Vaeira – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

Parshat Va’era

“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

By: Rabbi Jeffrey H. Miller

It’s been gnawing at me for about 30 years.  Every year, as we read the story of the Exodus, I wonder – “perseverate” is probably a better word – why the Torah uses three distinct words to convey the (same) idea that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened:

Ex. 7:3, 13:15	I will harden Pharaoh’s heart	וַאֲנִי אַקְשֶׁה אֶת לֵב פַּרְעֹה
Ex. 7:14, 8:11, 8:25, 9:7, 9:34, 10:1	he hardened his heart	וַיַּכְבֵּד פַּרְעֹה אֶת לִבּוֹ
Ex. 4:21, 7:13, 7:22, 8:15, 9:12, 9:35, 10:20, 10:27, 11:10, 14:4, 14:8, 14:17	I will strengthen his heart Pharaoh’s heart remained steadfast	וַאֲנִי אֲחַזֵּק אֶת לִבּוֹ

קשה means “hard”; כבד  means “heavy”, and חזק means “strong”.  These words (used as verbs) are not quite synonyms but in context, they do convey the same basic meaning.

The heart, which in Biblical Hebrew is the seat of reason (not emotion), is supposed to be pliant and malleable; capable of adapting to changing circumstances.  The irony is that adding strength to the heart actually weakens it.  Much as a bridge or tree that does not sway with the wind is doomed to snap, so too, a heart that is heavy and hard can only break when faced with a strong headwind.  Hard arteries are not good for the body; likewise, a heavy, hard, strong, rigid and inflexible mind is equally bad for the soul.

Strength, however, is an asset for other parts of the body.  Strong arms are most definitely a plus, as the Torah notes more than once with two of our verbs:

And the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for with a mighty hand he will send them out, and with a mighty hand he will drive them out of his land.” Ex. 6:1

וַיֹּאמֶר ה אֶל מֹשֶׁה עַתָּה תִרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶעֱשֶׂה לְפַרְעֹה כִּי בְיָד חֲזָקָה יְשַׁלְּחֵם וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה יְגָרְשֵׁם מֵאַרְצוֹ

On the other hand, ‘heavy’ hands are not particularly helpful, especially when it means the difference between victory and defeat, as the Torah recounts in connection with the Amalek War:

It came to pass that when Moses would raise his hand, Israel would prevail, and when he would lay down his hand, Amalek would prevail.	וְהָיָ֗ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ים משֶׁ֛ה יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנִ֛יחַ יָד֖וֹ וְגָבַ֥ר עֲמָלֵֽק:
Now Moses hands were heavy; so they took a stone and placed it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one from this [side], and one from that [side]; so he was with his hands in faith until sunset.	וִידֵ֤י משֶׁה֙ כְּבֵדִ֔ים וַיִּקְחוּ־אֶ֛בֶן וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ תַחְתָּ֖יו וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב עָלֶ֑יהָ וְאַֽהֲרֹ֨ן וְח֜וּר תָּֽמְכ֣וּ בְיָדָ֗יו מִזֶּ֤ה אֶחָד֙ וּמִזֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י יָדָ֛יו אֱמוּנָ֖ה עַד־בֹּ֥א הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ:
Ex. 17:11-12

A ‘heavy” mouth and tongue are not to be coveted either.  When God first summons Moshe at the burning bush, Moshe demurs, telling God (what He surely knew before selecting Moshe):

Moses said to the Lord, “I beseech You, O Lord. I am not a man of words, neither from yesterday nor from the day before yesterday, nor from the time You have spoken to Your servant, for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue.”

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל ה בִּי אֲדֹנָי לֹא אִישׁ דְּבָרִים אָנֹכִי גַּם מִתְּמוֹל גַּם מִשִּׁלְשֹׁם גַּם מֵאָז דַּבֶּרְךָ אֶל עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי כְבַד פֶּה וּכְבַד לָשׁוֹן אָנֹכִי

I am still looking for a good explanation for the use of three different verbs to describe Pharaoh’s heart, but I am somewhat satisfied – for the time being – with an insight offered to me by my son, Rabbi Avi Miller.  He notes that in each of two examples above, Moshe’s physical disability – heaviness of hands and speech – are overcome with the help of his loving, faithful, loyal, older brother, Aharon.  Aharon supported Moshe’s weary arms in the epic battle with Amalek, and he gave voice to Moshe by delivering to Pharaoh God’s Messages of freedom.

Perhaps now we can finally understand one of the most enigmatic stories in Chumash.  When Aharon’s two sons tragically died, the Torah relates that Moshe – remember that he had a ‘heavy mouth and tongue” – told the following to his brother:

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, [when He said], ‘I will be sanctified through those near to Me, and before all the people I will be honored.’ ” And Aaron was silent.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֜ה אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֗ן ה֩וּא אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר ה | לֵאמֹר֙ בִּקְרֹבַ֣י אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶכָּבֵ֑ד וַיִּדֹּ֖ם אַֽהֲרֹֽן

The usual translation of אֶכָּבֵ֑ד (in this context) is “honored”.  Moshe seems to be telling his grieving brother that he should be comforted in knowing that his sons’ deaths was God’s Will.  To this, all Aharon can do is fall silent.  Many commentators also struggle to explain Moshe’s point.

When we understand אֶכָּבֵ֑ד as heavy, however, Moshe, was saying something quite beautiful.  He gently reminded his brother of the time that Aharon was there to lift up Moshe’s weary arms.  He recalled the many times that Aharon gave voice to Moshe’s words when the greatest leader was stammering and stumbling under the weight of his own infirmity and insecurity.

Moshe now spoke with a light heart that eased his tongue and his brother’s heart.  He spoke with brotherly love, telling Aharon that he did not have to shoulder the heaviness of grief alone.  The nation would be there for him.  And so too would his younger brother.

That Pharaoh suffered from an unnaturally ‘hard’ heart was certainly a factor in evil choice that Pharaoh made.  But it was not the only factor, or even the most significant one.  Pharaoh’s true fault lied in a situation entirely of his own making.  He was unwilling to let anyone get close enough to lift him up.  He would not open his heart to someone who could temper his heart and help him get out of his own way.

Every human being needs to a brother like Aharon or Moshe, or a sister, or a parent, or spouse or friend, who can lift us up when our hearts and hands and tongues are too heavy and weary to face the harsh realities of life.  Pharaoh needed such a BFF but he refused to allow it because he fancied himself a god.

It is not weakness to need the support of someone else.  Midrash is replete with examples of HaShem taking counsel with His Heavenly assembly, and the Torah is filled with stories of prophets and kings and leaders seeking out advice and guidance.

A strong Leader is not afraid to show that he needs help.  After all, no man is an island onto himself.

Shabbat Shalom!