BESHALLACH: Demolishing the Conception of Deception
In politics there is the concept of what is spoken: “this is what I say” – and what is unspoken but understood: “this is what we know I mean!”
When Moses is presented with his mission to bring Bnei Yisrael out of slavery, G-D commands him to tell Pharaoh “G-D, the G-d of the Hebrews encountered us. And now please let us go on a three-day journey in the desert and bring offerings to G-D” (Exodus 3:18). Prior to the signs and the plagues, Moses delivers this message to Pharaoh.
Was this not a deceptive request? A Jew is not permitted to deceive anyone, Jew or Gentile. Yet there was never any intention that the people would return after three days.
If we examine later texts, and particularly a verse in our Sidra, we shall recognise this as a classic case of what is said and what is unsaid but clearly understood by all parties.
Prior to the eighth plague, Pharaoh agrees to let the men go. We can almost hear the sarcasm dripping from his lips as he says “Please! Let the men go and serve G-D. That’s what you want!” (Exodus 10:11). Tellingly, he does not even wait for Moses to reply before driving them out of his presence (ibid). He knows what Moses’ reply is going to be because he understands very well what Moses desires!
Following the ninth plague, Pharaoh offers to release everyone – “only your flocks and cattle shall remain behind” (10:24). Moses’ response is equivocal “Our livestock as well must go with us ….because from it we shall take to serve G-D and we don’t know ma na’avod et-HaShem how we are to serve G-D until we arrive there. (Ma can also mean “how” and that would appear to be the meaning here as otherwise the text would say al ma or be-ma).
Again surely a case of “what I say” and “what you know I mean”. Maybe when we arrive there G-D will say “no going back!” That Pharaoh does know what Moses means is again apparent from his suddenly furious, imperious response – “don’t dare show your face here again!” Why is a three-day journey to offer animals so threatening to Pharaoh? Only because of the “with the proviso” clause – “we don’t know what will happen until we get there”.
However, the clearest proof that Pharaoh clearly understood Moses’ intent is provided in this week’s Sidra. On the third day following the Exodus, G-D tells the people to “turn back ….so that Pharaoh will say of the Bnei Yisrael ‘they are lost in the country, the desert has closed in on them’” (14:3). If Pharaoh remotely believed the three-day-journey story, why should he come to such a conclusion? They’ve done their thee-day stint, they’re returning to Egypt! Only if Pharaoh has not the slightest doubt that the people have no intention of returning would he despatch a huge army to forcibly bring them back – which, of course, he does with calamitous results for him and for them.
The verdict is as clear as day. Moses and the Bnei Yisrael have no charge of “deception” to answer!