Derasha on Bo 12:12 — Torah Temimah note 3
Parashas Bo · Shemos 12:12 · TT note 3
The Complete Passuk
וְעָבַרְתִּ֣י בְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֘יִם֮ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַזֶּה֒ וְהִכֵּיתִ֤י כׇל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מֵאָדָ֖ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וּבְכׇל־אֱלֹהֵ֥י מִצְרַ֛יִם אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה שְׁפָטִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
Source Citation
Torah Temimah on Shemos 12:12, note 3 (on מֵאָדָם וְעַד בְּהֵמָה) points to Mechilta.
Sefaria — Exodus 12:12
Sefaria — Torah Temimah on Exodus 12:12
Sefaria — Mechilta
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text — Mechilta (via Torah Temimah)
מֵאָדָם וְעַד בְּהֵמָה — מִי שֶׁהִתְחִיל בַּעֲבֵרָה תְּחִלָּה, מִמֶּנּוּ הִתְחִילָה הַפֻּרְעָנוּת.
English: “From man to beast” — from the one who began the transgression first, from him the punishment began.
Type of Learning
Order-of-punishment principle derived from the sequence in the verse.
What Is Learned
Punishment begins with the one who initiated the wrongdoing.