It wasn't just about Pharaoh's decree to throw baby boys into the Nile. It was also about something seemingly mundane: bricks. to a fascinating interpretation from the Yalkut Shimoni, a compilation of Midrashic teachings, that sheds light on the insidious nature of slavery.
The verse in Exodus 1:13 tells us the Egyptians enslaved the children of Israel "with backbreaking labor" – in Hebrew, b'farech. Now, that little phrase, b'farech, becomes the focus of a rabbinic debate. Rabbi Elazar interprets it as b'peh rach, meaning "with a soft mouth." Rabbi Shmuel, however, says it means b'frichah, "with rigor." What's going on here?
The Yalkut Shimoni unpacks this apparent contradiction. Rava explains that initially, the work involved mortar and bricks, but it escalated to all kinds of field work. And that phrase, "all their work that they worked with them with was backbreaking labor?" The Rabbis tease out even more meaning. If we follow Rabbi Shmuel’s interpretation of b'frichah, the work was so harsh that the Egyptians even switched the labor of men and women, forcing each to do the other's tasks.
But what about b'peh rach, "with a soft mouth?" According to the Yalkut Shimoni, it describes Pharaoh’s initial deception. Remember when Pharaoh, fearing the Israelites’ growing numbers, decided to act "cleverly" (Exodus 1:10)? The Midrash imagines Pharaoh gathering the Israelites and, with a deceptive "soft mouth," asking them to work alongside him for wages. He even picks up a sack and rake himself, working with bricks to set an example. Of course, everyone followed suit, working diligently all day, showcasing their strength.
But here’s the twist. When night fell, Egyptian overseers appeared, demanding a specific number of bricks be made every single day. And if the quota wasn't met? Egyptian overseers would beat the Jewish officers.
These officers, the Yalkut Shimoni emphasizes, chose to be beaten rather than betray their fellow Israelites. What a powerful act of solidarity! This self-sacrifice didn’t go unnoticed. When God commanded Moses to gather seventy elders (Numbers 11:16), He specifically instructed him to choose those "whom you know" – the very elders and officers who had endured the beatings in Egypt. The text concludes that anyone who gives themselves up for Israel merits honor and greatness.
But the story doesn't end there. The verse "and with all manner of labor in the field" (Exodus 1:14) prompts another question: did they only work in the fields? The Midrash suggests that the Egyptians decreed that men should sleep in the fields and women in the cities, hoping to curb their fertility. Cruel. Yet, the Israelite women found a way. They warmed food and brought it to their husbands in the fields, offering reassurance and reminding them that God would ultimately redeem them. These secret rendezvous in the fields led to more children. And what was their reward? According to the Yalkut Shimoni, they merited the spoils of Egypt and the spoils of the Sea of Reeds. A poetic verse from Psalms (68:14) is invoked: "If you lie between the borders—the feathers of a dove covered with silver...."
The Yalkut Shimoni concludes with a beautiful image from the Song of Songs (4:12): "A locked garden" – representing the modest Israelite women, and "A locked up spring" – representing the men, lying like springs upon the field.
So, what can we take away from this deep dive into a seemingly simple verse? It's a reminder that even the most oppressive situations can be met with resilience, solidarity, and unwavering faith. And sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness and resistance can have the biggest impact on our collective destiny. It all started with bricks, but it led to freedom.