Ending an Aliyah on a Negative Note

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Question

This week in Parashat Va'era, the Levi aliyah ends with 'and they did not listen to Moses.' It seems like a negative note, so why does it end on a negative note?

Answer

Shalom Rav,

It is possible, as explained by Ramban and Rabbeinu Bachya on this verse, that the Torah intends to teach us that the reason they did not listen was not due to disbelief, but because of the hard labor. According to their interpretation, these words are a great praise for the people of Israel, as despite seeing with their own eyes that the labor had intensified since Moses spoke to them, they still remained steadfast in their faith.

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