Stealing Knowledge

In parshas Beshallach, Pharaoh and his army chased after the Israelites after they had fled Egypt. But after the 10th plague, Pharaoh himself had told Moses and the nation to go. Why the sudden change of heart? In fact, Pharaoh did not flip-flop. Moses had told him that the nation was only going into the desert for three days to serve God and then they would return. When three days elapsed and they didn’t return, Pharaoh pursued them.

Why did Moses lie to Pharaoh? Why didn’t he tell him the Israelites true intent. Egypt had been decimated by the ten plagues, and Pharaoh was in no position to resist any further. He would not have been able to stop them if they told him honestly that they would not return?

Lying is referred to as “geneivas Daas,” which literally means “stealing knowledge.” “Daas/knowledge,” also connotes connection or fusion, as in the phrase “to know someone biblically,” which is a euphemism for sexual intimacy. This derives from the verse, “V’haadam yaDA es Chava ishto/And Adam KNEW Eve” (Genesis 4:1).

Pharaoh represented “Daas tachton/lower connection,” or connection to the lower worlds. When Moses first approached him and delivered God’s command to let His people go, Pharaoh responded “Who is the Lord that I should heed His voice to let Israel out? I do not KNOW the Lord,” (Exodus 4:2). The Sages note that the name of God that Pharaoh uses here is A-donai, which represents the higher and transcendent aspect of Hashem. Pharaoh was familiar with E-lohim, the lower and immanent manifestation of God within the world, but he did not know A-donai. This demonstrates that he had “Daas tachton,” knowledge of, and connection to, the lower worlds and the forces of power that function within the creation. But he did not have “Daas Elyon,” knowledge of, and connection to, the Godliness that operates beyond the rules and confines of the natural world.

In order to truly leave Egypt, one must break her/his connection to the limited physical world. This is the deeper implication of “geneivas daas/stealing knowledge and connection.” One cannot work within the framework of the world if s/he wants to free her/himself from its subjugation. Pharaoh, the ruling power of the limited world, must be broken, not reasoned or negotiated with.

The Rebbe teaches that there will always be that aspect of ourselves – the Pharaoh within each of us – that does not want us to transcend our ego and act selflessly. We must not wait for that part of us to agree to our liberation. We must break its daas/connection, and steal ourselves away so that we can be free to express our essential Godly nature.

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