַלֵּ֑ה שְׁאֵ֥ר אָבִ֖יךָ הִֽוא׃ {ס}
(12) Do not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s flesh.
וילך איש מבית לוי רבותינו אמרו שהלך אחר עצת בתו (סוטה יב:). ור''א אמר (אבן עזרא על שמות ב׳:א׳) כי בערים רבות היו ישראל יושבים, וזאת האשה היתה בעיר אחרת. ומה צורך שיזכיר הכתוב זה. ועל דעתי, בעבור שלא חשש לגזרת פרעה ולקח לו אשה להוליד ממנה בנים, אמר הכתוב כן. בעבור כי בכל מזדרז לעשות ענין חדש יאמר כן, וילך ראובן וישכב את בלהה (בראשית לה כב), וילך ויקח את גמר בת דבלים (הושע א ג), לכו ונמכרנו לישמעאלים (בראשית לז כז), לכו ונכהו בלשון (ירמיה יח יח), לכו נא ונוכחה (ישעיה א יח). וכן זה נזדרז ויקח את בת לוי ולא הזכיר הכתוב שם האיש ולא שם אשתו אשר לקח, והיה זה בעבור כי יצטרך ליחסם ולהזכיר שמם מי אביהם ואבי אביהם עד אל לוי, ועכשיו ירצה לקצר עד לדת המושיע, ואחר כן (להלן ו יד-כה) ייחס גם שאר השבטים בעבורו בסדר השני:ועל דרך הפשט שהיה זה תחלת הנשואין, אין מוקדם ומאוחר בפרשה, כי היה זה קודם גזירת פרעה, וילדה מרים ואהרן, ואחר כן גזר פרעה כל הבן הילוד היאורה תשליכוהו, ותלד הבן הטוב הזה ולא הזכיר הכתוב לדת מרים ואהרן, כי לא היה בלדתם חדוש דבר. ועל דעת רבותינו (סוטה יב:) הם לקוחים שניים, שפירש ממנה מפני גזירת פרעה והחזירה בנבואת בתו (עי' שם יג.) ועשה בה מעשה לקוחים, הושיבה באפריון ומרים ואהרן מרקדים לפניהם, בשמחתם כי על ידי זה יגאלו ישראל. ואע''פ שהיה אהרן קטן, נתן השם שמחה בלבו בענין הזה, או מרים אחותו מלמדתו:
AND THERE WENT A MAN OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI. Our Rabbis have said that he went after the advice of his daughter. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra said that the Israelites dwelled in many cities, and this woman (Yocheved) lived in another city. But what need is there for Scripture to mention this? In my opinion Scripture uses the term “went” because this man paid no heed to Pharaoh’s decree and took to himself a woman to beget children. Such is Scripture’s way of speaking of anyone who prompts himself to do something new. Thus: And Reuben went and lay with Bilhah (Gen. 35:22); So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim (Hoshea 1:3); Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:27); Come, and let us smite him with the tongue (Jer. 18:18); Come now, and let us reason together (Isaiah 1:18). Similarly this man Amram alerted himself and married a daughter of Levi.The reason Scripture does not mention the name of the man nor the name of the woman he married is to avoid tracing their genealogy and mentioning who their fathers and their fathers’ fathers were up to Levi. At this point, Scripture desires to shorten the subject until the birth of the redeemer takes place, and after that, in the second seder (Ex. 6:14-25), the text traced the genealogy even of other tribes on account of Moses. In line with the simple meaning of Scripture, this was a first marriage, there is no significance in its being mentioned earlier or later in the chapter. This marriage took place before Pharaoh’s decree [that all male Hebrew children be killed], and she gave birth to Miriam and Aaron. After that, Pharaoh decreed, Every son that is born, you shall cast into the river, and then she gave birth to this goodly son. Scripture did not mention the birth of Miriam and Aaron inasmuch as there was nothing new about their birth. However, in the opinion of our Rabbis, this was a remarriage, since Amram separated from his wife in consequence of Pharaoh’s decree and then took her back on account of his daughter’s prophecy. He made her a wedding and placed her in the litter, while Miriam and Aaron danced about them in their joy because through this marriage, Israel would be redeemed. Even though Aaron was young, God put gladness in his heart for this occasion, or possibly his sister Miriam taught him.
~ What is Nachmanides' explanation of the text?
~ How does he deal with the midrash?
וילך איש מבית לוי. באשר היה האיש מבית לוי ולקח את בת לוי ומובן שהיתה זקנה ממנו הרבה ואין דרך איש לישא זקנה ממנו. ורק משום שהיו מבית לוי אשר התנהגו בחסידות וראו סודו׳ נעלמו׳ מעיני הדור ע״כ לקחה. מש״ה כתיב וילך. שהיה הדבר לפלא ויצא מגדר ד״א:
And a man from the house of Levi went - as it was stated that the man was from Levi and he took a woman from Levi, and it is clear that she was older than him by many years, and it is not common that a man marries a woman older than him. And this happened just because they were both from the house of Levi, and they behaved with piety, they saw secrets that were hidden from the eyes of that generation, and that is why he took her. That is why it is written "he went", it was a surprising thing, and it was done outside the normal human behavior.
~ Why did they get married, according to the Haamek Davar?
Yocheved, the first mother
רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר, בְּאַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם לא נְאֱמַר זִיוּוּג אֲבוֹתָם בַּתּוֹרָה, וּבְמֹשֶׁה כְּתִּיב וַיִּקַּח אֶת בַּת לֵוִי, לְהוֹרוֹת, שֶׁהַשְּׁכִינָה נִקְרֵאת עַל שֵׁם לֵוִי. וְלא הָיָה עַמְרָם רָאוּי לְהוֹלִיד לְמֹשֶׁה, עַד שֶׁנָּטַל חֵלֶק בַּשְּׁכִינָה, וְהוֹלִיד לְמֹשֶׁה. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, וַיִּקַּח אֶת בַּת לֵוִי. וּלְפִיכָךְ כְּתִיב, (שמות ב') וַתֵּרֶא אוֹתוֹ כִּי טוֹב הוּא.
Rabbi Itzchak said: In Aharon's and Miriam's case it was not written their parents' marriage, but in Moshe's case it says "and he took a woman of Levi". This is to teach that the Shechinah is called "Levi", and Amram was not deserving of siring Moshe until he touched a piece of the Shechinah, and then he sired Moshe. That is why it is written "and he took a daughter of levi". And this is why it is written "and she saw him, he was good" (Ex. 2:2).
~ The Zohar, in its typical way, transforms Yocheved. What does she become?

(י) וילך איש מבית לוי ויקח את בת לוי נ"ל בס"ד מלוי אותיות לוי כזה למ"ד וא"ו יו"ד עולה מספר אין וידוע דכל אות במילואה נקראת בית ועמרם זכה ליקח מדת הענוה שהוא אין הרמוזה בבית לוי ר"ל באותיות לוי במילואם שנקראים בתים ובזה זכה ליקח את בת לוי שתוליד לו את מרע"ה שהיו עניו מכל האדם ותפס מדת אין בקצה אחרון או יובן ויקח את בת לוי כי אות המלוי נקרא בת או בן לאות הפשוט כנודע וידוע מ"ש רבינו האר"י ז"ל כשלקח עמרם את יוכבד אשתו בפעם הזאת נתעברה בה נשמת חוה ולכן עשה לקוחין מחדש וחזרה לנערותה וז"ס ותהר האשה בה"א הידיעה היא האשה הראשונה שהיתה בעולם ע"ש והנה חוה יוכבד מספרם ס"א כמנין אותיות המלוי של לוי ולז"א ויקח את בת לוי רמז לחוה ויוכבד שנרמזו במלוי שהוא נקרא בת להפשוט:

(10) And a man of Levi went, and took a daughter of Levi - it appears to me, with the help of heaven, that the letters in Levi, written in full as Lamed Vav Yud sums up Ayin [the are letters spelled out in full, and then the letters in the spelling out are added up, not including the letters themselves, so if לוי is למ"ד וא"ו יו"ד, we add up:

/ מ"ד – 44/

/ א"ו – 7 /

/ו"ד – 10

for a total of 61 = אין ], and it is known that every letter in their full form is called House (Bayit), and Amram merited to take the characteristic of humility, which is Ayin, which is hinted at in "house of Levi", that is, in the letters of Levi, in their full form, they are called Houses, and this is how he merited to take a daughter from Levi that gave birth to Moshe, our teacher, peace be upon him whose humility surpassed any living person, and he seized the characteristic of Ayin to its fullest. Or you can understand "he took a daughter of Levi" because the letter in its full form is called daughter or son of the simple letter, as it is known, and we know what the Ari of blessed memory wrote, that when Amram took his wife this time, the soul of Chava mixed itself in her, and that is why this was like a new marriage, and her youth returned to her, and this is the secret of "and the woman conceived", that is to say the idea is that the first woman, which was in the world, see there, and also note that Chava plus Yocheved sum up 61 like the full form of Levi. And this is why it says "and he took a daughter of Levi", this is a hint to "Chava Yocheved" which is hinted by the full form, which is called "daughter" in the simple reading.

~ The Ben Ish Chai also transforms Yocheved. What does he do? How does he get there? What do you think is his basic question regarding Yocheved and Amram?

Miriam
ותתצב אחותו מרחוק לדעה מה יעשה לו (שמות א, ד). ובו יבואר הפסוק מרחוק ה' נראה לי. הכלל, כשהעולמות הם דבוקים בגשמיות שלהם אז אינם יכולים להשיג עבודת הבורא ברוך הוא וכשהם מרחקים עצמם ומפשיטים מגשמיות שלהם אז הם יכולים להשיג עבודת הבורא ברוך הוא. וזהו הרמז בפסוק מרחוק, כשאדם הוא מרוחק מגשמיות שלו אז ה' נראה לו. וזהו הרמז ותתצב אחותו, כי אחותו לשון דביקות מלשון מאחה, מה שהוא דבוק בגשמיות שלו מרחוק להתרחק עצמו מגשמיות שבו. לדעה מה יעשה לו, לדעה, מלשון התחברות (בראשית ד, כה) וידע אדם. מה יעשה לו, שהאין הוא השופע עליו תמיד ותמיד הוא מקבל חיות מאת הבורא ברוך הוא כי האין נקרא מה:
“His sister positioned herself at a distance, ‎in order to know what would be done with him.” (Exodus 2:4) - This ‎verse helps us understand Jeremiah 31:2 “Ad-nai appeared to ‎me from a distance, etc.;” ‎There is a general rule that when the worlds/people are completely connected (devukim) to their physical aspect then they ‎aren't be able catch up to the service of the Blessed Creator. And when they distance themselves and shed their physicality then they are able to achieve service to the Blessed Creator. ‎This is the idea in "from a distance". ‎‎ When a person distances themselves from their physicality then Hashem appears to them. And this is the hint in "his sister positioned herself". ‎אחתו‎ (achoto), ‎‎“his sister,” alludes to the word ‎ (me'uchah) מאחה‎, meaning ‎‎“connection,” i.e. דביקות (devekut), which isa person who is completely connected to their physicality; "from a distance" they need to distance themselves from their physicality; "to know" from the expression of companionship התחברות (hithaverut) as in "and Adam knew" (Genesis 4:25); "what (mah) would be done with him", [she wanted to see] the attribute ‎of ‎אין‎ Ayin, that abounded on him always, and he always received his life-force from the Blessed Creator, since Ayin is called "mah".

~ Miriam goes through a transformation in the reading of the Kedushat Levi. What does she become? How does the Kedushat Levi re-read the verse to show us how to connect to God?

The Daughter of Pharaoh - the other mother
ר' שמעון אומר, טוב קראו אותו, שנ' ותרא אותו כי טוב הוא. והחביאוהו בבית שלשה חדשים, ולאחר שלשה נתנו אותו בתיבת גומא והשליכוהו על שפת היאור, והכל צפוי לפני הב"ה, והיתה בת פרעה מונגעת בנגעים קשים ולא היתה יכולה לרחוץ בחמין, באת לרחוץ ביאורה וראתה את הנער בוכה, ושלחה ידה והחזיקה בו ונתרפאת. אמרה, הנער הזה צדיק הוא, וקיימתו לחיים, וכל המקיים נפש אחת כאילו קיים עולם מלא, וכל מאבד נפש אחת כאילו מאבד עולם מלא, לפיכך זכתה לחיי העה"ז ולחיי העה"ב.
Rabbi Simeon said: They called him Ṭob (good), as it is said, "And when she saw him that he was good" (Ex. 2:2). They concealed him in a house for three months. After three months she put him in an ark of bulrushes, and she cast him upon the bank of the river. All things are revealed before the Holy One of Blessing. Now the daughter of Pharaoh was smitten sorely with leprosy and she was not able to bathe in hot water, and she came to bathe in the river, and she saw the crying child. She put forth her hand and took hold of him, and she was healed. She said: This child is righteous, and I will preserve his life. Whosoever preserves a life is as though he had kept alive the whole world. Therefore was she worthy to (inherit) the life in this world and the life in the world to come.

~ What is the basic value that this midrash wants to teach?

~ How does this midrash explain the story?

~ What happened to the daughter of Pharaoh at the end?

וַתֵּרֶד בַּת פַּרְעֹה לִרְחוֹץ עַל הַיְאֹר אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי מְלַמֵּד שֶׁיָּרְדָה לִרְחוֹץ מִגִּלּוּלֵי [בֵּית] אָבִיהָ וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר אִם רָחַץ ה׳ אֵת צוֹאַת בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן וְגוֹ׳ וְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ הוֹלְכוֹת וְגוֹ׳ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֵין הֲלִיכָה זוֹ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן מִיתָה וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ לָמוּת וַתֵּרֶא אֶת הַתֵּיבָה בְּתוֹךְ הַסּוּף כֵּיוָן דַּחֲזוֹ דְּקָא בָעוּ לְאַצּוֹלֵי לְמֹשֶׁה אָמְרוּ לָהּ גְּבִירְתֵּנוּ מִנְהָגוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם גּוֹזֵר גְּזֵירָה אִם כׇּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ אֵין מְקַיְּימִין אוֹתָהּ בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ מְקַיְּימִין אוֹתָהּ וְאַתְּ עוֹבֶרֶת עַל גְּזֵירַת אָבִיךְ בָּא גַּבְרִיאֵל וַחֲבָטָן בַּקַּרְקַע וַתִּשְׁלַח אֶת אֲמָתָהּ וַתִּקָּחֶהָ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה חַד אָמַר יָדָהּ וְחַד אָמַר שִׁפְחָתָהּ מַאן דְּאָמַר יָדָהּ דִּכְתִיב אַמָּתָהּ וּמַאן דְּאָמַר שִׁפְחָתָהּ מִדְּלָא כְּתִיב יָדָהּ וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר שִׁפְחָתָהּ הָא אָמְרַתְּ בָּא גַּבְרִיאֵל וַחֲבָטָן בַּקַּרְקַע דְּשַׁיַּיר לַהּ חֲדָא דְּלָאו אוֹרְחַהּ דְּבַת מַלְכָּא לְמֵיקַם לְחוֹדַהּ וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר יָדָהּ לִיכְתּוֹב יָדָהּ הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּאִישְׁתַּרְבַּב אִישְׁתַּרְבּוֹבֵי דְּאָמַר מָר וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּאַמָּתָהּ שֶׁל בַּת פַּרְעֹה וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּשִׁינֵּי רְשָׁעִים דִּכְתִיב שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ וְאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אַל תִּיקְרֵי שִׁבַּרְתָּ אֶלָּא שֶׁרִיבַּבְתָּה וַתִּפְתַּח וַתִּרְאֵהוּ אֶת הַיֶּלֶד וַתֵּרֶא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא שֶׁרָאֲתָה שְׁכִינָה עִמּוֹ וְהִנֵּה נַעַר בֹּכֶה קָרֵי לֵיהּ יֶלֶד וְקָרֵי לֵיהּ נַעַר תָּנָא הוּא יֶלֶד וְקוֹלוֹ כְּנַעַר דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אִם כֵּן עֲשִׂיתוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ בַּעַל מוּם אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁעָשְׂתָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ חוּפַּת נְעוּרִים בַּתֵּיבָה אָמְרָה שֶׁמָּא לֹא אֶזְכֶּה לְחוּפָּתוֹ וַתַּחְמֹל עָלָיו וַתֹּאמֶר מִיַּלְדֵי הָעִבְרִים זֶה מְנָא יָדְעָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא שֶׁרָאֲתָה אוֹתוֹ מָהוּל זֶה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּתְנַבְּאָה שֶׁלֹּא מִדַּעְתָּהּ זֶה נוֹפֵל וְאֵין אַחֵר נוֹפֵל
The verse states: “And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe [lirḥotz] in the river” (Exodus 2:5). Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: This teaches that she came down to the river to cleanse herself from the impurity of her father’s idols. And similarly it states: “When the Lord shall have washed [raḥatz] away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of destruction” (Isaiah 4:4). This washing clearly refers to the purging of spiritual sins. The verse continues: “And her maidens walked along [holekhot] by the riverside” (Exodus 2:5). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: This walking is nothing other than the terminology of going toward death, and similarly it states: “Behold, I am going [holekh] to die” (Genesis 25:32). The verse continues: “And she saw the ark among the willows” (Exodus 2:5). Once her maidens saw that the daughter of Pharaoh was intending to save Moses, they said to her: Our mistress, the custom of the world is that when a king of flesh and blood decrees a decree, even if all the world does not fulfill it, at least his children and members of his household fulfill it, and yet you are violating the decree of your father. After the maidens tried to convince her not to save Moses, the angel Gabriel came and beat them to the ground and they died. The verse concludes: “And she sent amatah to take it” (Exodus 2:5). Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya disagree as to the definition of the word “amatah.” One says that it means her arm, and one says that it means her maidservant. The Gemara explains: The one who says that it means her arm explained it in this manner, as it is written “amatah,” which denotes her forearm. And the one who says that it means her maidservant explained it in this manner because it does not explicitly write the more common term: Her hand [yadah]. Therefore, he understands that this is the alternative term for a maidservant, ama. The Gemara asks: And according to the one who says that it means her maidservant, didn’t you say earlier: Gabriel came and beat them to the ground and the maidservants died, so how could Pharaoh’s daughter send her? The Gemara answers: It must be that Gabriel left her one maidservant, as it is not proper that a princess should stand alone. The Gemara asks: And according to the one who says that it means her hand, let the Torah write explicitly: Her hand [yadah]. Why use the more unusual term amatah? The Gemara answers: This verse teaches us that her arm extended [ishtarbav] many cubits. As the Master said in another context: And similarly you find with regard to the hand of Pharaoh’s daughter that it extended, and similarly you find with regard to the teeth of evildoers, as it is written: “You have broken [shibbarta] the teeth of the wicked” (Psalms 3:8), and Reish Lakish said: Do not read the word as shibbarta, rather read it as sheribbavta, you have extended. The next verse states: “And she opened it and saw it [vatirehu], even the child” (Exodus 2:6). The Gemara comments: The verse states: “And she saw it”; it should have stated: And she saw. Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: In addition to Moses, she saw the Divine Presence with him. This is indicated by the usage of “saw it.” The verse states: “And saw it, even the child [yeled]; and behold a lad [na’ar] that wept” (Exodus 2:6). The verse calls him “a child [yeled],” and the same verse calls him “a lad [na’ar].” A Sage teaches: He is the age of a child but his voice is as loud and deep as a lad; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. Rabbi Neḥemya said to him: If that is so, you made Moses our teacher blemished, since his voice was unusually deep. Rather, this teaches that his mother made a canopy of youth, i.e., a small canopy, for him in the ark, as she said: Perhaps I will not merit to see his wedding canopy. The verse concludes: “And she had compassion on him, and said: This [zeh] is one of the Hebrews’ children” (Exodus 2:6). The Gemara asks: From where did she know that he was a Hebrew child? Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: As she saw that he was circumcised. The Gemara comments: The Pharaoh’s daughter said: “This [zeh] is one of the Hebrews’ children” (Exodus 2:6). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: This teaches that she prophesied unknowingly, as the intention of the word “zeh” was: This one falls, i.e., is cast, into the water, but no other will fall by means of water, for on that day Pharaoh’s decree was canceled.

~ The midrash found in the Talmud is very rich in adding new details. What is the reason for the bathing bythe daughter of Pharaoh? What does she become?

~ How does the question of the angel come about?

~ What are values taught by this midrash?

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי, כִּי הֲוָה פָּתַח בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, אָמַר הָכִי: כׇּל דְּבָרֶיךָ אֶחָד הֵם, וְאָנוּ יוֹדְעִין לְדוֹרְשָׁן. ״וְאִשְׁתּוֹ הַיְהוּדִיָּה יָלְדָה אֶת יֶרֶד אֲבִי גְדוֹר וְאֶת חֶבֶר אֲבִי שׂוֹכוֹ וְאֶת יְקוּתִיאֵל אֲבִי זָנוֹחַ וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי בִּתְיָה בַת פַּרְעֹה אֲשֶׁר לָקַח מָרֶד״. אַמַּאי קָרֵי לַהּ ״יְהוּדִיָּה״ — עַל שׁוּם שֶׁכָּפְרָה בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַתֵּרֶד בַּת פַּרְעֹה לִרְחוֹץ עַל הַיְאוֹר״, וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שֶׁיָּרְדָה לִרְחוֹץ מִגִּילּוּלֵי בֵּית אָבִיהָ. ״יָלְדָה״? וְהָא רַבּוֹיֵי רַבִּיתֵיהּ! לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁכׇּל הַמְגַדֵּל יָתוֹם וִיתוֹמָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ — מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִילּוּ יְלָדוֹ. ״יֶרֶד״ זֶה מֹשֶׁה, וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ ״יֶרֶד״? שֶׁיָּרַד לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מָן בְּיָמָיו. ״גְּדוֹר״ — שֶׁגָּדַר פִּרְצוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. ״חֶבֶר״ — שֶׁחִיבֵּר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לַאֲבִיהֶן שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. ״סוֹכוֹ״ — שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּסוּכָּה. ״יְקוּתִיאֵל״ — שֶׁקִּוּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאֵל בְּיָמָיו. ״זָנוֹחַ״ — שֶׁהִזְנִיחַ עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. ״אֲבִי״ ״אֲבִי״ ״אֲבִי״ — אָב בַּתּוֹרָה, אָב בְּחׇכְמָה, אָב בִּנְבִיאוּת. ״וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי בִּתְיָה אֲשֶׁר לָקַח מָרֶד״, וְכִי מֶרֶד שְׁמוֹ? וַהֲלֹא כָּלֵב שְׁמוֹ! אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: יָבֹא כָּלֵב שֶׁמָּרַד בַּעֲצַת מְרַגְּלִים, וְיִשָּׂא אֶת בַּת פַּרְעֹה שֶׁמָּרְדָה בְּגִלּוּלֵי בֵּית אָבִיהָ.

§ Incidental to the exposition of the word Yehudi as one who repudiates idolatry, the Gemara relates that when Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi introduced his exposition of the book of Chronicles, he addressed the book of Chronicles and said as follows: All of your words are one, and we know how to expound them. This introduction made reference to the fact that the book of Chronicles cannot always be interpreted literally but requires exposition, as the same individual might be called by various different names, as in the following verse: “And his wife HaYehudiyya bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took” (I Chronicles 4:18). Why is she, who we are told at the end of the verse was Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, referred to as Yehudiyya? Because she repudiated idol worship, as it is written: “And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself in the river” (Exodus 2:5), and Rabbi Yoḥanan said: She went down to wash and purify herself from the idols of her father’s house. The Gemara understands that all the names referred to in the verse as children of Pharaoh’s daughter refer to Moses, as it will soon explain. The Gemara asks: Pharaoh’s daughter bore Moses? But didn’t she merely raise him? Rather, it is telling you that with regard to anyone who raises an orphan boy or girl in his house, the verse ascribes him credit as if he gave birth to him. The Gemara explains how all the names in fact are referring to Moses: “Jered”; this is Moses, and why was he called Jered? Because manna came down [yarad] for the Jewish people in his days. He was also called “Gedor” because he fenced in [gadar] the breaches of the Jewish people. He was called “Heber” because he connected [ḥibber] the Jewish people to their Father in Heaven. He was called “Soco” because he was for the Jewish people like a shelter [sukka] and shield. He was called “Jekuthiel” because the Jewish people trusted in God [kivu laEl] in his days. Lastly, he was called “Zanoah” because he caused the iniquities of the Jewish people to be disregarded [hizniaḥ]. The Gemara notes that the words “father of” appear three times in that same verse: “And his wife HaYehudiyah bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.” This teaches that Moses was a father to all of the Jewish people in three respects: A father in Torah, a father in wisdom, and a father in prophecy. The aforementioned verse stated: “And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.” The Gemara asks: Was Bithiah’s husband’s name Mered? Wasn’t his name Caleb? Rather, the verse alludes to the reason that Caleb married Bithiah. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Let Caleb, who rebelled [marad] against the advice of the spies, come and marry the daughter of Pharaoh, who rebelled against the idols of her father’s home.

~ What is the reason for the daughter of Pharaoh to be called Bityah?

~ Who does she marry? Why does it make sense in the rabbis' minds to marry her to him?

~ What are values that this midrash wants to teach us?

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site. Click OK to continue using Sefaria. Learn More.OKאנחנו משתמשים ב"עוגיות" כדי לתת למשתמשים את חוויית השימוש הטובה ביותר.קראו עוד בנושאלחצו כאן לאישור