Torah Portion Summary

The fifteenth reading from the Torah is named Bo, which means "come." The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which say, "Then the LORD said to Moses, '[Come] to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart" (Exodus 10:1). The portion begins by concluding the narrative of the ten plagues, the tenth of which is the slaying of the firstborn. To avoid the plague, the Israelites are given the instructions for the Passover sacrifice and the laws of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Pharaoh finally consents to let Israel go, and they leave Egypt.

Parashah Summary

After Moses warned Pharaoh that a plague of locusts would descend upon the Egyptian crops if he did not relent and let the people of Israel go, Pharaoh's nobles advised him to let (only) the adult Jewish males leave for their three day "festival in the wilderness." However, Moses and Aaron insisted that all of the Jewish people (and their flocks) must be allowed to leave -- a demand that enraged the Pharaoh and caused him to drive them from his presence. The next day, the LORD commanded Moses to extend his staff, and a swarm of locusts descended, which devoured the remaining Egyptian vegetation. After witnessing the plague, Pharaoh appeared to repent, but the LORD hardened his heart again just as He foretold to Moses.

The LORD then instructed Moses to initiate the next plague - total darkness - which descended upon the Egyptians for three days (the Jews, however, were given light in their dwellings). Pharaoh then offered to allow all of the Jewish people to go, but refused to allow their flocks to leave with them. Moses refused Pharaoh's stipulation, and Pharaoh again drove away Moses and Aaron from his presence. The Torah records that the LORD hardened Pharaoh's yet heart again, just as He foretold to Moses (see Rom 9:17-18).

All Portions this week (LINK)
Torah Haftarah B'rit Chadashah
Exodus 10:1-13:16 Jeremiah 46:13-28 Romans 9:14-29
COMMENTARY
Fruits of TorahTorah ResourceOthers
Ardelle -1 Tim Hegg -1 Torah Table Talk
Ardelle -2 Tim Hegg -2 Let there be Darkness
Ardelle -3 Tim Hegg -3 Life is in the Blood
Ardelle -4 Tim Hegg -4 Significance of the Moon
AUDIO COMMENTARY (Nehemia's Wall)
PortionTorah PearlsProphet Pearls
Bo

The Plagues
# HebrewEnglishScriptureEgyption god(s)
1 Makat Dam (מַכַּת־דָם) Water turned to blood Exodus 7.14-25 Hapi and/or Khnum (god of the Nile)
2 Makat Tzefarde'a (מַכַּת־צְפַרְדֵּעַ) Frogs from the Nile Exodus 7.25-8:11 Heket (goddess of fertility/water)
3 Makat Kinim (מַכַּת־כּנִּים) Gnats (or lice) from the dust Exodus 8.12-15 Geb (god of the Earth)
4 Makat Arov (מַכַּת־עָרוֹב) Swarms of flies (or wild animals) Exodus 8.20-32 Khepri (god of creation, flies/beetles)
5 Makat Dever (מַכַּת־דֶבֶר) Pestilence Exodus 9.1-7 Apis (goddess of animals - a bull) Osiris
6 Makat Shechin (מַכַּת־שְׁחין) Boils Exodus 9.8-12 Isis (goddess of nature, healing/peace)
7 Makat Barad (מַכַּת־בָּרָד) Hail and Fire Exodus 9.13-35 Nut (sky goddess and sister of Geb)
8 Makat Arbeh (מַכַּת־אַרְבֶּה) Locusts Exodus 10.1-20 Set (god of storms/darkness/disorder)
9 Makat Choshekh (מַכַּת־חוֹשֶׁךְ) Darkness Exodus 10.21-29 Ra (Sun god) - Set (god of darkness)
10 Makat Bechorot (מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת) Death of the firstborn Exodus 11.1-12:36 Pharoah ("son of Ra"); Khnum/Amon (ram god)