EXOD132 (Continued from [[EXOD28]] Exodus 2:1 married AMJV 194). The reunification of the Jewish family was a precondition of nationhood and of Judaism, a necessary step before the redemption from Egypt could take place. After suffering many plagues, Pharaoh finally asked Moses who was intended to leave Egypt to worship to God, and Moses said that both the elders and the children would go jointly. Moses understood that without families worshiping together, the redemption would not come. Pharaoh also understood the power of the united family and therefore only permitted the elders to go, leaving the children behind. When Moses heard Pharaoh's condition that families would be divided, it was unacceptable to him and he refused Pharaoh's offer. (Continued [[EXOD143]] at Exodus 12:3-4 AMJV 194)

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EXOD133 When [men] occupy themselves with Torah and gemiluth chesed their inclination is mastered by them, not they by their inclination, as it is said (Isaiah 32:20): "Blessed are you that sow beside all waters." What is meant here is that man's inclination strives to master him in two ways. Firstly, it attempts to divert his attention to foolish matters, and secondly, to habituate his limbs to all manner of activity contrary to the will of God, may He be blessed. However, whoever occupies himself with Torah and with acts of kindness succeeds in subduing his inclinations and in bringing them under his control. Through Torah, one is occupied with the teachings of the living God, and so he sanctifies his intellectual powers; while, through acts of kindness, he sanctifies his bodily organs, since these are now taken up with the service of the King of the Universe. So we find [this verse (sic?), Exodus 11:22 (sic - 10:22?): "To walk in all His ways" -- and Exod. 18:12 (sic - 18:20?)]: "And you shall make known to them the way in which they shall go, " which refers to all the ways of goodness of the Holy One, blessed be He. So Chazal have asserted. Man thereby acquires immunity to the enticements of his inclinations to do the opposite.

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EXOD134 Moses himself understood the concept of a united family. When Pharaoh was almost relenting and willing to send out the Jews (after the seventh plague of hail). Pharaoh asked Moses who would leave. Moses understood that leaving, even if only for a few days, had to be a family event in over to eventuate the redemption. He said, therefore, that they would leave with their children, their elders, their boys, and their girls. But Pharaoh also understood very well that a family event would serve to strengthen the Jews as a people. Therefore, he responded that only the adults, and not the children, could leave, and Moses refused this offer as inadequate.

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EXOD135 Moses understood the importance of uniting the elderly with the young. While both are important to the Jewish community, the elderly must understand that gradually the next generation will grow into positions of authority and must replace those of the previous generation.

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EXOD136 See [[DEUT41]] Deuteronomy 2:30 hardened SPERO 245-6

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EXOD137 See [[EXOD133]] Exodus 10:12 arm AHAVCH 96

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EXOD138 See [[EXOD926]] Exodus 24:12 commandment SPERO 29

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EXOD139 See [[DEUT41]] Deuteronomy 2:30 hardened SPERO 245-6

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EXOD140 The Hebrew term for friend is re-a. The root meaning of this word is "a person in whose company one delights" or "a very desired friend." By its very definition, re-a originally designated an intimate friend. The word re-a appears for the first time in the Bible in the description of the relationship between Judah and Hirah the Adullamite (Genesis 38:20). Hirah was obviously an intimate friend of Judah. He was privy to Judah's amorous adventure with Tamar. Hirah was also the man whom Judah entrusted with the delicate mission of retrieving the pledge which he had left with Tamar and suppressing news of an incident which might prove embarrassing. Hirah was described as a re-a of Judah. The term re-a appears next in [this verse]. The slaves were instructed to accept "every man from his [Egyptian] friend" silver and gold jewels. Here the word re-a is no longer used in its original etymological sense of an intimate friend but rather in its broader connotation of a neighbor or any friendly person. It is in this sense that re-a is used thereafter in the Bible. Thus the text of the Golden Rule, "Love thy neighbor [re-a] as thyself" (Leviticus 19:18), mandates love of all people. The broadening of the term "friend" to include every human being reflects a generous and civilized impulse. However, it did not erase the distinction between various grades of friendship. When one finds it important to underline that a particular person is a very close friend, a descriptive phrase is added. Thus in the biblical admonition against undesirable influences of an intimate friend, the text reads: "thy friend who is as thy own soul" (Deuteronomy 13:7). (Continued at [[GEN295]] Genesis 2:18 friend BLOCH 140-1.

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EXOD141 See [[DEUT41]] Deuteronomy 2:30 hardened SPERO 245-6

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