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In this weeks Parsha we learn about seven makots that Hashem imposed on Pharoh and the people who lived in Egypt. The first two fish and frogs contaminated the drinking and food source of the Nile. I read the Egyptians were constantly digging, and trying to find an additional source of clean and uncontaminated water-that was separate from the Nile and their reservoirs Is there a midrash that explains if the Jewish population was also affected by this, or did they have their own separate source of drinking water.
What Blood group was the 1st Makko?
I was always taught, i.e., that if a Jew and a Mitzri were to both drink from the same glass of water, the water in the Mitzri’s mouth turned to blood. I am not sure if this really happened, but it was the IDEA of that, that was being imparted to us.
OK. Seems that I’m the only one in the know (been a first hand witnesses, no, I actually participated)
The first makko was “dam”, blood, which affected their water supply. As the Torah writes, they tried unsuccessfully to dig. Medrashim are full with the account that the Jews had no problem whatsoever, even when both were drinking from the same source. Furthermore, it was one of the Jews’ sources of wealth, for if an Egyptian paid a Jew, it would remain water.
The Torah writes an additional passuk, that the fish would also die. That is discussed by Rishonim in different approaches, and also for the need the Torah had to inform of that detail.
The second makko was “tzefardea” (Froggies!!!). Nothing to do with their water supply.
LF: Don’t you mean that the Torah says that digging for unconnected subterranean streams worked?
“Medrashim are full with the account that the Jews had no problem whatsoever, even when both were drinking from the same source.”
LF, the earliest source for this is the Yalkut Me’am Lo’ez, written about 500 years ago. There is no Midrashic account of the famous “two straws, one glass, Jew-gets-water-Mitzri-gets-blood” which has been the inspiration for the ubiquitous kindergarten project seen this time of year. It is unknown if the YML said it mi’Sevara, or if he somehow had some source that we do not.
Sam2, I wrote “tried unsuccessfully”.
Again, yankdownunder, the dying fish was a RESULT of its water turning into blood. See the Torah and its Meforshim.
Froggies had NOTHING to do with the Nile, water.
Yeah, those kindergarten stories. Why don’t they teach us the Maharal that it didn’t separate in the strawa just that for the Mitzri it was blood andd for the Yid it was water. No changing.
There is no Midrashic account of the famous “two straws, one glass, Jew-gets-water-Mitzri-gets-blood” which has been the inspiration for the ubiquitous kindergarten project seen this time of year”
I still am trying to wrap my mind around the idea that a Mitzri would even consider sharing a cup of water with a Jewish slave. When Yosef was the second in command, they would not even eat bread in the same room with him. Or am I confusing two different things?
Oomis, look at the Targum by Yosef. They wouldn’t eat a meal together with foreigners since they would be eating what they worship. It always amazed me that they had such religious tollerance.
Anyhow, the Medrash is plain to see, in Rabbah and Tanchuma.
I thought Pharaoh would not eat bread together with Yosef. (I knew about the other, from Yosef and his brothers).
oomis
If you are dying from thirst youd almost drink anything from anyone. Obviously they were desperate and they saw that the Jews were able to drink the water.
Where do you see that about Paroh?
There are two other points. This rule wouls only apply to a meal, since that is when foreigners would eat lamb meat. It was probably a general rule and not limited to when they are actually eating meat.
The other point is that it says about the Jews, Halallu Ovdei Avoda Zara. They weren’t foreigners anymore.
mobico:
“LF, the earliest source for this is the Yalkut Me’am Lo’ez, written about 500 years ago. There is no Midrashic account of…”
Sorry, I don’t really recall when Yalkut was written. He CERTAINLY did not make up stuff. He’s quoting Tana’im. As far as your mocking the “inspiration for the ubiquitous kindergarten project seen this time of year”, Medrash (Medrash Rabbah, Tanchuma) writes it. Read. Learn. Have you learned the WHOLE Torah to know if it’s NOT there?
WIY,, yes, I did consider that. I wonder if the Nazis would have done the same.
My former Rov spoke about the breaking bread (literally) issue. Paroh would never eat with Yosef, because he knew him to be a Hebrew. Lamb was not served in the palace, being that it was their god. So the idea that lamb would have been eaten by the brothers makes no sense to me. Paroh would not have allowed the lambs to be slaughtered, cooked, and eaten by “vermin” like Hebrews. That’s what made the putting of lamb’s blood on the mezuzos of the Jewish doorways such a defiant act, in yetzias Mitzrayim. Jews were slaughtering their god, and they were helpless to stop it.
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