Translator's Summary: With a keen sense of justice, the Maggid and his commentators wrestle with the motivation for Israel’s subligation. On the one hand, God decrees that Israel will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. On the other hand, Israel’s suffering appears unfair; there must be a reason for Israel’s subjugation. And if Israel deserved the fate that was visited upon them, why did it end sooner than was originally decreed? Further, why did God wait as long as he did to redeem the people of Israel? Chida wrestles with these questions. “And God heard our voice,” as it is said, “Adonai heard their moaning….” to the end of teh verse. It's possible the Maggid had a problem with this verse. It should have said, “And we cried out to Adonai and God took us out.” The verse implies that it was better that “God heard our voice.” Furthermore, since the verse said, “And Adonai heard our voice,” it should have immediately said, “And God took us out.” Why was it necessary to add, “And God saw our affliction;” This seems obvious. Further, it states, “He heard our voice,” and that “He saw our affliction.” Shouldn’t the seeing have been before the hearing since everything is revealed to God? The Maggid interprets the verse as we shall now explain it with the help of God in order to answer these questions. This matter is related to what the sages said about the verse, “I am unworthy of all the kindness…” (Gen 32:11) “Unworthy (katonti) means little (mi’at) and little (mi’at) alludes to tzedakah, charity, as it says, “Better a little (mi’at) with charity (tzedakah). (Pro. 16:8)”¹⁶⁶ The great rabbi of his generation, Rabbi Chaim Abulafia,¹⁶⁷ writes in his illuminating book Eitz HaChaim, Parshat Vayakhel, in the name of the pious one, Rabbi Yudah Chavliv, that the Holy Ari said that in times of danger a person needs to mention his own virtues. How then could Jacob belittle his own virtues with regard to his acts of kindness? Rabbi Abulafia understood this differently. He is saying that Jacob decreased his possessions.. through acts of charity so that God would save him. According to this interpretation, when Israel cried out, they had to explain why they deserved to be taken out of Egypt before the assigned time. They were, however, sorely oppressed, as it says, “The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and they oppressed us and placed hard labor upon us...” All these things should have been obvious. So what was the purpose of crying out? Weren’t these things part of the earlier decree in which God told Abraham, “They shall enslave them and oppress them?” So why were they moaning? In His great compassion, God heard their voice when they said that there was a claim to change in favor of their merit and to take them out. This was so even though they only mentioned the pain of slavery. Thus, when it says, “Adonai heard their voice,” - it means that in His great mercy, God heard their voice and not their intention. Scripture states, “And God heard our moaning.” It was not appropriate that Israel did not mention their merits. Still, God’s compassion was aroused and He remembered His covenant. In this way God’s compassion was aroused by remembering the virtues of our forefathers even though they didn’t explicitly state them. “And He saw our affliction” - this is the forced separation of husbands and wives.” God saw this even though he never demanded it of the Egyptians. “And our misery,” these are the children,” because of their wickedness.¹⁶⁸ And our oppression,” This is a reference to the persecution and harsh subjugation which was the main reason that brought about the conclusion of slavery. The forced separation of couples, the decree to kill the Israelite boys, and the harsh labor brought about a quicker conclusion of the subjugation. Also the Egyptians deserved to be stricken with harsh plagues for their abominations. This is what the verse means. Of their own volition the Egyptians chose to deal harshly with the Israelites since God did not decree the cessation of family life or to drown the baby boys or place harsh labor upon Israel while they were subjugated. The Holy Ari said that when we interpret the passage in this way, it is like mentioning the merits of the Israelites. These acts became advocates against the judgment. Even though everything is known to God, there still a need for there to be an advocate who can argue on one’s behalf. When these things were stated in heaven they became merits for Israel and it aroused God’s compassion...

footnotes: ¹⁶⁶ Eliyahu Zuta 1:1 ¹⁶⁷ Rabbinical authority; born in Palestine; died at Damascus, 1744. He was the grandfather of Ḥayyim ben David Abulafia and grandson of Isaac Nissim aben Gamil. Abulafia was a rabbi in Smyrna, where he instituted many wholesome regulations. In his old age he restored Tiberias. He is the author of several works. (JE) ¹⁶⁸ Killing the male children.