It is this that has stood for our ancestors and for us, since it is not one who rose against us,⁵² but rather in each generation, they rose against us to destroy us, but the Holy One rescues us from their hand.

footnotes: ⁵² In the version of the Haggadah that most of us use, the version of this text is slightly different. Note the bold text which does not appear in the version of this passage as it appears above: “And it is this that has stood for our ancestors and for us, since it is not one [person or nation] stood against us to destroy us, but rather in each generation, they stand against us to destroy us, but the Holy One rescues us from their hand.”

Note what the text says, “Not one rose against us.” The Maggid does not say, “Rose against us to destroy us.” This refers to Pharaoh, King of Egypt. It was not Pharaoh’s intention to destroy Israel but to subjugate them. That is why he held them fast so that they could not leave. Thus, the Maggid is saying, “Not one rose against us – Pharaoh – to oppress us, but in every generation, enemies rose against us not just in the fashion of Pharaoh to subjugate us but also to wipe us off the face of the earth.” Further, the Maggid says, “Go out and learn what Laban the Aramean sought to do…” To paraphrase, “Leave aside the matter of Egypt which you have come to hear and let us learn from the story of Jacob and Laban. What did Laban seek to do to our forefather, Jacob? Even though Laban never actually carried out the evil he sought to do, we can learn from his words what he was planning to do Jacob, our forefather. We learn this from his words and not his deeds, in his admission, “It is within my power to do evil to you but the God of your ancestors said to me last night, saying, ‘Take heed that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’” (Gen. 31:21).