The requirement to recall “that you were a slave in Egypt” enables an individual to avoid feelings of conceit and pride. To what can this be compared?

There was a king who set out on a hunting trip. As he was exploring the fields in the hope of finding game, he came upon a shepherd in a meadow who was sitting next to his flock of sheep and playing a flute.

The king was delighted by the pleasant tunes that were coming from the flute, and he found himself unable to move from his place. After time had passed, the shepherd finished his melody. The king approached the shepherd and began to speak with him and discovered that he was very wise.

The king was amazed by the shepherd’s complexity of thought, and he invited him to come with him to his palace. The shepherd agreed and went with the king.

From then on, the shepherd lived in the royal palace, and the king asked his advice regarding all matters. In time, the shepherd rose to become one of the king’s closest advisers.

The other advisors were jealous and filled with resentment towards the shepherd who was so beloved by the king. They decided to slander him, informing the king that his trusted advisor had stolen from the royal treasury.

The king summoned the shepherd for an interrogation, but he managed to convince all those who were present that he was an honest and upright individual. However, the jealous advisors still managed to persuade the king to conduct a search of the shepherd’s quarters, in hopes of finding some evidence of theft.

They all went together to search the shepherd’s quarters, but found nothing more than a modestly furnished home, lacking any lavishness whatsoever. They went from room to room finding nothing suspicious, until they came to a room that was sealed by both lock and bolt.

“What is inside this room?” asked the king.

The shepherd fell to his knees and began to plead with the king. “Your Highness, I beg of you, do not ask me to show you what lies beyond this door! I am embarrassed by what you will find there.”

The shepherd’s pleas only served to strengthen the king’s suspicions, and he demanded that the door be opened.

When the door was opened, they glanced around the room but saw nothing more than the old clothing of a shepherd and a flute. The king and his officers were confused.

“Your Highness,” explained the former shepherd. “from the day that I came to your palace, I have not grown the least bit proud or conceited over the importance that I have achieved. This is due to my daily visits to this room, when I sit here and play my flute, recalling my days as a simple shepherd.”

So it is that remembering “that you were, a slave in Egypt” will prevent a Jewish person from becoming arrogant. For whenever he feels himself swelling with pride, he will recall his days as a lowly slave in Egypt and the haughtiness will thus be banished from his heart.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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