Derasha 2 on Vaeira 7:15

TT #2 · Parashas Vaeira · Passuk 7:15

Complete Passuk

לֵ֣ךְ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֞ה בַּבֹּ֗קֶר הִנֵּה֙ יֹצֵ֣א הַמַּ֔יְמָה וְנִצַּבְתָּ֥ לִקְרָאת֖וֹ עַל־שְׂפַ֣ת הַיְאֹ֑ר וְהַמַּטֶּ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ לְנָחָ֖שׁ תִּקַּ֥ח בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃

Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is coming out to the water, and station yourself before him at the edge of the Nile, taking with you the rod that turned into a snake.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to the classical source underlying this unit (see Core Text).

Core Text

Core Text
ונצבת לקראתו. [מאי לקראתו], ריש לקיש אמר, רשע הוא והעיז פניך בו, ור' יוחנן אמר, מלך הוא והסבר לו פנים .(זבחים ק"ב א׳)

English of Core Text: Resh Lakish: confront the wicked boldly. R. Yochanan: he is a king — show respect. Dispute on the force of “lichrato.”

Type of Learning: Dispute (Resh Lakish / R. Yochanan)
What Is Learned: How one stands before Pharaoh models the balance between confronting evil and recognizing royal dignity.