Derasha 2 on Vaeira 8:15

TT #2 · Parashas Vaeira · Passuk 8:15

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּם֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֶצְבַּ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִ֑וא וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֙ וְלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֣ע אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}        

and the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart stiffened and he would not heed them, as GOD had spoken.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

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

Core Text

Core Text
אצבע אלהים היא. היא – היא אצבע העתידה להפרע מסנחריב .(שם צ"ה ב׳)

English of Core Text: “It is the finger of God” — the same finger that would later punish Sancheriv; and a reading of plagues by “finger” vs “hand.”

Type of Learning: Custom (wording / future allusion)
What Is Learned: The phrase points beyond this plague to later reckonings and to the count of “fingers” across the makkot.