Vaeira 8:25 · EXTRA 1 — only you shall not go far away EXTRA

Parashas Vaeira · Side page (no TT primary unit)

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י יוֹצֵ֤א מֵֽעִמָּךְ֙ וְהַעְתַּרְתִּ֣י אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְסָ֣ר הֶעָרֹ֗ב מִפַּרְעֹ֛ה מֵעֲבָדָ֥יו וּמֵעַמּ֖וֹ מָחָ֑ר רַ֗ק אַל־יֹסֵ֤ף פַּרְעֹה֙ הָתֵ֔ל לְבִלְתִּי֙ שַׁלַּ֣ח אֶת־הָעָ֔ם לִזְבֹּ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

And Moses said, “When I leave your presence, I will plead with GOD that the swarms of insects depart tomorrow from Pharaoh and his courtiers and his people; but let not Pharaoh again act deceitfully, not letting the people go to sacrifice to GOD.”

Chabad.org — 8:25

Source Citation

Shemos Rabbah 8:5 — EXTRA.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

רק הרחק לא תרחיקו —\ldots לא היה לבו שלם.

English: “Only you shall not go far” — \ldots his heart was not whole.

On the midrash / in context: Pharaoh’s concession is partial and controlling; the midrash reads the restriction as evidence of incomplete submission.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Chazal teach that Pharaoh’s limited permission already revealed his incomplete surrender.