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Why did Pharaoh chase the Jews after letting them go? Rashi (רש"י) says it was about the money they borrowed. The shiur resolves this through the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s understanding that God hardened Pharaoh's heart not by removing rational thought but by removing his capacity to submit to divine authority—leaving intact his ability to act from self-preservation. When Pharaoh realized the Egyptians had foolishly showered the Jews with gold and silver, the loss of self-respect became unbearable, worse even than the plagues, driving him to chase them despite the risk of destruction.
Rabbi Zweig addresses a series of interconnected questions arising from Parshas Beshalach. The central puzzle is the apparent contradiction in Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary: the pasuk states that Pharaoh regretted sending the Jewish people away "from our service," yet Rashi explains that the reason Pharaoh chased them was because of the money the Egyptians had lent them. Additionally, the shiur grapples with why the Jewish people borrowed money through what appears to be a deceptive method rather than simply taking what they were entitled to, given their centuries of unpaid labor. The most fundamental question centers on the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s understanding of "Hashem (ה׳) hardened Pharaoh's heart." The Rambam explains that when a person commits an aveira repeatedly, he can lose his bechirah (free choice). This raises serious difficulties: How can Hashem present Pharaoh with what appears to be genuine choices (through Moshe's warnings before each plague) when Pharaoh has already lost his free will? Furthermore, the Torah (תורה) explicitly states that both Pharaoh and his servants had their hearts hardened, yet the servants clearly advised Pharaoh to send the Jews away, and Pharaoh himself initially agreed to let them go—demonstrating that they did retain the ability to choose.
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Parshas Beshalach
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