Prior to bringing any plagues on the Egyptians, Hashem instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to inform Pharaoh that the Makkah was imminent. Moshe thus told Pharaoh that the Makkah of Dam, Blood, was going to come. Moshe was likewise directed to inform Pharaoh that Tzefardeia, Frogs, were about to invade Mitzrayim. The same was true for all the Makkos, until Makkas Arbeh.
Deviating from the precedent of all the previous Makkos, Hashem did not tell Moshe to inform Pharaoh what the next Makkah would be. The Ramban comments on this point, explaining that the Torah is not a book of narrative and not every detail is mentioned. The preamble to each plague consisted of two parts. In the first, Hashem gives Moshe a message to relay to Pharaoh, and in the second part, Moshe delivers the message. The Torah does not always record both parts.
Prior to the plague of locusts, Hashem instructs Moshe, “Come to Pharaoh, for I have made his heart and the hearts of his servants stubborn so that I can put these signs of Mine in his midst; and so that you may relate in the ears of your son and of your son’s son that I made a mockery of Egypt and My signs that I placed among them – that you may know that I am Hashem” (Shemos 10:1-2).
In pasuk (19:4), Moshe informs Pharaoh that the locusts will be coming. The Ramban writes that we can glean that the nature of the Makkah must have been part of Hashem’s communique. Hashem did instruct Moshe to tell Pharaoh about the impending invasion of locusts, but this information was not included in the earlier pasukim.
What remains curious, however, is why of all the Makkos, it was at Arbeh that the Torah omitted this detail. It is present at all the preceding Makkos, so its absence here is cause for reflection.
Pharaoh Sinned Against Moshe
When Makkas Arbeh began and the swarms of locusts descended upon Mitzrayim, Pharaoh confesses to Moshe Rabbeinu, “I have sinned to Hashem, your G-d and to you” (10:16). Earlier, Pharaoh acknowledged that he had sinned against Hashem, saying, “This time I have sinned; Hashem is the Righteous One, I and my people are the wicked ones” (9:27). Makkas Arbeh is the only time Pharaoh acknowledges that he sinned against Moshe. Why does Pharaoh tell Moshe that he sinned against him at this juncture?
A Mockery of the Egyptians
As noted, Hashem told Moshe, “So that you can relate in the ears of your son and of your son’s son that I made a mockery of Egypt”. The Makkah about to come – heretofore unnamed – will make a mockery of the Mitzriyim. This is the only Makkah that Hashem describes as mocking the Egyptians.
How does Makkas Arbeh specifically make a mockery of the Egyptians more than any of the other nine?
The Locusts Rested on Shabbos
The Torah tells us, וינח בכל גבול מצרים כבד מאד – “And it (the locust swarm) rested in the entire border of Egypt, very severely”. The Ba’al HaTurim directs us to another
