TAKE THY ROD AND STRETCH OUT THY HAND UPON THE WATERS OF EGYPT, UPON THEIR STREAMS, UPON THEIR RIVERS… THAT THEY MAY BECOME BLOOD. Said R. Judah: ‘How was this possible? Could one rod so be stretched over all this extent? Moreover, it says later, “And seven days were fulfilled after the Lord had smitten the river” (v. 25), only mentioning the river, and leaving out the other waters of Egypt upon which Aaron had stretched out his hand.
The explanation is that the reference is to the River Nile, for out of this all the other rivers, streams, ponds, and pools are filled, so that Aaron needed but to smite that river and all the other waters were smitten. The proof is that it says, “And the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river” (v. 21).’
R. Abba said: ‘Observe that the lower waters diverge and spread on every side, but the upper waters draw together and are concentrated in one place,’1Yesod.. as it says: “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place” (Gen. 1, 9); and again, “And the gathering together of the waters called He seas”- as we have explained. The firmament in which the sun, the moon, the stars, and the plants are suspended is the great meeting place where the upper waters are gathered, and whence the earth, or lower world, is watered. She thereupon scatters and distributes these waters far and wide, in order that all things may be watered by them.
When, however, chastisement impends over the world, then the lower world does not imbibe from that upper firmament of sun and moon, but from the “left side”, concerning which it says: “The sword of the Lord is full of blood” (Isa. 34, 6). Woe unto them who must drink from this cup! At such times the sea imbibes from both sides and divides itself into two parts, white and red (mercy and justice). Thus it was the lot of Egypt which was cast into the Nile, and the blow was inflicted both above and below. Therefore Israel drank water, but the Egyptians blood.
1The first few lines of the Hebrew text do not appear in our translation.‘Observe that when the Holy One, blessed be He, prepares to inflict chastisement upon the idolatrous nations, the “Left Side” awakens and changes the whiteness of the moon to blood; then the ponds and the pools below are also filled with blood. So the punishment of the unrighteous is indeed blood.
Further, when the doom of blood impends upon a people, it is the blood of slaughter executed by another people whom God brings against them. But against Egypt the Holy One, blessed be He, did not choose to raise up another nation, lest Israel, who dwelt in her midst, might also suffer. Therefore He punished the Egyptians by causing their streams to be changed into blood so that they could not drink from them.
And as Egypt’s supramundane power was centred in the Nile, the Holy One enforced His will first on that principality, so that-the Nile being one of their divinities-their highest power might first of all be humbled. From the lesser idols also blood gushed out, as it is written: “And there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone” (Ibid.).’
R. Hiya arose one night to study the Torah, R. Jose the lesser, who was still a youth, being with him. R. Hiya began by quoting: “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works” (Eccles. 9, 7). He said: ‘What made Solomon say this?’
Truly, all Solomon’s words were uttered in wisdom, and when a man walks in the way of the Holy One, He draws near to him and gives him peace and rest, so that he enjoys his bread and his wine, the Holy One being well pleased with him and his work.’
Then said the young man: ‘If this is all that the words mean, where is their great wisdom?’ R. Hiya replied: ‘My son, cook thy meat well1Al. “When thou comest to ripeness. and thou wilt understand.’ Said the youth: ‘Even without cooking1“Even before I ripen”. I understood the meaning thereof.’ Said R. Hiya: ‘How so?’
He replied: ‘I have once heard from my father that in this verse Solomon admonishes man to crown the Community of Israel with joy, which is the “Right Side”, represented by bread, and then with wine, which is the “Left Side”, in order that she may be firm in faith, since complete and perfect joy is in the union of “Right” and “Left”; and when she is between the two the world is full of blessing, bounty, righteousness, and grace. And all this is accomplished when the Holy One, blessed be He, is satisfied with the works of the children of men.’ R. Hiya then went up to him, kissed him, and said: ‘Assuredly, I had intended to say this, but purposely left it to thee;1Al. “on account of thee,” i.e. thinking thee too young. and now I perceive that the Holy One desires to crown thee with the Torah.’
R. Hiya then went on to expound the verse: SAY UNTO AARON, TAKE THY ROD, AND STRETCH OUT THY HAND OVER THE WATERS OF EGYPT. Why Aaron rather than Moses?’ he asked. ‘ Because the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Aaron represents the principle of water, and the Left Side is eager to draw the waters for himself. It is thus befitting that Aaron, who himself emanates from that side, should stir it up to take possession of the waters, whereby they will turn into blood.
Observe that the lowest of the grades was first smitten.’ Said R. Simeon: ‘The Holy One, blessed be He, began with the lowest grade, smiting each one in succession with every finger of His hand; and when He reached the highest He Himself passed through Egypt and slew all the firstborn of the land, as the firstborn represented the highest and choicest grade of all.
Observe, further, that Pharaoh was the ruler of the waters, as it is written of him: “the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers” (Ezek. 29, 3). For that reason the turning of his river into blood was the first plague. Then followed the frogs, who with mighty squealings and croakings entered the very entrails of the Egyptians. They emerged from the river on to the dry land, where they raised a noise all around until they fell dead in the interior of the houses.
Esoterically speaking, the ten plagues were wrought by the mighty hand of the Almighty, by the hand that overpowered the grades of the Egyptian divinities, and confused their minds so that they remained helpless. Observe that all their grades, as soon as they emerged into the open to accomplish something that could be seen by all, became powerless to do anything. This was due to the mighty hand which pressed on them.
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה אֱמוֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה יָדְךָ עַל מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם עַל נַהֲרוֹתָם עַל יְאוֹרֵיהֶם וְעַל אֲגְמֵיהֶם וְעַל כָּל מִקְוֵה מֵימֵיהֶם וַיִּהְיוּ דָּם וְגוֹ'. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, הַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ, וְהֵיךְ יָכִיל לְמֵהַךְ לְכָל הָנֵי אַתְרֵי. (ולא עוד אלא) וְתוּ, דְּהָא כְּתִיב וְיִּמָּלֵא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים אַחֲרֵי הַכּוֹת ה' אֶת הַיְאוֹר. אֶת הַיְאוֹר כְּתִיב, וְאַתְּ אָמַרְתְּ עַל מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם עַל נַהֲרוֹתָם עַל יְאוֹרֵיהֶם וְעַל אֲגְמֵיהֶם.
TAKE THY ROD AND STRETCH OUT THY HAND UPON THE WATERS OF EGYPT, UPON THEIR STREAMS, UPON THEIR RIVERS… THAT THEY MAY BECOME BLOOD. Said R. Judah: ‘How was this possible? Could one rod so be stretched over all this extent? Moreover, it says later, “And seven days were fulfilled after the Lord had smitten the river” (v. 25), only mentioning the river, and leaving out the other waters of Egypt upon which Aaron had stretched out his hand.
אֶלָּא, מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם נִילוּס הֲוָה. וּמִתַּמָּן אִתְמַלְיָין כָּל אִינּוּן שְׁאַר אֲגַמִּין וִיאוֹרִין וּמַבּוּעִין וְכָל מֵימִין דִּילְהוֹן. וְעַל דָּא, אַהֲרֹן לֹא נָטָה לְמַחֲאָה אֶלָּא לְנִילוּס בִּלְחוֹדוֹי. וְתָא חֲזֵי דְּהָכִי הוּא, דִּכְתִּיב וְלא יָכְלוּ מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִן הַיְאוֹר.
The explanation is that the reference is to the River Nile, for out of this all the other rivers, streams, ponds, and pools are filled, so that Aaron needed but to smite that river and all the other waters were smitten. The proof is that it says, “And the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river” (v. 21).’
אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, תָּא חֲזֵי, מַיִין תַּתָּאִין מִתְפָּרְשָׁאן לְכַמָּה סִטְרִין, (נ"א ומיין עלאי ע"כ וגו') (עלאין דהא) וּמַיִין עִלָּאִין מִתְכַּנְשֵׁי בְּבֵי כְּנִישׁוּ מַיָּא, דִּכְתִּיב, (בראשית א׳:ט׳) וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלהִים יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד. וּכְתִיב וּלְמִקְּוֵה הַמַּיִם קָרָא יַמִּים. הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ. וְתָא חֲזֵי, הַהוּא רְקִיעָא דְּאִית בֵּיהּ שִׁמְשָׁא וְסִיהֲרָא כּוֹכָבַיָיא וּמַזָּלֵי, דָּא אִיהוּ בֵּי כְּנִישׁוּת מַיָּא רַבָּא, דְּהוּא נָטִיל כָּל מַיִין, וְאַשְׁקֵי לְאַרְעָא, דְּהִיא עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה, כֵּיוָן, דְּנָטַל מַיָּא בָּדַר לוֹן, וּפָלִיג לוֹן לְכָל עִיבָר, וּמִתַּמָּן אִתְשַׁקְיָין כֹּלָּא.
R. Abba said: ‘Observe that the lower waters diverge and spread on every side, but the upper waters draw together and are concentrated in one place,’1Yesod.. as it says: “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place” (Gen. 1, 9); and again, “And the gathering together of the waters called He seas”- as we have explained. The firmament in which the sun, the moon, the stars, and the plants are suspended is the great meeting place where the upper waters are gathered, and whence the earth, or lower world, is watered. She thereupon scatters and distributes these waters far and wide, in order that all things may be watered by them.
וּבְזִמְנָא דְּדִינָא שַׁרְיָא, עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה לָא יַנְקָא מִן הַהוּא רְקִיעָא, וְיַנְקָא מִסְּטַר שְׂמָאלָא, וּכְדֵין אִקְרֵי (ישעיהו ל״ד:ו׳) חֶרֶב לַה' מָלְאָה דָּם. וַוי לְאִינוּן דְּיַנְקִין כְּדֵין מִינָהּ, וְאִתְשַׁקְיָין מִינָהּ, דִּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא יַמָּא יַנְקָא מִתְּרֵין סִטְרִין, הֲוָה אִתְפְּלַג לִתְרֵין חוּלָקִין, חִוָּור וְסוּמָק. וּכְדֵין שָׁדֵי לִיאוֹרָא חוּלָקָא דְּמִצְרַיִם, וְאַלְקֵי לְעֵילָּא וְאַלְקֵי לְתַתָּא. וְעַל דָּא שָׁתָאן יִשְׂרָאֵל מַיָּא. וּמִצְרָאֵי דָּמָא.
When, however, chastisement impends over the world, then the lower world does not imbibe from that upper firmament of sun and moon, but from the “left side”, concerning which it says: “The sword of the Lord is full of blood” (Isa. 34, 6). Woe unto them who must drink from this cup! At such times the sea imbibes from both sides and divides itself into two parts, white and red (mercy and justice). Thus it was the lot of Egypt which was cast into the Nile, and the blow was inflicted both above and below. Therefore Israel drank water, but the Egyptians blood.
אִי תֵּימָא בְּגִין גִּיעוּלָא הֲוָה וְלָא יַתִּיר. תָּא חֲזֵי, שָׁתָאן דָּמָא וְעָאל לְמֵעַיְיהוּ, וְאִסְתַּלָּק וּבָקַע, עַד דַּהֲווֹ מְזַבְּנִין לוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל מַיָּא בְּמָמוֹנָא, וּכְדֵין שָׁתָאן מַיָּא בְּגִינִי כַּךְ שֵׁירוּתָא לְאַלְקָאָה לוֹן הֲוָה דָּמָא.
רִבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח הַאי קְרָא, (תהילים קמ״ה:א׳) אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלֹהַי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַאֲבָרְכָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. תָּא חֲזֵי, דָּוִד לָקֳבֵיל דַּרְגָּא דֵּילֵיהּ קָאָמַר, דִּכְתִּיב אֱלהַי דִּידִי. בְּגִין דְּבָעָא לְסַלְּקָא שְׁבָחֵיהּ, וּלְאַעֲלָא לֵיהּ לִנְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה, לְאִתְעָרְבָא דָּא בְּדָא, לְמֶהֱוֵי כֹּלָּא חַד. בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ, אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלהַי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְגוֹ'.
דְּתָנֵינָן, כָּל יוֹמוֹי דְּדָוִד, אִשְׁתַּדַּל לְאַתְקְנָא כּוּרְסְיָה, וּלְאַנְהָרָא אַנְפָּהָא, בְּגִין דְּיָגִין עָלֵיהּ וְאִיתְנְהִיר תָּדִיר נְהוֹרָא תַּתָּאָה בִּנְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה, לְמֶהוֵי כֹּלָּא חַד. וְכַד אָתָא שְׁלֹמֹה, אַשְׁכַּח עָלְמָא שְׁלִים, וְסִיהֲרָא דְּאִתְמַלְיָא, וְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאַטְרְחָא עָלָּה לְאַנְהָרָא. (ע"כ)
תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבָעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֵיסָב נוּקְמִין מֵעַמִּין עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אִתְּעַר שְׂמָאלָא, וְאִתְמַלְיָא סִיהֲרָא מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא דָּמָא. וּכְדֵין, נַבְעִין מַבּוּעִין וּנְחָלִין דִּלְתַתָּא, כָּל אִינּוּן דְּלִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא דָּמָא. וְעַל דָּא, דִּינָא דִּילְהוֹן דָּמָא.
1The first few lines of the Hebrew text do not appear in our translation.‘Observe that when the Holy One, blessed be He, prepares to inflict chastisement upon the idolatrous nations, the “Left Side” awakens and changes the whiteness of the moon to blood; then the ponds and the pools below are also filled with blood. So the punishment of the unrighteous is indeed blood.
תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד הַאי דָּמָא אִתְּעַר (נ"א כד דינא אתער על עלמא בגין ההוא דמא דקטולין קודשא בריך הוא אתער) עַל עַמָּא, הַהוּא דָּמָא דְּקָטוּלִין אִיהוּ דְּיִתְּעַר עָלַיְיהוּ עַמָּא אַחֲרָא וְקָטִיל לוֹן. אֲבָל (השתא) בְּמִצְרַיִם, לָא בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַיְיתָאָה עָלַיְיהוּ עַמָּא אַחֲרָא לְאַתְעֲרָא עָלַיְיהוּ דָּמָא בְּגִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל הֲווֹ בֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְלָא יִצְטַעֲרוּן בְּגִין דְּדַיְירִין בְּאַרְעָא דִּילְהוֹן, אֲבָל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָחָא לוֹן בְּדָמָא, בְּנַהֲרִין דִּלְהוֹן, דְּלָא הֲווֹ יַכְלִין לְמִשְׁתֵּי.
Further, when the doom of blood impends upon a people, it is the blood of slaughter executed by another people whom God brings against them. But against Egypt the Holy One, blessed be He, did not choose to raise up another nation, lest Israel, who dwelt in her midst, might also suffer. Therefore He punished the Egyptians by causing their streams to be changed into blood so that they could not drink from them.
וּבְגִין דְּשׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן, שַׁלְטָא בְּהַהוּא נַהֲרָא, פָּקִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְשׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן בְּקַדְמִיתָא, בְּגִין דְּיַלְקֵי דַּחֲלָא דִּלְהוֹן בְּקַדְמִיתָא, בְּגִין דְּנִילוּס חַד דַּחֲלָא דִּלְהוֹן הֲוָה, וְכֵן שְׁאַר דַּחֲלִין דִּלְהוֹן נַבְעִין דָּמָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְהָיָה דָם בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּבָעֵצִים וּבָאֲבָנִים.
And as Egypt’s supramundane power was centred in the Nile, the Holy One enforced His will first on that principality, so that-the Nile being one of their divinities-their highest power might first of all be humbled. From the lesser idols also blood gushed out, as it is written: “And there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone” (Ibid.).’
ר' חִיָּיא קַם לֵילְיָא חַד לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וַהֲוָה עִמֵּיהּ ר' יוֹסֵי זוּטָא, דְּהֲוָה רַבְיָא. פָּתַח ר' חִיָּיא וְאָמַר, (קהלת ט׳:ז׳) לֵךְ אֱכוֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ וּשְׁתֵה בְלֶב טוֹב יִיִנֶךָ כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ. מַאי קָא חָמָא שְׁלמֹה דְּאָמַר הַאי קְרָא.
R. Hiya arose one night to study the Torah, R. Jose the lesser, who was still a youth, being with him. R. Hiya began by quoting: “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works” (Eccles. 9, 7). He said: ‘What made Solomon say this?’
אֶלָּא שְׁלֹמֹה כָּל מִלּוֹי בְּחָכְמָה הֲווֹ, וְהַאי דְּאָמַר לֵךְ אֱכוֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבַר נָשׁ אָזִיל בְּאוֹרְחוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְקָרֵב לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְיָהִיב לֵיהּ שַׁלְוָה וְנַיְיחָא, כְּדֵין נַהֲמָא וְחַמְרָא דְּאָכִיל וְשָתֵי, בְּחֶדְוָה דְּלִבָּא, בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְרְעֵי בְּעוֹבָדוֹי.
Truly, all Solomon’s words were uttered in wisdom, and when a man walks in the way of the Holy One, He draws near to him and gives him peace and rest, so that he enjoys his bread and his wine, the Holy One being well pleased with him and his work.’
אֲמַר לֵיהּ הַהוּא רַבְיָא, אִי הָכִי, הָא אָמַרְתְּ דְּכָל מִלּוֹי דְּשְׁלֹמֹה בֶּחָכְמְתָא הֲווֹ, אָן הוּא חָכְמְתָא הָכָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ בְּרִי תְּבַשֵּׁל בִּשּׁוּלָךְ, וְתֶחֱמֵי הַאי קְרָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ עַד לָא בָּשִׁילְנָא יָדַעְנָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ מְנָא לָן.
Then said the young man: ‘If this is all that the words mean, where is their great wisdom?’ R. Hiya replied: ‘My son, cook thy meat well1Al. “When thou comest to ripeness. and thou wilt understand.’ Said the youth: ‘Even without cooking1“Even before I ripen”. I understood the meaning thereof.’ Said R. Hiya: ‘How so?’
אֲמַר לֵיהּ קָלָא חַד שְׁמַעְנָא מֵאַבָּא, דְּהֲוָה אָמַר בְּהַאי קְרָא, דְּשְׁלֹמֹה קָא אַזְהַר לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, לְאַעְטְּרָא לָהּ לכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשִׂמְחָה, דְּאִיהוּ סִטְרָא דִּימִינָא, וְאִיהוּ נָהֲמָא, דְּיִתְעֲטָּר בְּחֶדְוָה. וּלְבָתַר, יִתְעֲטָּר בְּחַמְרָא, דְּאִיהוּ שְׂמָאלָא, בְּגִין דְּתִשְׁתְּכַח בִּמְהֵימָנוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, חֶדְוָותָא שְׁלֵימָתָא, בִּימִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא, וְכַד תֶּהוֵי בֵּין תַּרְוַויְיהוּ כְּדֵין כָּל בִּרְכָּאן שָׁרָאן בְּעָלְמָא. וְכָל דָּא, כַּד אִתְרְעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּעוֹבָדֵיהוֹן דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ. אָתָא ר' חִיָּיא וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ, אָמַר, חַיֶּיךָ בְּרִי הַאי מִלָּה שָׁבַקְנָא בְּגִינָךְ, וְהַשְׁתָּא יָדַעְנָא, דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי לְאַעְטְּרָא לָךְ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.
He replied: ‘I have once heard from my father that in this verse Solomon admonishes man to crown the Community of Israel with joy, which is the “Right Side”, represented by bread, and then with wine, which is the “Left Side”, in order that she may be firm in faith, since complete and perfect joy is in the union of “Right” and “Left”; and when she is between the two the world is full of blessing, bounty, righteousness, and grace. And all this is accomplished when the Holy One, blessed be He, is satisfied with the works of the children of men.’ R. Hiya then went up to him, kissed him, and said: ‘Assuredly, I had intended to say this, but purposely left it to thee;1Al. “on account of thee,” i.e. thinking thee too young. and now I perceive that the Holy One desires to crown thee with the Torah.’
תּוּ פָּתַח ר' חִיָּיא וְאָמַר, אֱמוֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה יָדְךָ עַל מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם. מַאי טַעְמָא אַהֲרֹן וְלא מֹשֶׁה. אֶלָּא, אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אַהֲרֹן מַיִין קַיְימִין בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ, וּשְׂמָאלָא בָּעֵי לְנַגְדָּא מַיִין מִתַּמָּן, אַהֲרֹן דְּאָתֵי מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא יִתְּעַר לֵיהּ, וְכַד שְׂמָאלָא נָקִיט לוֹן, אִינּוּן יִתְהַדְּרוּן דָּמָא.
R. Hiya then went on to expound the verse: SAY UNTO AARON, TAKE THY ROD, AND STRETCH OUT THY HAND OVER THE WATERS OF EGYPT. Why Aaron rather than Moses?’ he asked. ‘ Because the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Aaron represents the principle of water, and the Left Side is eager to draw the waters for himself. It is thus befitting that Aaron, who himself emanates from that side, should stir it up to take possession of the waters, whereby they will turn into blood.
תָּא חֲזֵי תַּתָּאָה דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין מָחָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מִתַּתָּאָה שָׁרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְיַדָא דִּילֵיהּ, מָחָא בְּכָל אֶצְבְּעָא וְאֶצְבְּעָא. וְכַד מָטָא לְדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין, עָבֵד אִיהוּ דִּילֵיהּ, וְעָבַר בְּאַרְעָא דְּמִצְרַיִם, וְקָטַל כֹּלָּא. וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ קָטַל כָּל בּוּכְרִין בְּאַרְעָא דְּמִצְרַיִם, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה וּבוּכְרָא דְּכֹלָּא.
Observe that the lowest of the grades was first smitten.’ Said R. Simeon: ‘The Holy One, blessed be He, began with the lowest grade, smiting each one in succession with every finger of His hand; and when He reached the highest He Himself passed through Egypt and slew all the firstborn of the land, as the firstborn represented the highest and choicest grade of all.
וְתָא חֲזֵי, פַּרְעֹה הֲוָה שׁוּלְטָנֵיהּ בְּמַיָּא, (נ"א בקדמיתא ומתתאה שרא קודשא בריך הוא וכד מטא לדרגא עילאה דילהון דאיהו בוכרא דכל דרגין דילהון קטל כל בוכרא בארעא דמצרים בגין ההוא דרגא עילאה ובוכרא דכולא ותא חזי פרעה הוה בוכרא ושולטניה במיא) דִּכְתִּיב, (יחזקאל כ״ט:ג׳) הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל הָרוֹבֵץ בְּתוֹךְ יְאוֹרָיו, בְּגִין כָּךְ אִתְהַפַּךְ נַהֲרֵיהּ בְּדָמָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא. לְבָתַר צְפַרְדְּעִים דִּמְשַׁמְּטֵי לוֹן בְּקָלִין טְסִירִין מְקַרְקְרִין בְּגוֹ מֵעַיְיהוּ, (נ"א מקרקרין בגו יאורא) וְנַפְקֵי מִגּוֹ יְאוֹרָא, וְסַלְקֵי בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא וְרָאמִין קָלִין בְּכָל סִטְרִין, עַד דְּאִינּוּן נַפְלִין כְּמֵתִין בְּגוֹ בֵּיתָא.
Observe, further, that Pharaoh was the ruler of the waters, as it is written of him: “the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers” (Ezek. 29, 3). For that reason the turning of his river into blood was the first plague. Then followed the frogs, who with mighty squealings and croakings entered the very entrails of the Egyptians. They emerged from the river on to the dry land, where they raised a noise all around until they fell dead in the interior of the houses.
וְרָזָא דְּמִלָּה, כָּל אִינּוּן עֶשֶׂר אָתִין דְּעָבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כֻּלְּהוּ הֲווֹ מִגּוֹ יָדָא תַּקִּיפָא, וְהַהוּא יָדָא אִתְתְּקַף עַל אִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין כּוּלְּהוּ שֻׁלְטָנוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן, בְּגִין לְבַלְבְּלָא דַּעְתַּיְיהוּ, וְלָא הֲווֹ יַדְעֵי לְמֶעְבַּד מִידִי. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל אִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין דִּלְהוֹן, כֵּיוָן דְּנַפְקֵי לְמֶעְבַּד מִידִי, דְּאִתְחָזֵי לְכֹלָּא לָא יַכְלִין (לבתר) לְמֶעְבַּד מִידִי. (אימת כד) (נ"א בגין ההוא) יָדָא תַּקִּיפָא (ס"א שריא) דְּשַׁרְיָא עָלַיְיהוּ.
Esoterically speaking, the ten plagues were wrought by the mighty hand of the Almighty, by the hand that overpowered the grades of the Egyptian divinities, and confused their minds so that they remained helpless. Observe that all their grades, as soon as they emerged into the open to accomplish something that could be seen by all, became powerless to do anything. This was due to the mighty hand which pressed on them.