שמות, פרק ט׳, פסוק ל״ב

Amidst the sheer devastation of the plague of hail, a small glimmer of hope remained in the Egyptian fields. While the flax and barley were completely wiped out, the wheat and spelt survived. The survival of these specific crops is understood in two primary ways. One perspective suggests they were simply late-blooming; their stalks were still soft and flexible, allowing them to bend and withstand the crushing blows of the ice [רש"י, ביאור רש"ר]. Another approach maintains that these crops were still entirely hidden underground in the dark, having not yet sprouted above the soil [אבן עזרא, חזקוני, אבן עזרא הקצר]. Botanically, spelt is considered a type of wheat, and the two share distinct characteristics that separate them from barley and flax [פרדס יוסף, משכיל לדוד]. Furthermore, the unique climate of Egypt, nourished by the Nile River and the hot sun, allowed these specific crops to ripen much faster than they would in other regions [הטור הארוך].

This agricultural distinction raises a fascinating question about the boundary between nature and miracle. If the crops were soft or safely underground, their survival might seem like a natural consequence. However, the primary approach among commentators is that their preservation was entirely miraculous. The intense freezing cold of the hail, combined with the blazing fire that accompanied it, should have completely scorched and destroyed even the hidden roots beneath the earth [רבנו בחיי, תולדות יצחק, פענח רזא]. Even if soft grasses could bend, they still should have sustained partial damage from such a violent storm. The profound miracle was that the wheat and spelt emerged completely unharmed [גור אריה, דברי דוד]. A unique perspective suggests this miracle also served as a moral distinction between different types of labor. The crops that were destroyed had been planted through the forced labor of the Israelites. In contrast, the wheat and spelt, which were planted by the Egyptians themselves after the brutal enslavement had ceased about six months prior, were spared as a divine sign [נחלת יעקב].

The preservation of these crops was not a random oversight, but a calculated part of God's overarching plan. Many see this as a direct preparation for the impending plague of locusts. God, in His wisdom, orchestrated the destruction so that the hail would shatter the hard, unyielding crops, while leaving the soft, surviving vegetation to be consumed later by the swarming locusts [רשב"ם, חזקוני, בכור שור, ביאור שטיינזלץ, משכיל לדוד].

Beyond the physical plagues, the surviving wheat and spelt offer deep insight into Pharaoh's psychology. Some commentators view the mention of these spared crops as part of Moses' direct confrontation with the king. Moses uses this reality to rebuke Pharaoh, pointing out that the king's supposed fear of God is not genuine because he still has a remaining food source to rely on. The surviving harvest is essentially left in God's hands as a deposit; if the Egyptians continue in their foolishness and sin, this final lifeline will also be eradicated [רמב"ן, דברי דוד]. Ultimately, the survival of the crops exposes the deep-seated wickedness of Pharaoh. Even though a remnant of his agricultural wealth was miraculously spared and the devastating plague was halted through Moses' prayer, the king still maliciously chose to harden his heart [ספורנו].