Midras Mazmur 68:27: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Midrash Tanchuma Buber & Midrash Tanchuma

(Fol. 7b) R. Nachman said: "Huna b. Nathan related to me the following Baraitha: Whence do we learn that the nuptial benedictions ought to be pronounced in the presence of ten? It is said (Ruth 4, 2) And he took ten men." R. Abahu said: "From here (Ps. 68, 27) In assemblies bless ye God, praise the Lord, ye sprung from Israel's fountain." But what interpretation does R. Nachman give to the latter passage? He needs it for the [interpretation of the] following Baraitha. R. Maier was accustomed to say: "Whence do we learn that even the embryos in the bowels of their mother proclaimed the song at the Red Sea? It is said: In assemblies bless ye, God [praise] the Lord, ye sprung from Israel's fountain."

R. Meir says: Even fetuses in their mothers' wombs opened their mouths and chanted song before the L–rd, viz. (Psalms 68:27) "In assemblies bless G–d — the L–rd, from the source of Israel." And not Israel alone chanted song before the L–rd, but also the ministering angels, as it is written (Ibid. 8:2) "How mighty is Your name in all the earth — (You) who have spread Your splendor on the heavens!"

Gemara: (Fol. 30b) Our Rabbis were taught: This is how R. Akiba expounded: "When Israel ascended from the Red Sea they immediately began to look forward to singing a song of praise, and how did they utter the song? Just as one reads the Hallel and the Congregation after the reading at the beginning of each Chapter, so also did Israel do there. Moses said: (Ib., ib., ib.) I will sing unto the Lord and Israel repeated the same passage: Moses then said: For He hath triumphed gloriously, and Israel responded again: I will sing unto the Lord." R. Eliezer, the son of R. Jose, the Galilean, says: "The songs were recited in the manner of a minor who reads the Hallel and the rest of the audience repeats what he says; i.e., Moses said: I will sing unto the Lord, and Israel responded, I will sing unto the Lord; Moses said: For he hath triumphed gloriously, and Israel responded." R. Nechemia says: "It was like the Reader reads the Sh'mah, in the congregation, the reader begins and the rest of the congregation answer after him." What is the basis for the difference of opinion of the above Tanaim? R. Akiba holds that the word lamor (saying), mentioned in that passage refers to the preceding words. R. Eliezer, son of R. Jose the Galilean, believes the word lamor, refers to each and every word separately, while R. Nechemia holds: Wherever it is written they have said we must explain that all of them said together, but wherever the word Lamor is used then it means that Moses began it." Our Rabbis were taught, R. Jose the Galilean, lectured: "At the time when Israel descended the Red Sea they determined to sing praises, and how did they sing praises? An infant that was in the hips of his mother and a suckling that was nursing from his mother's breast, as soon as they saw the Shechina, the infant lifted up its neck and the suckling loosened the breast from its mouth and they said (Ib., ib. 2) He is my God, and I will declare His praise, as it is said (Ps. 8, 3) Out of the mouth of babies and sucklings hast thou founded [Thy] might." We are taught R. Maier used to say: "Whence do we know that even the embryos in the entrails of their mothers recited a song? It is said (Ib. 68, 27) In assemblies bless ye God, praise the Lord, ye sprung from Israel's fountain."