Structure – Shemot 7:8 – 11:10/0

Structural Analysis – Shemot 7:8 – 11:10
"Signs and Wonders"

Open Structure in Stages   Open Outline

Broader Context

The "Signs and Wonders" section is part of the larger unit "The Road to Redemption" which encompasses Shemot 6–15. For elaboration and various possible subdivisions of this bigger unit, see Structure of Sefer Shemot.

Step 1 – Boundaries of the Unit

"Signs and Wonders" (7:8 – 11:10)

• Chapters 7:8 – 11:10 describe the miracles and plagues brought upon Paroh and the Egyptian nation. These form the first of three stages in the redemption process, as outlined to Moshe in Shemot 7:3-5. For elaboration, see Structure of Sefer Shemot.¹
• Characters – In contrast to the surrounding chapters in which the nation of Israel plays an active role, in our unit they fade into the background. Instead, Moshe's interactions with Paroh and the Egyptians are highlighted.
• Literary patterns – Most of the plagues throughout this unit share a unique cycle of features: the transmission of a command to Paroh to release the nation, the bringing of the plague, Paroh's negotiations with Moshe, the hardening of Paroh's heart and his refusal to free the people.
• Genre – While this unit consists entirely of narrative material, Chapter 12 opens with legal directives.
• Literary markers – The unit ends with a summation sentence, "וּמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן עָשׂוּ אֶת כָּל הַמֹּפְתִים הָאֵלֶּה לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה וַיְחַזֵּק ה' אֶת לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא שִׁלַּח אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצו", serving to separate it from the subsequent unit. The previous unit concluded with a similar synopsis, "וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' אֹתָם כֵּן עָשׂוּ", marking a break on that end as well.

Step 2 – Division into Scenes

I. Preliminary Signs: Tannin to Shechin (7:8 – 9:12)
II. Severe Plagues: Barad to Bekhorot (9:13 – 11:8)
III. Concluding Summary (11:9-10)

• The unit may be divided into two main subunits, Chapters 7:8 – 9:12 which encompass all of the wonders from the Tannin through Shechin and Chapters 9:13 – 11:8 which extend from the Plague of Hail through the warning of the Plague of the Firstborn.² The two concluding verses provide a summary for the entire unit.
• New opening – Although many of the plagues are prefaced by a warning, the Plague of Hail is introduced by a very extensive threat which appears to subsume all of the plagues which are to follow: "כִּי בַּפַּעַם הַזֹּאת אֲנִי שֹׁלֵחַ אֶת כָּל מַגֵּפֹתַי אֶל לִבְּךָ"‎ (9:14).³ This new introduction serves to split the plagues into two groupings.
• Theme – The plagues of the second section are united by the common theme of the recognition of God's incomparable and unsurpassed powers.⁴ In contrast, the main themes of the first grouping of plagues seem to be the recognition of God's existence and His providence.⁵
• Characters – Aharon and the Egyptian magicians play supporting roles only in the first group of plagues, but in the second section it is only Hashem, Moshe, and Paroh who take action.⁶
• Plot progression – In the first scene, despite all the plagues, Paroh flatly refuses to acquiesce to Moshe's demand. In contrast, throughout the second scene he progressively becomes more flexible⁷ and willing to negotiate.⁸ The miracles of the second section also differ in that they are celestial in origin, rather than subterranean or terrestrial like the earlier plagues.⁹
• Masoretic markers – This division matches an ancient tradition of the annual Torah reading cycle in which the third parashah of Sefer Shemot was called "פרשת השכם" and began in Shemot 9:13 with the Plague of Hail.¹⁰

Step 3.1 – Subdivision of Scene I

A. Introduction (7:8-13)
B. The First Triad (7:14 – 8:15)
B. The Second Triad (8:16 – 9:12)

• Scene I may be divided into an introduction containing the initial warning to Paroh through the sign of the tannin, and two subscenes, each of which consists of three plagues.
• Characters – In the first subscene, Aharon is the agent who brings the wonders. In the second subscene, in contrast, Hashem performs most of the wonders directly.¹¹ In addition, while the Egyptian magicians play an active role throughout the first section, the text mentions them only once in the second section,¹² and then merely to share with the reader that they "could not stand in front of Moshe."
• Plot progression – The wonders of the introduction and the first subscene were more nuisances rather than harmful plagues¹³ and (excluding the final one) were able to be replicated by the magicians. The plagues of the second set, in contrast, caused physical harm and were not duplicated by others. For more, see Patterns in the Plagues.
• Theme – The theme of הפלייה (separation between the Egyptians and Israelites) runs throughout the second subscene but is totally absent from the first. See Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike.
• Literary patterns – The triads of each subscene follow a similar pattern with two plagues preceded by a warning and the final one coming unannounced. The first warning of each set takes place by the Nile and the second in the palace. For more, see Patterns in the Plagues.

Step 3.2 – Subdivision of Scene II

A. Plague of Hail (9:13-35)
B. Plagues of Locust and Darkness (10:1-29)
C. Warning for Plague of Firstborn (11:1-8)

• Scene II contains three subscenes, each of which opens with an extensive introduction to the plagues which follow.
• Plot progression – From one subscene to the next, Paroh's negotiating position gradually weakens leading him to show increased flexibility.
• (more to come)

Click here to continue to Literary Analysis.

¹ Determining the precise boundaries of the "Signs and Wonders" unit (and whether or not it includes the sign of the tannin, the Plague of the Firstborn, and the Splitting of the Sea) impacts issues such as How Many Plagues, Patterns in the Plagues, and understanding the Purpose of the Plagues. For discussion of the alternatives, see How Many Plagues.

² See Patterns in the Plagues for analysis of an alternative possibility which places the division before the Plague of Boils in 9:8.

³ For analysis of the various possible interpretations of this verse, see כל מגפתי – What and When.

⁴ See 9:14, 10:14 and 11:6. Although this idea is also expressed by the Plague of Frogs (see 8:6), it does not seem to be a major theme in that section of the unit.

⁵ See 7:17, 8:15 and 8:18-19, 9:4, 9:6-7.

⁶ This is highlighted by the openings of the various plagues. The sign of the תנין and the Plague of Boils are both prefaced by "וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל אַהֲרֹן", and the Plagues of Blood, Frogs and Lice all open with the statement "וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה אֱמֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן". In contrast, the plagues of the second scene contain directives to Moshe alone ("וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה").

⁷ Paroh's newfound flexibility is counterbalanced by Hashem beginning to harden his heart. See Hardened Hearts.

⁸ As a result, the third triad of plagues requires almost as much text as the first two triads combined.

⁹ See אהרון בק, "כי בפעם הזאת – עיון מחודש בארבע מכות מצרים האחרונות", מגדים מ"ג (תשס"ה): 25-9 who suggests that the thunder, lightning, and darkness, which characterize the Plagues of Hail, Locust, and Darkness, are reminiscent of the theophany at Mt. Sinai and pave the way for Hashem's revelation in Egypt during the Plague of the Firstborn.

¹⁰ For some of the evidence for this alternative division, see י. עופר, המסורה הבבלית לתורה עקרונותיה ודרכיה, (ירושלים תשס"א): 203-187. (a shorter synopsis is accessible here). Parashat Bo is also a rare exception in which the Midrash Tanchuma does not comment on the first verse or section of the Parashah (it does comment on Shemot 9:13), and this may also reflect the alternate parashah division.

¹¹ The Plague of Boils is exceptional, involving both Moshe and Aharon.

¹² However, this may be simply because the first two plagues of the second triad were brought directly by Hashem, rather than by Moshe and Aharon. Thus there was no need for the magicians to attempt to duplicate these feats.

¹³ See, however, צפרדעים – Frogs or Crocs for a discussion of the severity of this plague.