Literary Devices – Shemot 10/0

Literary Devices – Shemot 10

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Key Words

"כבד" (heavy) and "חזק" (strong)

The roots "כבד" and "חזק" appear only three times altogether in the chapter, but might be key words throughout the narrative of the Exodus.

• Concordance – Using the concordance to trace the usage of both the verb and adjective "כבד" in Torah¹ reveals how it appears throughout the Exodus narrative, marking key points in the story, from the initial "heavy" famine that causes the nation to descend to Egypt to the "great" wealth with which the nation leaves Egypt.²  Similarly, both the adjective and verbal root "חזק" repeat in the narrative, referring on one hand to Paroh's obstinance in preventing the Exodus and on the other to God's mighty hand which brings it about.
• Articles – See R. Nathaniel Helfgot שתי מילים מנחות בסיפור יציאת מצרים, who explores the usages of the two roots כבד and חזק, showing how they demonstrate Hashem's measure for measure actions during the Exodus.

"שלח" (to send)

• Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the root “שלח” appears 12 times in this chapter. Hashem instructs Pharaoh to send out the people (verse 1) and threatens recompense if he does not do so (verse 2 ). Pharaoh sends agents to investigate the nature of the plague, and decides not to send out the people (verse 7). Hashem responds by sending His plagues (verses 14-15). Pharaoh desperately sends for Moshe and Aharon (verse 27), but ultimately does not send out the people (verse 35). Like many of the literary devices of the Exodus story, this key word emphasizes the theme that, notwithstanding man’s freedom to choose, he is ultimately an agent of God with a role to play in God’s plan.

Character Titles

¹ One can check both the adjective and verbal forms of the root.

² The first four instances of the adjective relate to the oppressive famine that initially sent the Israelites to Egypt. The word is then used to describe the shared Israelite and Egyptian mourning for Yaakov, representing the point at which the Israelites were welcomed into Egyptian society. In the narrative of the Exodus in Shemot, the word is used in several contexts: to describe Moshe’s lack of eloquence, the oppressive, unparalleled nature of the plagues, the obduracy of Paroh, the wealth with which the Israelites left Egypt, and the honor which is given to God through His miracles.