Parshas Bo: Rabbeinu Bichaye - Moshe's Impact On Modern Day Egypt's Locust & Crocodiles
During Makas Arbeh, Paroh asked Moshe to daven to take away the dreadful locust. Moshe davened and the Torah says (Bo 10:19), "Lo Nishar Arbeh Echad Bichol Gvul Mitzrayim; "Not a single Arbeh remained in Egypt's borders."
Rabbeinu Bichaye, who lived in the 13th century, says that Moshe's tefila helped to this day. "It is well known," he writes, "that locust do not do damage in Mitzrayim. Even when there is locust that ravage Eretz Yisrael, when they cross the border to Mitzrayim, they do not eat anything. The tefilos of Moshe are trustworthy forever," says Rabbeinu Bichaye.
"Similarly," he says, "to conclude Makas Tzfardei'a, Moshe told Paroh (Vaeira 8:5) that he can rid Mitzrayim of Tzfardei'a, 'Rak BaYi'or Tishoarna.' They will remain in the Nilus.' "
"Even to this day," says Rabbeinu Bichaye, "there is an animal called an 'Altimasa' or crocodile that lives in the Nilus. Every now and then it will come out and swallow two or three people in one shot. It cannot be killed with spears or arrows unless it is struck in its stomach. It has a poison on its body that can harm people even after it is already dead. These are the Tzfardei'a of the Makos. True to Moshe's words, they still remain in the Nilus."
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