Why Didn't the Israelites Fully Believe Even After the Ten Plagues?

When Moshe agreed to take on the role of the redeemer in the preceding parasha, Hashem spoke to him, delivering the speech of redemption meant for the Israelites.

This speech included ten promises: "I appeared, I established, I heard, I will bring out, I will save, I will redeem, I will take you, you will know, I will bring you, and I will give." Only one of these requires something from the Israelites, the eighth statement: "You will know that I am Hashem." This seems to encompass all that was expected from them — to know Hashem. By virtue of the covenant, the Israelites would be redeemed and inherit the land, as introduced by Hashem, "I appeared to Abraham... and I established My covenant..."

In essence, the Israelites weren't required to take any tangible actions; they only needed to know and believe in Hashem, "Hashem will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." Moreover, even "you will know" falls among the promises. The miracles and salvation would be so overwhelming that knowledge would naturally follow; this was Hashem's promise and giving, for when one sees reality unfold, understanding naturally ensues.

However, the Israelites did not fulfill their part, as "they did not listen to Moshe." While they hadn't yet witnessed the grand miracles, they had seen signs, and in return, they should have, at the very least, listened to Moshe.

Even later on, throughout their journey, the Israelites did not entirely fulfill this aspect. After all Ten Plagues, unparalleled in history, as they stood by the sea, not everyone completely believed. They were not at the level of "you will know that I am Hashem," repetitively showing at each step. Hence, they were ultimately required to prove themselves more and face various punishments, including forty years in the desert.

What was so challenging about knowing? It seemed straightforward — their ancestral God appeared to them, promised miracles and deliverance, and fulfilled these promises. What was unclear?

The prophet Ezekiel reveals the secret: "The word of Hashem came to me: Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel... Proclaim to them their abominations: And say to them, Thus said the Lord Hashem: On the day I chose Israel, I swore to the seed of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, I am Hashem your God. On that day, I lifted My hand to bring them out of Egypt to the land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, the pride of all lands. I told them, each of you should cast away the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Hashem, your God. But they rebelled against Me, and they did not want to listen to Me. Each did not discard the abominations of their eyes, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them, to exhaust My anger against them within the land of Egypt. But I acted for My name, not to be desecrated in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had made Myself known by bringing them out of Egypt." (Ezekiel 20)

The knowledge of Hashem was complicated for the Israelites because they were entangled with the Egyptian idolatries, as the sages said, "These worship idols, and these worship idols."

Why doesn't the Torah reveal anything about this? Someone reading the parasha might think the Israelites simply didn't want to know Hashem — that it was difficult for them.

The answer is, it really was "just" so. All idolatry indeed is just nothing; it has no foundation. The Torah isn't prepared to present it even as a difficulty. From the perspective of the Israelites, disconnecting from this mindset seemed impossible, yet it's entirely "just so," transparent, nothing, as the Torah treats it.

This is the lesson the Torah teaches us: Sometimes, the prevailing beliefs in our environment appear so solid that it seems impossible to detach from them. Yet, over time, when viewed solely through the lens of truth and falsehood, the story is akin to the Torah: Hashem reveals Himself, His deeds are seen, and all that's required is to "know"— that's all. Everything else is merely transparent.