 "And Pharaoh awoke he and all his officials and all the rest of Egypt. There was a great cry as there was no house where there was no death" (12:30). If Pharaoh awoke it must mean that up until then he had been sleeping. Clearly the Torah is not interested in telling us the bedtime habits of Pharaoh or for that matter anybody else. All information in the Torah is to teach us some kind of a lesson, be it ethical, legal or inspirational. Thus biographical information about our founders is often lacking. What did Abraham do until he was seventy five? What happened to Yosef after Yaakov died? What was Moshe doing while in Midyan for so many years? These questions were not deemed significant by the Torah whereas Pharaoh sleeping is! Moshe said to Pharaoh in G-d's name, around midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt. Every first born in Egypt will die, from the first born of Pharaoh sitting on the throne. there will be a great cry of anguish throughout all of Egypt" (11:4-5). How could Pharaoh sleep knowing what was to befall his country. Could it be that after nine plagues he still did not believe the warnings of Moshe? Did he think he could sleep his troubles away? Was he resigned to his fate?
It is hard to imagine that a human being possessed of an iota of sensitivity could sleep after a death sentence has just been proclaimed on his nation - let alone his own child. This unfortunately is the way of the wicked. Human suffering means nothing to them as long as they can cling to power. They are blinded to the consequences of their actions and to reality in general. And maintaining power was at the heart of his regime. "He said to his people The Israelites are becoming too numerous for us. Come let us outsmart them lest they join our enemies during war time" (1:10). Like a typical dictator Pharaoh finds a scapegoat to deflect the problems of his regime. The Israelites had been living in Egypt for hundreds of years - as Egyptians. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not part of their heritage nor was the rite of circumcision practiced. So assimilated had they become that when Moshe finally liberated them 80% stayed behind. They were first and foremost Egyptians. Yet in the eyes of Pharaoh they were immigrants and waving the canard of dual loyalty would rally the people around them. Problems, blame the Jews.
While one may start by attacking the "foreigners" inevitably the lust for power leads to the murder of one's own people. "Pharaoh then gave orders to all his people . Every boy who is born must be cast into the Nile" (1:22). Our sages tell us that Pharaoh was concerned lest a child be born who would one day overthrow his despotic regime of high taxes, slavery and subjugation. Nothing and nobody would take the throne away from Pharaoh. Fighting to the death is not a modern concept and the blinding to reality caused by an oversized ego is nothing new. Did Pharaoh really think the people would listen? Such mundane questions were not of concern to Pharaoh. The people would be made to listen. While babies were being thrown into the Nile Pharaoh was relaxing in bed. It was only when his own son was lying dead in front of his father that Pharaoh was awoken from his sleep. Reality had finally begun to sink in.
"Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aharon during the night" (12:31). Not surprisingly when his regime was literally crumbling before his eyes Pharaoh wants to negotiate. Unfortunately for him that window of opportunity had long since passed. And even more unfortunate Pharaoh learned nothing from his experiences. With the Jews gone - and the "Inspector" no longer looking for blood on the doorposts - Pharaoh felt secure enough to ignore the results of "battle". His false sense of security led him to take his top troops and chariots on a suicide mission. Unlike his predecessor who awoken from his sleep, summons Joseph for the benefit of the country this Pharaoh and his many current followers remain in their own dream world as they cling to power and world dominion. Let us hope and pray that they be woken up soon. Shabbat Shalom!
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