וְשַׂמְתִּ֙יהָ֙ בְּיַד־מוֹגַ֔יִךְ אֲשֶׁר־אָמְר֥וּ לְנַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ שְׁחִ֣י וְנַעֲבֹ֑רָה וַתָּשִׂ֤ימִי כָאָ֙רֶץ֙ גֵּוֵ֔ךְ וְכַח֖וּץ לַעֹבְרִֽים׃ (ס)
Y ponerlo he en mano de tus angustiadores que dijeron á tu alma: Encórvate, y pasaremos. Y tú pusiste tu cuerpo como tierra, y como camino, á los que pasan.
Shemot Rabbah
“The Lord said to Moses: Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him: So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, and they will serve Me. For this time, I will send all My plagues against your heart and upon your servants and against your people, so that you will know that there is none like Me on the entire earth” (Exodus 9:13-14).
“The Lord said to Moses: Rise early in the morning” – that is what is written: “Behold [hen], God is exalted in His power, who teaches like Him?” (Job 36:22). Rabbi Berekhya said: Hen means one, as in the Greek language, one is called hen. In other words, our God is one. “Exalted in his power” – He increases the strength of the righteous to perform His will. And “who teaches like Him?” – as He teaches the path of repentance. So you find with Moses, whom the Holy One blessed be He strengthened to go on His mission and perform His commands. He taught the wicked Pharaoh to repent because He did not want to send the plague until he forewarns him to [allow him to] repent, as it is written: “Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh.” He would give Moses strength to rise early and stand before Pharaoh, and he taught the wicked Pharaoh about the path of repentance, as it is written: “And say to him: So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews…. For this time…”
“Why isn’t it stated here “behold, he is going out to the water” (Exodus 8:16)?1This was the previous place where Moses was instructed to “rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh.” Once Pharaoh saw that when he would go out to the water, Moses would precede him on the path, he refrained and did not go out, so that Moses would not encounter him. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: Go to him early, before he leaves his house.
“For I could have now extended My hand and afflicted you and your people with pestilence, and you would be eliminated from the earth” (Exodus 9:15).
“For this time (Exodus 9:14)…For I could have now extended My hand…” The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Woe, wicked one, do you believe that I am unable to eradicate you from the world? Learn from the plague of pestilence. When I sent that pestilence, had I sent it upon you and on your people, you would have been eradicated from the land. However, I only sent it upon you in order to show you the power of My might, and so that you would tell of My strength throughout the land.’ That is what is written: “However, for this I have sustained you [in order to show you My power, and so that My renown will be told of throughout the earth]” (Exodus 9:16).
“You continue to oppress My people, not letting them go” (Exodus 9:17).
“You continue to oppress [mistolel]2The word mistolel is obscure. The midrash understands it to be derived from the root s-l-l, and thus it means literally to cause to be crushed, i.e., in the manner that a road is levelled. Others understand it to be derived from the root s-l-s-l, with mistolel therefore meaning “exalt oneself.” My people.” He would make them like a road [mesila] on which everyone treads, as you say: “…who said to your soul: Bow down, so we may pass, and set down your body like the ground” (Isaiah 51:23).
“The Lord said to Moses: Rise early in the morning” – that is what is written: “Behold [hen], God is exalted in His power, who teaches like Him?” (Job 36:22). Rabbi Berekhya said: Hen means one, as in the Greek language, one is called hen. In other words, our God is one. “Exalted in his power” – He increases the strength of the righteous to perform His will. And “who teaches like Him?” – as He teaches the path of repentance. So you find with Moses, whom the Holy One blessed be He strengthened to go on His mission and perform His commands. He taught the wicked Pharaoh to repent because He did not want to send the plague until he forewarns him to [allow him to] repent, as it is written: “Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh.” He would give Moses strength to rise early and stand before Pharaoh, and he taught the wicked Pharaoh about the path of repentance, as it is written: “And say to him: So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews…. For this time…”
“Why isn’t it stated here “behold, he is going out to the water” (Exodus 8:16)?1This was the previous place where Moses was instructed to “rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh.” Once Pharaoh saw that when he would go out to the water, Moses would precede him on the path, he refrained and did not go out, so that Moses would not encounter him. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: Go to him early, before he leaves his house.
“For I could have now extended My hand and afflicted you and your people with pestilence, and you would be eliminated from the earth” (Exodus 9:15).
“For this time (Exodus 9:14)…For I could have now extended My hand…” The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Woe, wicked one, do you believe that I am unable to eradicate you from the world? Learn from the plague of pestilence. When I sent that pestilence, had I sent it upon you and on your people, you would have been eradicated from the land. However, I only sent it upon you in order to show you the power of My might, and so that you would tell of My strength throughout the land.’ That is what is written: “However, for this I have sustained you [in order to show you My power, and so that My renown will be told of throughout the earth]” (Exodus 9:16).
“You continue to oppress My people, not letting them go” (Exodus 9:17).
“You continue to oppress [mistolel]2The word mistolel is obscure. The midrash understands it to be derived from the root s-l-l, and thus it means literally to cause to be crushed, i.e., in the manner that a road is levelled. Others understand it to be derived from the root s-l-s-l, with mistolel therefore meaning “exalt oneself.” My people.” He would make them like a road [mesila] on which everyone treads, as you say: “…who said to your soul: Bow down, so we may pass, and set down your body like the ground” (Isaiah 51:23).
Bereshit Rabbah
“For all the land that you see, I will give to you, and to your descendants, forever” (Genesis 13:15).
“I will render your descendants like the dust of the earth; if a man could count the dust of the earth, so your descendants shall be counted” (Genesis 13:16).
“The Lord said to Abram, after Lot parted…For all the land that you see, I will give to you…I will render your descendants like the dust of the earth” – just as the dust of the earth is found from one end of the earth to the other, so your descendants will be dispersed from one end of the earth to the other. Just as the dust of the earth becomes blessed only through water [rain], so Israel is blessed only through the merit of the Torah, which is likened to water.42See Isaiah 55:1, Bereshit Rabbah 54:1. Just as dust wears out metal vessels43A metal implement buried in the ground will rust away. and endures forever, so, too, with Israel – all the idolaters will vanish, but they will endure. Just as dust is regularly trodden, so your descendants will be regularly trodden by the idolaters. That is what is written: “I will place it44The cup of bitter punishment (see Isaiah 51:22). in the hand of your oppressors [mogayikh]…” (Isaiah 51:23) – what is mogayikh? They are those who cause your wounds to bleed [memigin] and cause your wounds to ooze. Nevertheless, it is for your benefit, as they mitigate your [liability for your] sins, just as it says: “Soften it [temogegena] with showers” (Psalms 65:11). “Who said to your soul: Bend down, and we shall pass” (Isaiah 51:23) – what would they do to them? They would have them lie in the plazas and drive their ploughs over them. Rabbi Azarya in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: This was actually a good omen – just as a plaza outlasts those who traverse it, so, your descendants will outlast the idol worshippers and will endure forever.
“I will render your descendants like the dust of the earth; if a man could count the dust of the earth, so your descendants shall be counted” (Genesis 13:16).
“The Lord said to Abram, after Lot parted…For all the land that you see, I will give to you…I will render your descendants like the dust of the earth” – just as the dust of the earth is found from one end of the earth to the other, so your descendants will be dispersed from one end of the earth to the other. Just as the dust of the earth becomes blessed only through water [rain], so Israel is blessed only through the merit of the Torah, which is likened to water.42See Isaiah 55:1, Bereshit Rabbah 54:1. Just as dust wears out metal vessels43A metal implement buried in the ground will rust away. and endures forever, so, too, with Israel – all the idolaters will vanish, but they will endure. Just as dust is regularly trodden, so your descendants will be regularly trodden by the idolaters. That is what is written: “I will place it44The cup of bitter punishment (see Isaiah 51:22). in the hand of your oppressors [mogayikh]…” (Isaiah 51:23) – what is mogayikh? They are those who cause your wounds to bleed [memigin] and cause your wounds to ooze. Nevertheless, it is for your benefit, as they mitigate your [liability for your] sins, just as it says: “Soften it [temogegena] with showers” (Psalms 65:11). “Who said to your soul: Bend down, and we shall pass” (Isaiah 51:23) – what would they do to them? They would have them lie in the plazas and drive their ploughs over them. Rabbi Azarya in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: This was actually a good omen – just as a plaza outlasts those who traverse it, so, your descendants will outlast the idol worshippers and will endure forever.
Bereshit Rabbah
“Your descendants will be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and your descendants” (Genesis 28:14).
“Your descendants will be as the dust” – just as the dust is blessed only by means of water, so, your descendants will be blessed only by means of Torah, that is likened to water. Just as the dust of the earth outlasts all metal vessels and endures forever, so, your descendants will outlast the entire world and endure forever. Just as dust is trodden upon by all, so, your children will be trodden upon. That is what is written: “I will place it into the hand of your oppressors [mogayikh]” (Isaiah 51:23). What is mogayikh? It is those that cause your wounds to liquefy [memagin], torment you, and sap your strength. Nevertheless, it is for your benefit, as they purify and cleanse you from your iniquities, just as it says: “Soften [temogegena] it with showers, bless its vegetation” (Psalms 65:11). “Who said to your soul: Bow, and we will pass” (Isaiah 51:23) – what would they do to them?6The oppressors to the Jews. They would lie them down in the streets and pass wagons with plows over them. Rabbi Azarya said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: It is a fortuitous sign; just as this street outlasts the passersby and endures forever, so, your descendants outlast the nations of the world and they endure forever.
“You shall spread out to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: It is you7Due to your merit, the sea split. who split the sea, just as is it stated: “The one who breaks through went up before them…[their king passed before them, and the Lord is at their head]” (Micah 2:13).8The reference is to the splitting of the Red Sea, as it is written: “Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob” (Psalms 114:7).
Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: He also showed them the divisions of Ezekiel.9The reference is to the more expansive borders of the Land of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel. See Ezekiel 48:1–29. But did Ezekiel not articulate only from east to west? Isaiah came and articulated: “For you will spread out to the right and the left…” (Isaiah 54:3).10When facing east, “right and left” are north and south.
“Your descendants will be as the dust” – just as the dust is blessed only by means of water, so, your descendants will be blessed only by means of Torah, that is likened to water. Just as the dust of the earth outlasts all metal vessels and endures forever, so, your descendants will outlast the entire world and endure forever. Just as dust is trodden upon by all, so, your children will be trodden upon. That is what is written: “I will place it into the hand of your oppressors [mogayikh]” (Isaiah 51:23). What is mogayikh? It is those that cause your wounds to liquefy [memagin], torment you, and sap your strength. Nevertheless, it is for your benefit, as they purify and cleanse you from your iniquities, just as it says: “Soften [temogegena] it with showers, bless its vegetation” (Psalms 65:11). “Who said to your soul: Bow, and we will pass” (Isaiah 51:23) – what would they do to them?6The oppressors to the Jews. They would lie them down in the streets and pass wagons with plows over them. Rabbi Azarya said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: It is a fortuitous sign; just as this street outlasts the passersby and endures forever, so, your descendants outlast the nations of the world and they endure forever.
“You shall spread out to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: It is you7Due to your merit, the sea split. who split the sea, just as is it stated: “The one who breaks through went up before them…[their king passed before them, and the Lord is at their head]” (Micah 2:13).8The reference is to the splitting of the Red Sea, as it is written: “Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob” (Psalms 114:7).
Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: He also showed them the divisions of Ezekiel.9The reference is to the more expansive borders of the Land of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel. See Ezekiel 48:1–29. But did Ezekiel not articulate only from east to west? Isaiah came and articulated: “For you will spread out to the right and the left…” (Isaiah 54:3).10When facing east, “right and left” are north and south.