מַכַּת בְּכוֹרוֹת The death of the first born was the tenth plague. First we will explain why this plague was worse than all the others, so that it was the culmination and Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites leave. If it was because of the death that occurred during the plague of the first born, weren’t there many who died during the other plagues? However, at first God sent a message to Pharaoh, saying, “Israel is my first born.” (Ex, 4:22) When Pharaoh heard this, he said to Moses, “You are a liar! For even if you can prove that your God is the God of all gods, my god is the first born, and I and my people are his first born. Pharaoh continued with this assumption throughout all of the plagues until he saw that the Israelites took a sheep and tied it to their bedpost. Then, the Israelites slaughtered and roasted them, its aroma wafting (through the land), and then the Israelites threw its bones to the dogs. When the first born of Egypt were slaughtered, it became clear to Pharaoh that what Moses had said was true, and that the Israelites were the first born of the Blessed One and that Pharaoh could not prevent them from going to the wilderness to worship God since this is what God desired.

We will now enumerate the five plagues that were included in this plague.

1. אַפּ֗וֹ “His Anger,” - First the firstborn of Egypt killed their fathers, as is stated in the Midrash. The firstborn went to their fathers and said, “Send these Hebrews away!” If not they will die.” Their fathers answered, "Even if all our first born die we will not send the Israelites out!” They said the same thing to Pharaoh, and he answered, “Break their legs.” The first born immediately drew their swords and they killed six hundred thousand of their fathers, as it says, “smiting Egypt by their first-born…” (Ex 136:10)¹⁵⁹ 136:6

footnotes: ¹⁵⁹ Tanchuma Buber Bo 18, Midrash Tehillim

2. עֶבְרָ֣ה “Wrath,” - The death of the firstborn.

3. זַ֣עַם “Indignation,” - Pharaoh rose up at night, and drew his sword, killing all his advisors and servants who advised him not to send the nation away. This is found in the Zohar, Parsshat Shelach, “When Pharaoh sent the nation forth,” What is written above it? “And Pharaoh arose in the night…” (Ex12:30) Come and see the supreme vengeance that the Holy One wreaked upon Egypt. There were three fatal plagues. One: the firstborn passed through the land of Egypt and killed whoever they found. Another: When the Holy, Blessed One, were killed at midnight. Another: When Pharaoh saw the plague in his house, among his sons and servants, he rose and armed himself and killed the commanders, officers, and all those who had advised him to refuse the people, - until the Torah testified against him that he rose at night precisely. Just as night killed and wreaked vengeance, so Pharaoh rose in the land of Egypt killing and wreaking vengeance upon his officers, commanders, supervisors and upon all those nobles as it is written, Pharaoh rose at night - night precisely - to kill and destroy. ¹⁶⁰

footnotes: ¹⁶⁰ Zohar 2:28, Vo. 2 45a-b

4. צָרָ֑ה “Trouble,” If a woman was pregnant with her first born, the first born fetus would die along with the mother. This is found in Midrash Rabbah: “For when HaShem goes through to smite the Egyptians,” (Ex, 12:23) The word ligof, smite only means to cause a miscarriage of a pregnant woman, as Scripture states, “When men fight, and one of them pushes (v’nagfu), a pregnant woman and a miscarriage results ” (Ex. 21:22)¹⁶¹ In a house in which there was no first born the oldest child would die.

footnotes: ¹⁶¹ Shemot Rabbah 17:5

5. מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים “A band of deadly messengers,” Those who did not want the Israelites to leave also died (during this plague). This is also found in a Midrash: “It may be compared to a king who made a great celebration for his son… regarding the good people in Egypt who came and participated in the Passover meal with the Israelites and went out with them, as is stated, “Moreover, a mixed multitude went up with them,” (Ex. 12:38) Anyone who didn’t want the Israelites to be redeemed died with the firstborn, as is stated, “there was a loud cry in Egypt….” (Ex. 12:30)¹⁶² It is possible that those who died were from other nations; none of the Egyptians wanted them to leave. They were even among the Egyptians who left with Israel. They were not Egyptians but from other nations (living among the Egyptians. Therefore, they were juxtaposed with one another.

footnotes: ¹⁶² Shemot Rabbah 18:10