What are the connotations of "v'Nasati Es Yadi b'Mitzrayim"?
Rashi: It actually means a 'hand' to strike them. 1
Targum Onkelos: It means, I shall put 'My mighty blow' upon Egypt.
Targum Yonasan: It means 'arrows of death.'
Oznayim la'Torah: It means that, when Pharaoh will not listen to the wonders (Mofesim), Hashem will stretch out His Hand against the bodies of the Egyptians. 2
Presumably this refers either to Makas Dever - See 9:3, or to Makas Bechoros - This is also probably what Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan are referring to when they translate it as 'Machas (Makas) Gevurti' - Targum Onkelos) or 'Machas Gevuras Yadi' - Targum Yonasan. But see Gur Aryeh (7:4:1.1:1).
Oznayim la'Torah: As Chazal have said (in Midrash Rabah, in connection with Tzara'as) - 'The Ba'al ha'Rachamim does not begin by striking one's body.'
Interestingly, these verses refer to the Makos in general as "Yad;" whereas the Chartumim later refer to the Makah of Kinim as "Etzba" (8:15). (The Hagadah of Pesach also highlights this distinction; whereas the Makos are called 'Etzba,' only Keri'as Yam Suf is called "Yad ha'Gedolah" (14:31).) What is the distinction between the two terms?
To which great judgments is Hashem referring?
Seforno: To Makas Bechoros, and the drowning of the Egyptian army in the Yam-Suf, which came as a punishment Midah K'neged Midah for their cruel treatment of Yisrael. 1
Seforno: The purpose of the other plagues was to bring Pharaoh to do Teshuvah (see Shemos 14:18); and to demonstrate Hashem's Omnipotence to Yisrael (see Shemos 7:17, Shemos 8:18, Shemos 9:29 and Shemos 10:1,2).
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Es Yadi' (I shall put my Yad upon Egypt) - Yad in the actual sense, to strike them." What does this mean? (Hashem does not have physical characteristics!)
Gur Aryeh: The Torah uses common human expression, even in reference to Hashem (Diberah Torah Ki'Leshon Bnei Adam - Berachos 31b). Rashi chooses not to explain the word "Yad" as 'plague' (as in, 'I shall put My plague upon Egypt,') because it does not fit as well in the next verse, "as I lift up My Yad" (7:5). 1
In some editions, this comment of Rashi in fact appears on verse 7:5 (which also contains the words "Es Yadi"). (CS)
