1)

What are the implications of "b'Farech"?

1.

Rashi (by implication) and Ramban (to 1:11): When they saw that their plan was not working, they decreed that all Egyptians were allowed to subjugate Yisrael with back-breaking work. 1

2.

Seforno: They actually turned them into slaves. 2

3.

Da'as Zekenim (citing Sotah 11b): "B'Farech" is the acronym of 'b'Feh Rach' - with a soft mouth; meaning that Pharaoh tricked them into hard work by offering them so much for each brick that they produced. 3

4.

Rosh: It refers to separating the men from their wives. 4

5.

Sotah 11b: They switched the men and women, making the men do women's jobs, and the women, men's jobs. 5

6.

Oznayim la'Torah: The Ramban in Hilchos Avadim 1:6 defines 'Avodas Perech' as, a. work that is useless, or b. work has no time limit. Both of these applied here. The work for Pharaoh (refer to 1:11:2:1*) was useless; and private individuals would order them to 'work until I return from the market!'


1

Ramban: To pick whoever they choose to work for them and to perform any menial task that they ordered them to.

2

Refer to 1:6:1:1 and 1:7:3:2. Seforno - As Yisrael continued to degenerate, the subjugation went from bad to worse.

3

Sotah 11b: Even going so far as to show them how it's done. And when they produced a large quantity of bricks the first day, he forced them to continue to produce the same number, each and every day - without payment!

4

As mentioned by the author of the Hagadah.

5

In order to denigrate them.

2)

The Gemara (Sotah 11b) interprets "Parech" as 'Peh Rach.' As Rashi (loc. cit.) explains, the Egyptians (initially) drew in the Bnei Yisrael with [soft] words and [promises of] wages, until they were conditioned to working. But this interpretation ("soft" words) seems to be the opposite of the simple translation of "Parech" -'difficult, back-breaking'!

1.

Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 15, p. 72): The next Pasuk already uses the term "Parech" - "all their work which they made them do b'Farech" (1:14). If so, this Pasuk is open for interpretation. The Egyptians did indeed give us difficult, back-breaking labor - and they did so by using their slick tongue.

3)

What is the Torah adding here? What did the Egyptians do now, that they did not do before?

1.

Ramban: They now forced them to perform hard labor with mortar and bricks. 1 Furthermore, they forced them to perform all manner of work, such as digging pits and carrying out the trash, at all hours, without break. And all this, accompanied by beatings and curses.

2.

Rashbam: Until now, they only had to work in town; from now on, they had to work in the fields as well, 2 such as plowing and harvesting.

3.

Seforno: As their behavior deteriorated still further, in both deed and ideology, 3 the Egyptians embittered their lives even more than before.


1

Ramban: Which hitherto had been provided by the king, but which, from now on, they had to manufacture themselves, including the preparation of the mortar - with only the straw provided.

2

Rashbam: Over and above the work that they had to do in town, all of which was backbreaking.

3

Seforno: As the Pasuk in Yechezkel 20:8 testifies.

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