Why “Vayehi” Signals Regret: Pharaoh’s Lesson in Missed Opportunities

“And it came to pass when Pharaoh sent the people, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was near…” (Exodus 13:17)

The commentators note that the word “Vayehi” (“and it came to pass”) often indicates sorrow. At first glance, this is puzzling. The Exodus from Egypt was a moment of immense joy for the Jewish people after generations of suffering. Why, then, is it introduced with a term that implies sadness?

Several explanations are offered, including those of the Chaim ibn Attar, and we will highlight a few of them.

The Regret of Pharaoh

One explanation is that the sorrow does not refer to Israel, but to Pharaoh.

As long as the Israelites were in Egypt, Pharaoh forced them into various forms of labor. Yet he failed to use their talents wisely. Instead of harnessing their intelligence and organizational abilities to build something lasting and meaningful, he assigned them pointless labor.

They built the cities of Pithom and Raamses, which were projects that did not endure. According to the Sages, whatever they built would collapse and disappear, forcing them to rebuild endlessly. The entire purpose of their labor was simply to afflict them, not to create anything of value.

After the Israelites left Egypt, Pharaoh suddenly realized what he had lost. He saw how organized and capable they were — how each tribe moved with precision, and how even at the splitting of the sea each group followed its own path in perfect order.

Pharaoh regretted his choices. “What a loss,” he might have thought. “I had a wise and capable nation in my hands, and I wasted their potential on meaningless work.” This realization filled him with sorrow, hence, Vayehi.

The Parable of the Rotten Fish

The Sages illustrate this idea with a powerful parable.

A king sent his servant to buy a large fish. The servant found one quickly, but it was old and foul-smelling. Too lazy to search further, he bought it anyway, thinking he could mask the smell with spices.

When the king was served the fish, its stench was unbearable. Furious, he punished the servant and gave him three options: receive fifty lashes, eat the rotten fish, or pay a large fine.

The servant chose to eat the fish to avoid losing his money. After suffering through half of it, he gave up and chose the lashes. After enduring many blows, he finally surrendered and agreed to pay the fine.

In the end, he suffered all three punishments, when he could have avoided them by making the right choice from the start.

Pharaoh’s Missed Opportunity

This is exactly what happened with Pharaoh.

He had the opportunity to release the Israelites early and avoid the plagues. Instead, he resisted. As a result, he suffered devastating punishments, paid a heavy price as Egypt was emptied of its wealth, and ultimately had to send the Israelites away anyway.

The sorrow expressed in “Vayehi” reflects Pharaoh’s realization: “I ended up losing everything. If only I had acted wisely from the beginning.”

Seeing the Future

From this, we learn a profound lesson. God gives every person choices. The key is to listen carefully to His will and to think beyond the immediate moment.

True wisdom is not just seeing the present, but anticipating the consequences of our actions. As the Sages say, “Who is wise? One who sees the future.”

Our goal should be to align ourselves with God’s will, to act with faith and clarity, and to recognize that the right choice now can spare us much pain later.

A Second Insight: The Loss of Revelation

Another explanation, offered by Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, presents a surprising perspective.

He suggests that the sorrow belongs to Pharaoh for a different reason. While the Israelites were still in Egypt, Pharaoh witnessed extraordinary miracles, beyond anything imaginable. Despite his resistance, he experienced direct encounters with divine power.

When the Israelites left, those miracles ceased. Pharaoh lamented: “As long as they were here, I saw wonders. Now that they are gone, I will no longer witness such revelations.”

Even Pharaoh, who initially denied God, was eventually affected by what he saw. After witnessing the plagues, he asked the Israelites to bless him: “And you shall bless me as well.”

This reflects a broader truth. A person may begin distant from faith, even dismissive of it. But when confronted with powerful experiences and moments of clarity, insight, or transformation, their perspective can change.

May we learn to recognize the opportunities placed before us, to choose wisely, and to strengthen our faith and trust in God.

And may we soon witness the complete redemption of Israel.