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Why did Moshe say the plague would strike "approximately at midnight" when Hashem (ה׳) said exactly at midnight? The shiur develops that controlling precise timing demonstrates ultimate divine mastery over creation itself. Moshe's concern wasn't about Egyptian criticism but about showcasing that Hashem transcends and governs time as its Creator.
Rabbi Yeshaya Greenberg ZT"L analyzes a fundamental question from Parshas Bo regarding the timing of Makas Bechoros. The Gemara (גמרא) explains that when Moshe Rabbeinu received the prophecy about the plague of the firstborn, Hashem (ה׳) said it would occur "ba chatzos" (at midnight), but Moshe told Pharaoh "ka chatzos" (approximately at midnight). Rashi (רש"י) offers two interpretations: either "ka chatzos" means "when the night splits" (indicating a precise moment between time segments), or it means approximately, either before or after midnight. According to the second interpretation, Moshe changed Hashem's words because he feared the Egyptian astrologers might miscalculate the time and claim "Moshe badui" (Moshe is a liar) if their timing was slightly off. This raises several difficulties: Why would Moshe be concerned about a minor timing discrepancy when the Egyptians were experiencing the devastating death of all firstborn? The kashya becomes more pronounced when examining what actually happened - the Egyptians said "kulanu meisim" (we are all dying), claiming that more than just the firstborn were dying, contradicting Moshe's specific prediction. Rashi explains this occurred because there were multiple firstborn in each house (either the eldest when no firstborn existed, or multiple firstborn from different fathers due to the promiscuous behavior of Egyptian women), but the Egyptians initially thought everyone was dying.
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Parshas Bo 11:4
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