שמות, פרק ו׳, פסוק ט׳

The initial promise of freedom planted great hope among the Israelites, but the sudden intensification of their enslavement shattered their spirits. When Moses returns to them, he delivers God's message exactly as he received it, speaking directly to the people without Aaron acting as an intermediary [כלי יקר, רלב״ג]. However, the harsh reality of their suffering has brought them to a physical and psychological breaking point, rendering them completely incapable of absorbing his promises.

The primary approach among commentators is that the Israelites' refusal to listen does not stem from heresy or a fundamental lack of faith, as they had already believed Moses during his first visit. Rather, their deafness is an inability to accept consolation. Sunken in profound despair, they lost all hope that redemption from such dire circumstances was even possible [רמב״ן, רש״י, רבנו בחיי, שפתי חכמים, ביאור יש״ר]. Other perspectives suggest they were simply paralyzed by fear. Pharaoh’s severe threats and warnings against Moses' words terrified them, making them afraid to attempt an escape without the king's explicit permission [כלי יקר, חזקוני]. Alternatively, their reluctance may have been rooted in a difficulty detaching from the Egyptian idolatry in which they were immersed [הדר זקנים, קצור בעל הטורים], or because their minds were entirely fixated on immediate relief, leaving no capacity for a grand spiritual vision of a future in a promised land [קונטרס חיבה יתירה].

Their inability to hear Moses is attributed to two distinct but complementary factors: a shortness of spirit and grueling labor. Physically, this shortness of spirit manifested as actual shallow breathing. Overwhelmed by anxiety and panic, they could not draw deep breaths, making it impossible for them to endure long speeches or even formulate a response [רש״י, שד״ל, העמק דבר]. Psychologically, it reflected deep depression, impatience, and the bitter disappointment of an extended exile. The crushing of their newly awakened hope created an unbearable emotional crisis [אבן עזרא, רשב״ם, אור החיים, קאסוטו, רש״ר הירש]. Some add that this also indicated a spiritual deficiency—a lack of perfect trust in God, as true faith typically expands a person's heart rather than constricting it [ספורנו, אור החיים].

Alongside this emotional anguish was the brutal reality of their physical labor. The sheer exhaustion and pain drained every ounce of their strength. Egyptian taskmasters drove them relentlessly, denying them even a single moment to pause, think, or reflect on what Moses was saying [רמב״ן, ספורנו, העמק דבר]. It was the combination of these two forces that ultimately defeated them. A person might withstand emotional distress alone, or endure grueling labor if their mind is at peace. However, when the body collapses under a physical burden and the soul is simultaneously crushed by disappointment, the capacity to absorb good news completely vanishes [מלבי״ם, גור אריה].

Recognizing the depth of their trauma, God is not angry with the Israelites. While Moses misinterprets their unresponsiveness as a rejection of redemption—using it to argue that Pharaoh will certainly not listen to him—God knows their reaction stems entirely from profound suffering, not rebellion [כלי יקר, צאינה וראינה]. Nevertheless, beneath the surface of this narrative lies a subtle rebuke directed at Moses himself. God reminds him of the Patriarchs, who endured hardships and delays in the fulfillment of divine promises yet accepted them with absolute faith, never questioning His ways. This stands in sharp contrast to Moses, who previously challenged God by asking why He brought harm to the people. This multi-layered meaning is often compared to a hammer striking a rock, scattering countless sparks of fire. The narrative simultaneously conveys the plain, tragic reality of a broken people alongside profound lessons regarding faith and the heavy burdens of leadership [רש״י, מזרחי, גור אריה, משכיל לדוד, דברי דוד].