In Shmos 12:42, the Torah tells us twice that the night of Pesach is guarded. Rashi interprets them to mean (1) HaShem guarded the night and waited for it to come in order to fulfill His promise to Avraham to redeem us on this night; and (2) it’s guarded to protect us (for all generations) from mazakim, just like the Jews in Egypt were guarded from the mashchis. As these enigmatic claims raise numerous difficulties, this episode analyzes both of these facets of Leil Shimurim. It also discusses the Ibn Ezra’s interpretation of this passuk.
