Derasha on Bo 12:12 — Torah Temimah note 4

Parashas Bo · Shemos 12:12 · TT note 4

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 4 (on וּבְכָל אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם) points to Sukkah 29a.

Sefaria — Exodus 12:12
Sefaria — Torah Temimah on Exodus 12:12
Sefaria — Sukkah 29a
E-Daf — Sukkah 29a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sukkah 29a
וְאֵין לְךָ כׇּל אוּמָּה וְאוּמָּה שֶׁלּוֹקָה, שֶׁאֵין אֱלֹהֶיהָ לוֹקֶה עִמָּהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְכׇל אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם אֶעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים״.

English: There is no nation that is struck whose deity is not struck with it, as it is said: “And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments.”

Type of Learning

General principle derived from Egypt: a nation’s heavenly patron is judged together with the nation.

What Is Learned

When a nation is punished, its “god” (heavenly force) is punished with it.