Whom and Where Did the Plagues Strike?

Points of Dispute

These are some of the central points of dispute (נקודות המחלוקת) between the various exegetes:

  • Purpose of the differentiation
    • To save the Israelites from harm – Ibn Ezra, Ibn Kaspi
    • To demonstrate Hashem's wondrous ways – Philo, Akeidat Yitzchak
  • What was unique about the five plagues in which differentiation is mentioned?
    • They were airborne and thus differentiation needed to be stated – Rashbam, Moshav Zekeinim, Ramban, Shadal
    • Their differentiation was of a different nature – Tosafist manuscript
    • The purpose of their differentiation was different – Akeidat Yitzchak
    • They were more severe – Ibn Ezra, Ibn Kaspi
    • They were not unique as all of the Plagues imply differentiation – Rambam, Yefet b. Eli, Radbaz
  • Differentiation noted in the warnings of only עָרֹב‎, דֶּבֶר, and בְּכוֹרוֹת
    • These plagues came directly from Hashem – Moshav Zekeinim
    • The purpose of their differentiation was different – Akeidat Yitzchak
  • Why Paroh checked only after דֶּבֶר
    • He didn't see Moshe bringing or removing the plague – Moshav Zekeinim
    • It was the first plague to discriminate ethnically – Tosafist manuscript, Akeidat Yitzchak
  • Were the Israelites in Egypt proper affected by the Plagues?
    • Yes – Ibn Kaspi, Ralbag, Shadal
    • Partially
      • All except for עָרֹב – Ramban
      • All except for דֶּבֶר – Tosafist manuscript
      • All except for חֹשֶׁךְ – Rashbam
    • No – Philo, Tanchuma, Shemot Rabbah, Bemidbar Rabbah, Rambam
  • Were the Egyptians in Goshen affected by the Plagues?
    • Yes – Philo, Tanchuma, Shemot Rabbah, Bemidbar Rabbah, Ralbag
    • All except for עָרֹב – Tosafist manuscript
    • No – Ramban, Shadal
  • Natural or supernatural differentiation
    • Natural – Moshav Zekeinim, Ibn Kaspi, Shadal
    • Supernatural – Philo, Tanchuma, Shemot Rabbah, Bemidbar Rabbah, Rambam
  • Differentiation in עָרֹב ‎– "וְהִפְלֵיתִי... אֶת אֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן... וְשַׂמְתִּי פְדֻת בֵּין עַמִּי וּבֵין עַמֶּךָ"
    • Everyone in Goshen as well as the Israelites outside of Goshen were spared – Ibn Ezra, Ramban
    • Everyone in Goshen was spared but not the Israelites outside of Goshen – Moshav Zekeinim, Ibn Kaspi, Shadal
    • Israelites even outside of Goshen were spared but Egyptians in Goshen were not – Philo, Tanchuma, Shemot Rabbah, R"Y Bekhor Shor, Tosafist manuscript
    • Only Israelites in Goshen were spared – Ralbag
  • No בָּרָד in Goshen – "רַק בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן אֲשֶׁר שָׁם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל"
    • Everyone in Goshen as well as the Israelites outside of Goshen were spared – .
    • Everyone in Goshen was spared but not the Israelites outside of Goshen – Moshav Zekeinim, Ibn Kaspi, Shadal.
    • Israelites even outside of Goshen were spared but Egyptians in Goshen were not – Philo, Tanchuma, Shemot Rabbah.
    • Only Israelites in Goshen were spared – .
  • Light for the Israelites "בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָם"
    • There was light for the Israelites even in Egypt proper – Shemot Rabbah, Tanchuma, Rashbam
    • The Israelites had light only in Goshen – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Ibn Kaspi, Shadal
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