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Exodus 10:1 – 13:16
God brings the final three plagues upon Egypt — locusts that devour every remaining crop, a palpable darkness that paralyzes the Egyptians for three days, and the devastating slaying of every Egyptian firstborn at midnight. Before the last plague, God institutes the Passover sacrifice and the festival of unleavened bread, commanding the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the lamb's blood. At last, Pharaoh drives the Israelites out, and they depart in haste with the wealth of Egypt, after 430 years of sojourning.
Key figures
- Moses — Announces the final plagues, instructs the people in the Passover laws
- Aaron — Stands with Moses before Pharaoh through the final confrontations
- Pharaoh — Broken by the death of the firstborn, finally expels the Israelites
Famous verses
- 12:2 "This month shall be to you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
- 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
- 13:14 And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying: What is this? that you shall say to him: By strength of hand Hashem brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Haftarah: {'ref': 'Jeremiah 46:13-28', 'connection': "Jeremiah prophesies the defeat of Egypt by Babylon, echoing God's judgment upon Egypt in the parasha, while reassuring Israel that God will save them from afar."}
Total gematria: 400,893.