Vaeira 9:31 · EXTRA 2 — Ohr HaChaim on the placement of the flax and 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 the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.

Chabad.org — 9:31

Source Citation

Ohr HaChaim on Shemos 9:31 — EXTRA (later commentary).

Core Text

English: Why does the Torah insert the agricultural detail before finishing the account of Moshe’s prayer? Perhaps it is placed next to “you have not yet come to fear Hashem” in order to hint at the reason the Egyptians’ hearts remained hard: the wheat and spelt were still standing, so the loss did not feel total.