Shemos 4:24 · unit 2 — sought to kill him

Parashas Shemos

The Complete Passuk

וַיְהִ֥י בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁ֣הוּ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ הֲמִיתֽוֹ׃

At a night encampment on the way, GODhGOD This label may refer to an angel, as acting on God’s behalf. So Rashbam, Ibn Ezra; cf. Septuagint, Targum. encountered him and sought to kill him.

Chabad.org — 4:24

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel — Nedarim 32a (verified).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

ויבקש המיתו — אמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל: לא למשה רבינו בקש שטן להרוג אלא לאותו תינוק.

English: “And sought to kill him” — Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: It was not Moshe our teacher whom the adversary sought to kill, but that infant.

On the daf / in context: The object of the threat is identified as the uncircumcised child rather than Moshe himself, aligning with Tzipporah’s subsequent action and words.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Chazal identify the intended victim as the infant who still required circumcision.

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