PARASHA 015 MAIN PAGE
Sh'mot/Exodus Bo in a
Nutshell Exodus 10:1–13:16
The name of the Parshah, "Bo," means "Come [to Pharaoh]" and it is found
in Exodus 10:1.
The last three of the Ten Plagues are visited on Egypt: a swarm of
locusts devours all the crops and greenery; a thick, palpable darkness
envelops the land; and all the firstborn of Egypt are killed at the
stroke of midnight of the 15th of the month of Nissan.
YEHOVAH commands the first mitzvah to be given to the people of Israel:
to establish a calendar based on the monthly rebirth of the moon. The
Israelites are also instructed to bring a “Passover offering” to
YEHOVAH: a lamb or kid goat is to be slaughtered, and its blood
sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel of every Israelite home, so that
YEHOVAH should pass over these homes when He comes to kill the Egyptian
firstborn. The roasted meat of the offering is to be eaten that night
together with matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs.
The death of the firstborn finally breaks Pharaoh’s resistance, and he
literally drives the children of Israel from his land. So hastily do
they depart that there is no time for their dough to rise, and the only
provisions they take along are unleavened. Before they go, they ask
their Egyptian neighbors for gold, silver and garments—fulfilling the
promise made to Abraham that his descendants would leave Egypt with
great wealth.
The children of Israel are commanded to consecrate all firstborn, and to
observe the anniversary of the Exodus each year by removing all leaven
from their possession for seven days, eating matzah, and telling the
story of their redemption to their children. They are also commanded to
wear tefillin on the arm and head as a reminder of the Exodus and their
resultant commitment to YEHOVAH.
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