Midrash su Esodo 1:9

Come, let us deal wisely with them (Exod. 1:9). In saying this he blasphemed against the On High. The Holy One said to them: No matter what you plan to do against Israel, it will increase and multiply. And it may come to pass that, when there befalleth us any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and ascend from the land (ibid. 10). Every time Israel is cast down it will ultimately arise. Observe what is written: And fight against us, and ascend from the land (ibid.), and David said: For our soul is bound down to the dust; our belly cleaveth unto the earth (Ps. 44:26), but after that is written: Arise for our help, and redeem us for mercy’s sake (ibid., v. 27).

(Exod. 1:9:) AND HE (Pharaoh) SAID UNTO HIS PEOPLE: LOOK, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ARE TOO NUMEROUS AND TOO MIGHTY FOR US. R. Meir said: From where did they become fruitful and numerous? From the SOURCE, as stated (in Ps. 68:27 [26]): <IN ASSEMBLIES BLESS GOD,> THE LORD, <YOU WHO ARE> FROM THE SOURCE OF ISRAEL.

… the prophets of Jerusalem were the first to sin, as it says “…for from the prophets of Jerusalem has falseness emanated to the whole land.” (Jeremiah 23:15) So too they were punished first and the rest did not escape, as it says “And a curse shall be taken from them…” (Jeremiah 29:22)