Parsha Thoughts

1. Shemot 1:21. The pasuk says that it was as the mayaldos feared Hashem, he made for them "houses." Rashi explains that this refers to Hashem rewarding the meyaldos. I heard another explanation. This refers to Paroh's reaction - "he made for them houses." To slow down the ability to save the children by creating a bureaucracy.

2. Same pasuk. Were two mayaldos able to help all the women in all of Mitzrayim give birth? See Sipurno who says that there were clearly more than two - though two for the city of Mitzrayim.

3. Shemot 2:1. Vayelech. The pasuk uses an unusual word in the pasuk to describe the marriage of Amram and Yocheved. The Netziv says that represents a word indicative of an unusual marriage - Yocheved was much older than Amram and that usually does not happen.

4. Shemot 4:27. Vayishak Lo. Moshe and Aharon meet and there is only one kiss. Ramban focuses on this kiss as an act of respect. Moshe, in his humility, did not permit himself to kiss his brother out of respect. The Sipurno says that Aharon kissed Moshe as one would kiss a holy object now that Hashem defined Moshe as the savior of Klal Yisroel.

5. Shemot 5:19-20. The foremen of Klal Yisroel are leaving their meeting with Paroh and seemingly happen to encounter Moshe and Aharon. What were they doing there? See Ramban who explains that these series of pesukim did not happen at one time, but rather over a period of time. In fact, he mentions a Midrash that says that during this time Moshe returned his family to Midyan and stayed there for 6 months.