Rabbeinu Bachya with a Wonderful Insight from Parshat Vayeshev: Share with Family and Friends

'And it was after these things, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and the baker sinned against their master, the king of Egypt.'(Genesis 40:1).

Rabbeinu Bachya highlights a deep idea in the way the text describes the king of Egypt. He focuses on the distinction between the name "Pharaoh" and the kingship "king of Egypt," claiming that this separation in the text is not accidental, but intended to teach about the destiny of Pharaoh's kingship and the control of Hashem.

Rabbeinu Bachya notes that the text uses the phrase "to their master, the king of Egypt" and not "to their master, Pharaoh, king of Egypt." This separation indicates that Pharaoh's kingship is destined to be taken from him and that in the future, he will remain only as Pharaoh, the person, without kingship.

'To their master, the king of Egypt. It would have been appropriate to say to their master, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to state afterwards simply that he became angry with his two officers. But it is possible to interpret that at the beginning of this mention now, the text is alluding from the outset to the future that his kingship will be separated from him because of Israel, and thus the text mentioned the kingship separately and the name separately.'

Rabbeinu Bachya continues to prove this point from the verses describing the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14). When it is told about the escape of the Israelites, it is said, "It was told to the king of Egypt that the people had fled," and not "to Pharaoh, king of Egypt." Here too, there is a separation between the kingship and his personal name, to teach that his kingship is nearing its end.

'And you will find in the account of his end at the sea that the text follows this method, as it is written (Exodus 14) "It was told to the king of Egypt that the people had fled and Pharaoh's heart was turned," it should have said "It was told to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that the people had fled and his heart was turned," but the text mentioned the kingship separately and the name separately to teach about his end, that the day of his downfall is near, that Hashem will take his kingship away from him, and only the name will remain for him.'

The Power of Hashem Against Pharaoh

In contrast, when the hardening of Pharaoh's heart by Hashem is described, it is said: "Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt." In this verse, the text unites the name "Pharaoh" with the title "king of Egypt," indicating that his kingship is in the hands of Hashem, and it is Hashem who hardens his heart. This emphasizes that Hashem is the true king, who even controls a human ruler.

'But in the matter of the hardening of his heart, it says "Hashem hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt," mentioning his kingship and name together to indicate that although Pharaoh is the king of Egypt, Hashem is the great king over him, and He hardens his heart, and his heart is in His hand like streams of water.'

The separation between the name and the kingship conveys a profound message about the temporariness of human rulers. Even one who appears strong and whose kingship seems stable, like Pharaoh, is destined to lose his kingship if it is Hashem's will. In contrast, Hashem is the eternal king.

Rabbeinu Bachya teaches us through subtle distinctions in the text about Hashem's providence and the understanding that human kingship is temporary and dependent on Hashem's kingship. This separation between the name and the kingship serves as a hint to the future decline of Egypt's power while at the same time highlighting Hashem's control over all.

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