דברים, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ט

As the Israelites prepared to enter Canaan, they faced formidable enemies and required profound reassurance. To instill this confidence, God directed them to rely on the historical memory of the Exodus from Egypt, presenting His past actions as a guarantee for the future. The initial phase of this divine intervention involved a series of trials. These events served as tests where Pharaoh attempted to challenge God, only for God to decisively prove His supremacy in response [רש״י, משכיל לדוד]. Broadly, these trials acted as definitive proofs of God's active providence in the world [רש״ר הירש]. Alternatively, this phase can be understood as a physical weakening; the plagues systematically melted away the bodies and strength of the Egyptians, stripping them of their ability to fight [העמק דבר]. Simultaneously, these trials involved specific miracles that shielded the Israelites from the devastating effects of the plagues themselves [אדרת אליהו]. On a strategic level, this process involved God hardening Pharaoh's heart to draw him into a direct confrontation, a divine tactic that would eventually be repeated with the kings of Canaan [מלבי״ם].

Following the trials came clear signs and profound wonders. The primary approach among commentators is that the signs were distinct markers intended to verify Moses' mission, such as turning a staff into a snake or water into blood, and to predict future events. The wonders, conversely, were the miraculous plagues themselves that completely upended the laws of nature. Together, these supernatural events were not merely punitive but educational, designed to teach the Egyptians about the true essence of God [רש״י, אדרת אליהו, רש״ר הירש, משכיל לדוד].

Certain aspects of the Exodus are set apart from the general plagues because they represent an exceptionally powerful and unusual display of force [משכיל לדוד]. The overwhelming power demonstrated by God is traditionally identified with the plague of pestilence. This specific plague was unique because it accurately distinguished between those who feared God and those who did not, and a hidden element of this pestilence actually accompanied every other plague that struck Egypt [רש״י, שפתי חכמים, ברטנורא, משכיל לדוד, ברכת אשר על התורה]. Conceptually, this immense power symbolizes the supernatural force that compelled Pharaoh to release the Israelites completely against his will, demonstrating that God does not allow anyone to withhold what rightfully belongs to Him [מלבי״ם, אדרת אליהו, רש״ר הירש].

Complementing this was a sweeping, overt strike, often identified as the sword of the plague of the firstborn. This strike is interpreted either as a direct divine blow or as a dramatic historical event where the Egyptian firstborn, realizing their impending doom, took up swords and fought their own fathers to force the release of the Israelites [רש״י, שפתי חכמים, ברטנורא]. Spiritually, this overt action represents a public revelation where God acts from above with superhuman power to save the Israelites, stepping in even when the people fear they lack sufficient spiritual merit to warrant such salvation [מלבי״ם, אדרת אליהו, רש״ר הירש].

Ultimately, the events of the past serve as an absolute blueprint for the future. By virtue of the same extraordinary power that brought the Israelites out of Egypt, God promises to act during the conquest of the land [ביאור יש״ר, ברכת אשר על התורה]. Just as overt miracles occurred in Egypt, similar wonders will take place in Canaan, such as the splitting of the Jordan River and the stopping of the sun [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, העמק דבר]. However, unlike the Exodus, which was characterized by entirely direct divine revelation, the wars in Canaan will also see God working through natural agents, such as swarms of hornets, to secure victory [אדרת אליהו]. The reminder of this divine protection is not a declaration that the Israelites will inevitably be terrified of their enemies. Rather, it offers a profound reassurance: should they ever feel fear when facing the inhabitants of the land, they need only remember the unmatched divine power that has already accompanied and delivered them [ביאור יש״ר].