Parshas Shmos

For the week ending 25 Teves 5757; 3 & 4 January 1997

---

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Bonus Question

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to Parsha Questions

Answer to Bonus Question

Back issues of Parsha Q&A

Subscription Information

Ohr Somayach Home Page

---

This publication is also available in the following formats: Explanation of these symbols

---

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

1. Why did the Egyptians specifically chose water as the means of killing the Jewish children? Give two reasons.
2. "…And they will go up out of the land." Who said this and what did he mean?
3. Why was Yocheved called 'Shifrah?' Why was Miriam called 'Puah?'
4. How did Hashem reward the midwives?
5. Who was Yocheved's father?
6. "She saw that he was good" What was 'good' about Moshe that distinguished him from other babies?
7. Moshe killed an Egyptian who was striking a Jew. Who was the Jewish man's wife?
8. Who were the two Hebrew men who were fighting with each other?
9. Why did the Midianites drive Yisro's daughters away from the well?
10. How did Yisro know that Moshe was a descendant of Yaakov?
11. Why did Moshe go far away to pasture Yisro's sheep?
12. What lesson was Moshe to learn from the fact that the burning bush was not consumed?
13. What merit did the Jewish People have that warranted Hashem's promise to take them out of Egypt?
14. What was symbolized by the staff turning into a snake?
15. How long did Hashem try to persuade Moshe to go to redeem the Jewish People?
16. Why was Moshe reluctant to assume the role of leader of the Jewish people?
17. "And Hashem was angry with Moshe..." What did Moshe lose as a result of this anger?
18. Concerning which plague was Pharaoh warned first?
19. Who were the: a) nogsim; b) shotrim?
20. Why were the shotrim beaten?

---

Answer Contents	Why did Moshe risk the spiritual and physical dangers involved in bringing his wife and children to Egypt?

---

I Did Not Know That!

When Yisro learned that Moshe had killed an Egyptian, Yisro threw him into a pit. For ten years Tzippora sustained Moshe by bringing him food, until such time as Yisro realized Moshe's righteousness.

---

Recommended Reading List

Ramban 1:10 Politics of Genocide 2:2 Certainty of Moshe's Rescue 3:5 The Burning Bush 3:8 Qualities of Eretz Yisrael 3:12 Moshe's Concerns 3:18 The Code Word for Redemption 4:10 Moshe's Speech Impediment 4:13 Moshe's Humility 4:19 Moshe's Family as Proof

Sforno 2:10 Moshe's Name 2:11,13,17 Reactions to Injustice Kli Yakar 2:2 Light and Three Months 2:7 Prophecy of Miriam 2:13 Striking Words

---

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

1. 1:10 & 22 - Since Hashem promised Noah never to flood the entire world, the Egyptians chose water, hoping to thereby escape Divine retribution. Also, Pharaoh's astrologers saw that the Jewish redeemer's downfall would be through water.
2. 1:10 - Pharaoh said it, meaning that the Egyptians would be forced to leave Egypt.
3. 1:15 - Shifrah means she beautified the newborn. Puah means she would coo at the newborn.
4. 1:21 - Their descendants were Kohanim, Levi'im and royalty.
5. 2:1 - Levi.
6. 2:2 - When he was born the house was filled with light.
7. 2:11 - Shelomis bas Divri.
8. 2:13 - Dasan and Aviram.
9. 2:17 - Because a ban had been placed upon Yisro for abandoning idol worship.
10. 2:20 - Because the water of the well rose up to Moshe.
11. 3:1 - So that the sheep wouldn't graze in privately owned fields.
12. 3:12 - Just as the bush was not consumed, so too Moshe would be protected by Hashem if he did as Hashem requested.
13. 3:12 - The merit that they were destined to receive the Torah.
14. 4:3 - Moshe spoke ill of the Jewish people by saying that they would not listen to him, just as original snake sinned through speech.
15. 4: 10 - Seven days.
16. 4:10 - He did not want to take a position that would be superior to that of his elder brother, Aaron.
17. 4:14 - Moshe lost the privilege of being a Kohen. This privilege was transferred to Aharon.
18. 4:23 - Death of the firstborn.
19. 5:6 - a) the Egyptian taskmasters; b) the Jewish officers.
20. 5:14 - They refused to pressure the Jewish People to work harder.

---

Question Contents	Moshe wanted to give hope and encouragement to the Jewish People. By bringing his wife and children, he showed them his confidence that Hashem was going to redeem the Jewish People very soon. Meshech Chochma

---

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
HTML Design: Michael Treblow

---

© 1995 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.

---

This publication is available via E-Mail

---

Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

Ohr Somayach's Web site is hosted by TeamGenesis

---

Copyright © 1995 Ohr Somayach International. Send us Feedback.
Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A. Please contact us for details.