The staff and the wand

Today, in my midrash class on the weekly Torah portion, that I love, we looked at the plagues. Not just the plagues but the use of the Mateh (rod or staff) in helping to conduct or facilitate the smiting of Egypt. The staff is used for the first 3, then not for 3, and then again for 3 and not for 1. It is interesting to note that when Aaron or Moses causes the plague (at God's command), they use the staff but when God causes the plague, Aaron and Moses' hands are busy with something else.

The connection was made to the accronym at the end of the recitation of the plagues at the seder דצ'ך עד'ש באח'ב as being 3 with staff, 3 without, and 3 with plus one.

The discussion then shifted to what is this Mateh? Shemot Rabbah teaches that when God asks Moses what is in his hand, Moshe's hand was empty and then lo and behold, there was a staff.
This staff could be...
- a stam stick (just a stick)
- a stick for when Moses served as a shephard which he could then use to "herd" the nation.
- also means tribe so a preview of what to come

Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer takes the staff even further to say that it was created as part of the creation of the world and that it was passed down to those who were worthy could use it. (sort of like the sword-in-the-stone)

The Yalkut Shimoni adds that today, the Mateh is lost or stolen and only someone who is worthy or really needs it will be able to find it and use it. And Kassuto emphasizes that it is not the Mateh or Moshe that have the special powers but rather God who has the power.

This took us to the final part of the class and the major highlight- Harry Potter. The teacher distributed the part of the 7th book where it talks about the wands, the wand owners, and the power of the wands (ch 24). This connected to the Mateh in a few ways.
One- Who has the power? Harry? The wand? You-Know-Who?
Two- How is the owner chosen? By the wand? By destiny?
Three- What is the power of the wand? Is it in the holder? The owner? The wand itself?

Oh I think that there is a sermon in there somewhere...