Killing of the firstborn males

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1. The Enslavement of Israel and the Death Sentence for Newborn Boys

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   A close look at the enslavement of Am Yisrael in the opening chapters of Shemot, reveals that the story is told in two parallel parts, offering a contrast of the two types of edicts.

2. “Who Passed Over the Houses of the Children of Israel”

   Rabbi Yaakov Medan

   Did God smite the Egyptian firstborns on His own, or through an angel? What does it mean that God passed over the houses of Israel? A simple reading of the text suggests that God’s “passing over” means that He refrained from taking action. When God smote the firstborn of Egypt, He refrained from harming the firstborn of Israel. However, we may actually suggest that God passed over them in the sense that His Shekhina hovered over them. The act of destruction He handed over to an agent, But God was not prepared to hand over to an agent the task of protecting His firstborn son, Israel. 

3. The Deaths in the Plague of Baal Peor - Hesed in the Midst of Din

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 12 minutes

   After the sin of Ba'al Pe'or, there is a plague that kills many of Bnei Yisrael.  In the pasuk about the number of those who died in the plague, the Torah's phrasing is unusual. This brings us to examine the concept of a plague in the Torah. We look at the principles of Divine intervention in cases of plagues in the Torah, including that of Pesach Mitzrayim and Makkat Bekhorot. We find that even when there's din- strict judgment, there is also Divine hessed - lovingkindness.

4. A Miracle Within a Miracle

   Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky

5. Parshat Bo Part 5: The Plague of the Firstborn and Leaving Egypt

   Dr. Yael Ziegler | 36 minutes

   This section of verses describes the commandment and implementation of the preparations for the Plague of the Firstborn and the subsequent departure from Egypt. This podcast discusses the focus on blood in this section, symbolizing birth rather than death, and symbolizing the rejection of Egyptian  worship and the acceptance of the worship of God. 

   Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com