"The Eternal took as out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with a great manifestation, and with signs and wonders."

"The Eternal took us out of Egypt," not by a ministering angel, not by a fiery angel and not through a messenger, but only by the glory of God. Thus it is said: "In that night I will pass through the land of Egypt, and I will smite every first-born in the land of Egypt, from man to beast, and I will carry out judgments against all the gods of Egypt, I the Eternal." "I will pass through the land of Egypt," I and not an angel; "And I will smite every first-born in the land of Egypt," I and not a fiery angel; "And I will carry out judgments against all the gods of Egypt," I and not a messenger; "I the Eternal," I and no other.

"With a strong hand," this refers to the dever (cattle plague) as it is said: "Behold, the hand of the Eternal will be upon your livestock in the field, upon the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds and the flocks, a very severe pestilence." "And with an outstretched arm," this refers to the sword, as it is said: "His sword was drawn, in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem." "And with a great manifestation," this refers to the revelation of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) to Israel, as it is said: "Has any God ever tried to take a nation from the midst of another nation, with trials, signs and wonders, with war and with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terrors, like all that the Eternal your God, did for you in Egypt before your eyes?"

"And with signs," this refers to the staff of Moses, as it is said: "Take into your hand this staff with which you shall perform the signs." "And wonders," this refers to the blood, as it is said: "And I shall show wonders in heaven and on earth."

Spill three drops of wine.

Blood  דָם

Fire  וָאֵשׁ

Pillars of Smoke   וְתִימְרוֹת עָשָׁן

Another explanation is as follows: "Strong hand" indicates two plagues; "Outstretched arm," another two; "Great manifestation," another two; "Signs," another two; and "Wonders," another two. Thus, we have the ten plagues that the Holy One brought upon the Egyptians in Egypt.


haggadah Section: -- Ten Plagues