What is the translation of the word, "ba'Arbeh"?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: It means 'for the sake of the locusts - in order that they should come.
Seforno: It means 'in the direction of the locusts' - towards the south. 1
Oznayim la'Torah: It means that Moshe pointed to the word 'Arbeh' that was engraved on his staff.
But see the following Pasuk - which says they came via the east wind? (See description of Rashi (to 10:13 or 10:19) of the geographical location of Egypt (Rav Yehudah Kuperman edition of Seforno).)
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "[Raise your hand upon Egypt] ba'Arbeh - [I.e., do so] in order [to bring] the plague of Arbeh." But perhaps it means, 'Raise your hand with Arbeh' - that Moshe should hold locusts in his hand, and thus bring on the plague?
Gur Aryeh: If that were so (that Hashem was telling Moshe what to use when implementing the plague), the Torah would have written, 'take for yourself locusts' -- just as it did before Makas Shechin, "Take for yourselves fistfuls of furnace ash" (9:8). Rather, Moshe was to have the intent to bring on the Arbeh.
Rashi writes: "Ba'Arbeh - [I.e., with intent] for the plague of Arbeh" (see 10:12:1.1:1). Why was such intent needed only here, and not in the commands preceding the other plagues?
Gur Aryeh: Whenever Hashem told Moshe (or Aharon) to perform an act 1 to bring on a plague, that act related to the plague itself. For example, the Nile turning into blood was initiated by striking the Nile. But in this case, Moshe was to "raise his hand over Egypt" -- an act which does not indicate the nature of the upcoming plague. Therefore, Moshe had to have specific intent to bring Arbeh.
Gur Aryeh: Excluding Arov, Dever, and Makas Bechoros, which were not initiated by any act on Moshe or Aharon's part.
