Why the Firstborn of the Cattle Died in Egypt

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 7:9

"And every firstborn of the animals" (Exodus 11:5). If a person sinned, what sin did the animal commit? Rather, the Egyptians worshiped lambs so that the Egyptians should not say, "Our deity brought the punishment upon us; our deity is mighty, for it stood firm for itself," or "Our deity is mighty, for the punishment did not have power over it."

Themes