Parshat Bo

Ra’ah normally means bad, but here Rashi makes a surprising observation. Rashi writes that Pharaoh’s astrologers named a cloud ‘ra’ah’. Pharaoh said this cloud would meet the Jews in the wilderness and be a sign of blood and slaughter. Therefore, after the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses, when pleading with G-d on behalf of the people, asked G-d to spare the people lest the Egyptians say that ra’ah had influence in bringing the people out of Egypt. After this, G-d reconsidered, so to speak (see Shemot chapter 32).

The significant blood is instead the 'dam mila’- the blood of circumcision - a reference to Joshua, who when entering the Land of Israel and camping at Gilgal, orchestrated the circumcision of those men who had not been circumcised in the desert, due to the dangerous conditions in the desert. The Book of Joshua states (5,9), that on the day of that circumcision, G-d removed the shame of Egypt – that the Egyptians saw a final refutation of any idolatrous power which they may have ascribed to astrology. At first, the phraseology in the Book of Joshua may appear confusing, but Rashi’s commentary provides a clear link back to the Book of Shemot.