<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Rabbenu Bachya explains why the monarch of Egypt was called "Pharaoh." He says that the letters spelling "afar" (dust/earth) are contained in the name "Pharaoh." Meaning that the Egyptians only believed in the earthiness of existence. For the Egyptians, spirituality did not exist. Pharaoh believed that the magicians in his court were able to perform wonders only by manipulating physicality within the context of nature. The natural order could not be overcome, overridden, or transcended in any way. </font></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Pharaoh is described as a great crocodile, which fits with what the staff turned into when cast before Pharaoh by Aharon, at Moshe's instruction (from God).</font></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; "><span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; ">[It is interesting to note that the Gemara tells us that one is only permitted to give tithes to the Kohen only if he is a Torah scholar. If he is classified as an "aam ha'aretz -- then one is not permitted to give him the tithes. The basis for giving the tithes and gifts to the Kohen is to facilitate his Torah study. Therefore, if he is not engaged in that pursuit, then there is not reason to provide for his other needs].</span></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Courier; ">Adapted from Rabbi Yosef Kalatsky and Torah Tidbits</span></p></body></html>