In this corner….

And he said: I have sinned against Hashem and against you.  Now, forgive my sin this one time and beseech Hashem, your G-d and He should remove form me (only) this death.  (Sefer Shemot 10:17-18)

One of the most interesting elements of the Torah’s account of our rescue from Egypt is its description of the evolution of the relationship between Moshe and Pharaoh.  The relationship is enigmatic.  As a young man, Moshe had killed an Egyptian taskmaster who he encountered abusing a Jew.  When Moshe realized that he had been observed, he recognized that his life was in jeopardy.  He fled Egypt and settled in Midyan.[1]  He feared the Pharaoh of his youth and understood that he was eager to punish his defiance of Egyptian authority.

The Pharaoh of Moshe’s youth died and Moshe returned to Egypt.  Moshe and Aharon demanded that this new Pharaoh allow the Jews to travel into the wilderness and serve Hashem.  Pharaoh’s treatment of Moshe is fascinating.  Rather than condemning Moshe as an agitator and punishing him, Pharaoh is dismissive of Moshe.[2]

Even as the conflict between Moshe and Pharaoh becomes more intense, Pharaoh does not seek to imprison or punish Moshe.  He does not treat his as a treasonous insurgent.  Instead, he consistently demonstrates deference toward Moshe and Aharon.

The above passage describes one of the strange exchanges between Pharaoh and Moshe.  This exchange takes place after the onset of the plague of Locusts.  Pharaoh summons Moshe and Aharon and pleads with them to end the plague.  Pharaoh acknowledges that he has sinned against Hashem.  Pharaoh had acknowledged sinning against Hashem also during the plague of Hail.  However, this time Pharaoh adds, that he has sinned against Moshe and Aharon.

Rabbeinu Avraham ibn Ezra explains that Pharaoh is acknowledging that he has acted inappropriately toward Moshe and Aharon.  In their previous encounter, Pharaoh has ejected them from his court.  Now, he apologizing for treating them disrespectfully.

[1] Ibn Ezra notes that even in Midyan Moshe did not feel that he was safe.  Midyan was an aligned with Egypt and paid tribute to its king.  Moshe feared that if the Egyptian authorities became aware of his presence in Midyan, they would demand that he be returned to face judgement and punishment.  Moshe became a shepherd and lived in unpopulated areas in order to avoid detection.

[2] He says to Moshe and Aharon, “Return to your burdens.”  Most commentators understand this statement as directed to the Jews.  Pharaoh instructed the Jews through Moshe and Aharon – their representatives – to return to their tasks as slaves.  Rashi suggest that the statement was directed to Moshe and Aharon.  They and the rest of the tribe of Levi had succeeded in avoiding bondage.  Pharaoh was not telling them to return to their tasks as slaves.  He was telling them to go back to their business – whatever that might be.