What Did The Pharaoh Do Wrong?

February 12, 2021 - 28 Shevat 5781

The Ramban explains that God prevents evil people from repenting under extenuating circumstances. This is the case with the Pharaoh, whom God wanted to punish for enslaving the Jews with severe labor (Midrash Rabbah 5:6). According to this, this is the meaning of the verse in Exodus 7:3 as the introduction to the plagues, "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and I will increase My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt."

The Ramban recognizes that this approach seems unjust. He therefore says, "And here is the answer to the question that everyone asks: If God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, what then was his transgression [since he had no choice]?"

To this end he provides the following two answers, both of which are true:

Firstly, because Pharaoh unjustifiably treated the Jews with terrible labor, He removed the path of repentance from him.

The following is a direct quote from the Ramban regarding the second answer:

Secondly, only the second half of the [ten] plagues were brought upon Egypt due to Pharaoh’s transgressions, as the Torah states, And Pharaoh’s heart was strengthened, (Shemot 7:13, 22; 8:15), and Pharaoh hardened his heart (ibid. 8:28, 9:7).

1. Plague of Blood - And the necromancers of Egypt did likewise with their secret rites, and Pharaoh's heart was steadfast, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had spoken. (Exodus 7:22).


2. Plague of Frogs - When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had spoken. (Exodus 8:11)


3. Plague of Lice - So the necromancers said to Pharaoh, "It is the finger of God," but Pharaoh's heart remained steadfast, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord had spoken. (Exodus 8:15)


4. Plague of Beasts - But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. (Exodus 8:28)


5. Plague of Livestock - And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not even one of the livestock of Israel died, but Pharaoh's heart became hardened, and he did not let the people out. (Exodus 9:7)


6. Plague of Boils - But the Lord strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not hearken to them, as the Lord spoke to Moses. (Exodus 9:12)


7. Plague of Hail - Because this time, I am sending all My plagues into your heart and into your servants and into your people, in order that you know that there is none like Me in the entire earth. (Exodus 9:14)


8. Plague of Locusts - But the Lord strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out. (Exodus 10:20)


9. Plague of Darkness - The Lord strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he was unwilling to let them out. (Exodus 10:27)


10. Plague of Death of the First Born Child - Moses and Aaron had performed all these miracles before Pharaoh, but the Lord strengthened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel out of his land. (Exodus 11:10)