Midrasch zu Jeschijahu 63:7

(Exodus 15:13) "You have led forth in lovingkindness (chesed)": You have done chesed with us, for we were without (redeeming) deeds, viz. (Isaiah 63:7) "The lovingkindnesses of the L rd will I proclaim, etc.", (Psalms 89:2) "The lovingkindnesses of the L rd will I ever sing, etc." And the world in its very beginning was built only with chesed, viz. (Ibid. 3) "I said that the world (with) chesed will be built." (Exodus, Ibid.) "this people whom You have redeemed": For all the world is Yours, and You have no people but Israel, viz. (Isaiah 43:21) "This people have I created for Myself, etc." And thus is it written (Song of Songs 6:8) "Sixty are the queens and eighty, are the concubines": "Sixty are the queens" — These are the sixty ten thousands (of Israel, who left Egypt); "and eighty, the concubines" — those below the age of twenty; "and young maidens without number" — the minors, who are numberless. Notwithstanding this, (only) "one is My dove" — Moses, who countervails them all. Once, Rebbi was sitting and expounding that one woman bore sixty ten thousands, when a disciple interjected: Rebbi, who is greater, the world or the tzaddik? Rebbi replied: The tzaddik. How so? When Yocheved bore Moses, he countervailed the entire world. And where do we find that Moses countervailed the entire world? In (Numbers 26:4) "as the L rd commended Moses and the children of Israel", and "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel", and (Devarim 34:10) "And there arose no prophet again in Israel like Moses." (Exodus, Ibid.) "You have guided (them) in Your strength": in the merit of the Torah which they are destined to receive, "strength" being Torah, viz. (Psalms 29:4) "The L rd will give strength to His people; the L rd will bless His people with peace" and (Ibid. 99:4) "… and the strength of the King (i.e., Torah) who loves justice."

Rabbi Chakhinai said: The Holy One, blessed be He, set no limit to the kingdoms, except to the Egyptian bondage, and to the kingdom of Babylon. Whence do we know this about the Egyptian bondage? Because it is said, "And they shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years" (Gen. 15:13). The Holy One, blessed be He, dealt according to the abundance of His tender mercy, and He shortened (this time limit) by its half, 210 years. Whence do we know about the Babylonian kingdom? Because it is said, "For thus saith the Lord, After seventy years be accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place" (Jer. 29:10).