We often think of it as simply the death of the firstborn sons, but the scope, according to some fascinating interpretations in our tradition, was far, far wider.
Pharaoh, blinded by pride, and all those who sided with him, figured the loss of a few firstborns was a price worth paying to keep the Israelites enslaved. A minor setback, they thought. They couldn't have been more wrong.
The decree, as the Legends of the Jews, that monumental compilation by Rabbi Louis Ginzberg, tells us, wasn't limited to just the firstborn sons. Oh no. It included the firstborn daughters as well! And, critically, it wasn't just about the firstborn children from current marriages. It encompassed all firstborn children from any previous relationships the parents had ever had.
Now, consider this: the Egyptians, well, they weren't exactly known for their strict adherence to marital fidelity. As Ginzberg points out, it wasn't uncommon for a woman to have ten children, each of whom was the firstborn of a different father! So, the net was cast incredibly wide.
But it gets even more intense. According to some traditions, God went even further. The decree ultimately extended to the oldest member of every household, regardless of whether they were technically the firstborn or not. What God resolves, as they say, is executed.
And the moment of execution? Precise. Absolutely precise. The stroke of midnight, so exact that only God Himself could discern it. At that instant, He appeared in Egypt. Not alone, mind you. He was attended by nine thousand myriads – that’s ninety million! – of Angels of Destruction.
Imagine this scene for a moment. These weren't your fluffy, cherubic angels. These were angels of hail and flames, their very gaze capable of inspiring terror and trembling. Ready to unleash annihilation, they poised themselves to strike.
But then, God, in His infinite power, restrained them. "My wrath," He declared, "will not be appeased until I Myself execute vengeance upon the enemies of Israel."
Think about the weight of that for a moment. The Creator of the Universe, stepping in to personally deliver justice. It underscores the profound significance of this moment in our history. It wasn't just a plague; it was a divine intervention of unparalleled magnitude, a demonstration of God's unwavering commitment to His people.