Shabbat Parashat Va'eira - 5785

Shabbat Parashat Va'eira - 5785

Rabbi Hal Miller

  God said to Moshe, see I have made you a master over Pharaoh, and Aharon your

  brother shall be your speaker. [Shemot 7:1]

The word elohim, translated here as master, could have various possible interpretations.

Usually the word refers to God, but there are many instances where the Torah uses it to

refer to non-sacred entities. We see it naming false gods of the various ancient peoples.

Rashi says it means judges, Onkelos translates it in our verse as teachers. Further, the

last word of our verse, niviyecha, is not clear as well. The root of the word is what we

usually see in reference to prophets and prophecy,

Looking at each possibiity, what is the Torah teaching us here?

Rashi and Ramban both explain elohim as master, in the sense that Moshe will prove

stronger that Pharaoh and "rule over him with plagues and tortures." This is also in the

sense of being a judge who will sentence a defendant for his crimes. Close to this, the

Brisker Rav sees it that Moshe is assigned to carry out the judgments of God, punishing

Pharaoh. Rav Hirsch, though, uses the more common understanding of the word, saying

that God is telling Moshe that he will appear as a god to Pharaoh, and that Aharon will

appear as Moshe's prophet. Onkelos sees elohim here as a teacher, that Moshe will

provide instruction to Pharaoh and Aharon will be Moshe's translator.

This leads us to that last word. Rav Hirsch understands it in the common use, prophet,

Onkelos as translator. But there are those who say that use of the word to mean a seer or

prophet is a mistaken connotation. Most commentators agree that the word refers to a

spokesman, which could be understood that prophets are spokesmen for God. If so, this

points out a difference between the brothers, Moshe was the 'seer' and ruler, and Aharon

was at a lower level as his 'spokesman'. The two were to act as a team, representing God

to Pharaoh.