Derasha on Bo 12:1 — Torah Temimah note 2

Parashas Bo · Shemos 12:1 · TT note 2

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on Shemos 12:1, note 2 (on בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם) points to Mechilta.

Sefaria — Exodus 12:1
Sefaria — Torah Temimah on Exodus 12:1
Sefaria — Mechilta

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Mechilta (via Torah Temimah)
בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם — חוּץ לַכְּרַךְ. וְלָמָּה לֹא דִּבֵּר עִמּוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיְתָה מְלֵאָה שִׁקּוּצִים וְגִלּוּלִים.

English: “In the land of Egypt” — outside the city. And why did He not speak with him inside the city? Because it was full of abominations and idols.

Type of Learning

Derash on the extra wording בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: the dibbur took place outside the idolatrous city.

What Is Learned

Divine speech to Moshe in Egypt was outside the city, which was filled with idols.