Vaeira 9:31 · EXTRA 1 — the flax and the barley EXTRA

Parashas Vaeira · Side page (no TT primary unit)

The Complete Passuk

וְהַפִּשְׁתָּ֥ה וְהַשְּׂעֹרָ֖ה נֻכָּ֑תָה כִּ֤י הַשְּׂעֹרָה֙ אָבִ֔יב וְהַפִּשְׁתָּ֖ה גִּבְעֹֽל׃

Now the flax and barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud;

Shemos Rabbah 9:10 — EXTRA.

Core Text

הפשתה והשערה נכתה —\ldots לפי שהיו אביב.

English: “The flax and the barley were struck” — \ldots because they were already in the ear.

On the midrash / in context: The verse itself explains the timing; the midrash notes the agricultural calendar of Egypt.

Custom

Chazal connect the damage to the crops that had already matured.