Midrash su I Re 18:46

“I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants” (Ecclesiastes 10:7).
“I have seen servants upon horses” – these are Ishmaelites; “and princes walking on the ground like servants” – this is Joseph. Rabbi Levi said: A slave³⁰Meaning an Egyptian, as the Egyptians were descendants of Canaan, of whom it is written: “Accursed is Canaan, a slave of slaves he shall be to his brothers” (Genesis 9:25). purchased, and the son of a maidservant³¹The Ishmaelites, who descended from Hagar sold, and a free man was sold to both of them.³²This is a reference to Joseph, who was sold to Ishmaelites, who then sold him to an Egyptian (see Genesis 37:28, 36).
Rabbi Akiva was ascending to Rome; he encountered a certain eunuch³³He was castrated as a youth and raised to serve in the Roman priesthood. from the royal court. He said to him: ‘Are you the rabbi of the Jews?’ [Rabbi Akiva] said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said to [Rabbi Akiva]: ‘Hear these three matters from me: One on a horse is a king; one on a donkey is a free man; one with shoes on his feet is a person; [therefore,] one without this and without that, one buried in a ditch is preferable to him.’³⁴The eunuch was riding a horse, whereas Rabbi Akiva was walking barefoot because of a public fast, on which it was forbidden to wear shoes (Midrash HaMevo’ar). [Rabbi Akiva] said: ‘You said three matters, hear from me three alternative matters: The glory of a face is the beard, the joy of the heart is a wife, and “the portion of the Lord is children” (Psalms 127:3). Woe unto that man who is lacking these three.³⁵The eunuch was unable to grow a beard, marry, or beget children. Moreover, the verse preceded it: “I have seen servants upon horses.”³⁶This contradicts the eunuch’s statement that only kings ride on horses. When that eunuch heard this, he banged his head against the wall and died.
Another matter: “I have seen servants upon horses” – this is Ahab; “and princes walking on the ground like servants” – this is Elijah, as it is stated: “[And Ahab rode and went to Yizre’el.] The hand of the Lord was upon Elijah, and he girded his loins and ran before Ahab…” (I Kings 18:45–46).

Why did Pharaoh and his servants approach him, saying: Get you? The time Pharaoh told him: Get thee from me, see my face no more (ibid. 10:29), he (Moses) insisted: But we shall not leave until all these servants shall come down unto me (ibid. 11:9), to escort us from this place. This verse indicates that Moses paid homage to royalty, since he did not say to him: “You and all your servants.” In fact, the Holy One, blessed be He, had previously charged Moses and Aaron to be respectful to royalty, as it is said: And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt (ibid. 6:13). Joseph was respectful to royalty when he said: It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace (Gen. 41:6). Jacob was respectful to royalty; and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed (ibid. 49:2). Elijah paid homage to royalty, as is said: And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah (I Kings 18:46). Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah also were respectful to royalty, and so was Daniel.

(Fol. 102) R. Janai said: "Always shalt thou feel the respect of the king upon thee, for it is written (Ex. 11, 8) And all these thy servants shall come down unto me." R. Jochanan said: "We infer it from the following (I Kings 18, 46) And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Achab."

(Exodus 12:31) "And he called for Moses and Aaron": We are hereby apprised that Pharaoh made the rounds of Egypt, asking "Where is Moses to be found? Where is Aaron to be found?" "And he said: Arise, go out" — to which Moses replied: We are exhorted to go out only in a throng, viz. (Ibid. 22) "And you, do not go out, etc." Variantly: "And he called to Moses and to Aaron": What is the intent of this? Pharaoh had said to him (Ibid. 10:28) "Go from me." (29) "And Moses said: "True have you spoken" (and in the proper time. Indeed,) "I shall not see your face again." (11:8) "And all these servants of yours will come down to me (Moses), etc." What is the intent of "these"? You (Pharaoh) are destined to be at their head and to come down first — whereby we are taught that Moses accorded honor to the ruler, ("these" being euphemistic for "you"). And thus do we find that the Holy One Blessed be He (Himself) accorded honor to the ruler, viz. (6:13) "And the L rd spoke to Moses and to Aaron and he charged them … to Pharaoh." He charged them to accord honor to the ruler. For thus do we find with Joseph, that he accorded honor to the ruler, viz. (Genesis 41:16) "G d will answer (for) the peace of Pharaoh." And thus with Jacob, viz. (Genesis 28:2) "And Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed" (to accord honor to Joseph, the ruler at that time). And thus with Eliyahu, viz. (I Kings 18:46) "And he girded his loins and ran before (King) Achav." And thus with Chananiah, Mishael, and Azaryah, viz. (Daniel 3:26) "Then Nevuchadnezzar approached the door of the burning, fiery furnace and called out: 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Aved-Nego, servants of the Most High — Come out! (Only) then (at the behest of the ruler) Shadrach, Meshach, and Aved-Nego came out of the fire?" And thus with Daniel, viz. (Daniel 6:21) "And when he (the king) approached the den, he cried to Daniel in a mournful voice … (22) (Only) then did Daniel speak with the king, etc." "And he said: Arise and go out": I (Pharaoh) said (Ibid. 10:8) "Who and who are the goers?" and you said (Ibid. 9) "With our youth and with our elders will we go" — "Arise go out from the midst of my people, both you (the adults) and the children of Israel." I said (Ibid. 24) "Only your flocks and herds leave in place," and you said (Ibid. 25) "You, too, shall place in our hands sacrifices and burnt-offerings" — (Ibid. 12:32) "Take as you have spoken and go, etc." "and bless me, too": Pray that this calamity depart from me.