Midrasz do Wyjścia 13:17

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go (Exod. 13:17). The word let go (shallah) indicates “to escort,” as in the verse Abraham went with them to bring them (leshalleham) on the way (Gen. 18:16). Similarly it states; And Isaac sent them away (vaye-shallehem), and they departed from him in peace (ibid. 26:31). Why does this scriptural portion open with this verse? Because the mouth (i.e., Pharaoh) that had declared: And moreover, I will not let Israel go (Exod. 5:2), now retracted and said: I will let you go (ibid. 8:24). This explains why this portion of Scripture begins with the words When Pharaoh had let the people go. What was his reward for doing so? Thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian (Deut. 23:8), for the mouth that had said: I know not the Lord (Exod. 5:2) reversed itself and declared: The Lord is righteous (ibid. 9:27). What was his reward for saying this? He gave them a burial place, as it is said: Thou stretchest out Thy right hand—the earth swallowed them (ibid. 15:12).

(Exod. 13:17:) NOW IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO…. This text is related (to Job 9:4): ONE WISE OF HEART AND MIGHTY IN STRENGTH—WHO HAS HARDENED HIMSELF AGAINST HIM AND PROSPERED? [ONE WISE OF HEART:] This is the Holy One, as stated (in Job 12:13): WITH HIM ARE WISDOM AND {UNDERSTANDING} [VALOR]. (Job 9:4, cont.:) WHO HAS HARDENED HIMSELF AGAINST HIM AND PROSPERED? The generation of the flood hardened themselves against him; so he washed them away with water. The generation of the dispersion hardened themselves against him; <so> he dispersed them throughout the world. The people of Sodom hardened themselves against him, and what was their end? (Gen. 19:24:) THEN THE LORD RAINED DOWN UPON SODOM <… BRIMSTONE AND FIRE.> (Exod. 5:2:) PHARAOH SAID: WHO IS THE LORD? For the Holy One had said to him (in vs. 1): LET MY PEOPLE GO; but he also hardened himself, as stated (in Exod. 13:15): AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HARDENED HIMSELF AGAINST LETTING {THEM} [US] GO. As soon as the plague of the first-born came upon him, he immediately let them go. It is therefore stated (in Exod. 13:17): NOW IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET < THE PEOPLE > GO….

Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): [NOW IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.] This text is related (to Ps. 66:3): SAY TO GOD: HOW AWESOME ARE YOUR WORKS.¹Exod. R. 20:10; PR 19:2; PRK 11:2; M. Pss. 22:15. R. Eleazar the son of R. Jose the Galilean said: What is the meaning of SAY TO GOD? Say to your good worker (i.e., your creator): [Well done!]

(Ps. 66:3, cont.:) AT YOUR GREAT STRENGTH <YOUR ENEMIES> SHALL DWINDLE AWAY (or BE DECEITFUL) (yekhahashu, rt. KHSh)²The Hebrew verb can have either meaning. BEFORE YOU. R. Berekhyah and R. Judah b. R. Shallum the Levite differed. One said: THEY DWINDLE AWAY (yekhahashu) BEFORE YOU, <i.e.,> they shall be broken, just as it is stated (in Deut. 33:29): YOUR ENEMIES SHALL DWINDLE AWAY (yekhahashu) BEFORE YOU. But the other said: THEY ARE DECEITFUL (rt.: KHSh) BEFORE YOU, <i.e.,> your enemies shall lie and act deceitfully (rt.: KHSh). Nebuchadnezzar said (in Dan. 3:28): BLESSED BE THE GOD OF SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO, <WHO SENT HIS ANGEL TO DELIVER HIS SERVANTS THAT TRUSTED IN HIM AND FLOUTED THE KING'S DECREE>…. Ergo (in Ps. 66:3): <YOUR ENEMIES> SHALL BE DECEITFUL BEFORE YOU. Sennacherib said (in II Kings 18:35): WHO AMONG ALL THE GODS OF <THOSE> LANDS <HAVE DELIVERED THEIR LAND FROM MY HAND>…? He did not move from there until he had dwindled away, as stated (in II Chron. 32:21): <THEN THE LORD SENT AN ANGEL, WHO DESTROYED EVERY MIGHTY WARRIOR, COMMANDER, AND OFFICER IN THE CAMP OF THE KING OF ASSYRIA. > SO HE RETURNED SHAME [FACED TO HIS OWN LAND]. Pharaoh said (in Exod. 5:2): I DO NOT KNOW THE LORD, <AND MOREOVER I WILL NOT LET ISRAEL GO>. <That statement> became a lie (KHSh) for them, when <Pharaoh> said (in Exod. 9:27): THE LORD IS RIGHT, AND I AND MY PEOPLE ARE IN THE WRONG. So he himself sent them away, as stated (in Exod. 13:17): NOW IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET < THE PEOPLE > GO….

Another interpretation (of Exod. 5:2): WHO IS THE LORD? The Holy One said to him: You have said: Who (MY)? By your life, through <the letters> MY you shall be punished (in Exod. 14:26–15:21). MY (who) is YM (sea) in reverse order. Through the sea (YM) you shall know who (MY) I am, because you said (in Exod. 5:2): I DO NOT KNOW THE LORD.²²So Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Shirata 1, with reference to Exod. 15:4. By your life, some day soon²³Literally: “tomorrow.” you shall say (in Exod. 9:27): THE LORD IS IN THE RIGHT, AND I AND MY PEOPLE ARE IN THE WRONG.²⁴Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Beshallah 1. You said (in Exod. 5:2): AND MOREOVER I WILL NOT LET ISRAEL GO. By your life, some day soon you shall take each and every one of them by the hand to send them away. It is therefore stated (in Exod. 13:17): [NOW IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET THE PEOPLE GO.]

Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): [NOW IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.] This text is related (to Prov. 16:7): WHEN THE LORD IS PLEASED WITH ONE'S WAYS, HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM.³Gen. R. 54:1; PRK 11:1. R. Joshua ben Levi said: About whom does it speak? About the evil drive, for is there <any> enemy of mine greater than this? It is customary that when one dwells in a city with a companion for one year, even if he hates him, he becomes his friend. The evil drive grows up with a person from his youth to his old age, and every day it wants to make him fall. So if it cannot make him fall within ten years, it makes him fall within twenty years. They said about Johanan the High Priest (i.e., John Hyrcanus) that he served in the High Priesthood for eighty years and in the end became a Sadducee.⁴Josephus, Ant. 12:293–298; Ber. 29a (Bar.); but cf. Qid. 66a, according to which it was, not John Hyrcanus (High Priest from 135/4 to 104 BCE), but Alexander Jannaeus (High Priest from 103 to 76) who turned from the Pharisees to heresy.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 16:7): WHEN THE LORD IS PLEASED <WITH ONE'S (ish) WAYS>. This refers to Israel, about which it is written (in Deut. 27:14): {AND} EACH ONE (ish) OF ISRAEL. <The verse from Proverbs refers to Israel, > while they were in Egypt, when the time had come for the redemption. (Prov. 16:7, cont.): HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM. This refers to Pharaoh of whom it is written (in Exod. 15:9): I WILL PURSUE, I WILL OVERTAKE, I WILL DIVIDE THE SPOIL. It is therefore stated (in Exod. 13:17:) NOW IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE > GO.

Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): [NOW IT CAME TO PASS (WYHY), WHEN <PHARAOH> HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.] To what is the matter comparable? To a king whose son was taken prisoner.⁷Cf. below, 4:13. He clothed himself in vindictiveness against his enemies. So he went and brought him <back>. <Then,> he took the captor and hanged him on a scaffold.⁸Lat.: gradus (“step”). Hanging on the scaffold in this case was like hanging on a cross and would not bring about immediate death. He began to torment him. Then he said to him: Why did you do this to my son? While he was tormenting him, he began to confess. The king said: Alas, when this one had confessed. I was intending to torment him a lot, but he has confessed immediately. <Then, > he gave him a dispensation.⁹Gk.: apophasis. So it was with Pharaoh when he enslaved Israel in Egypt. The plagues began to come upon him, but he did not let Israel go. Only after all the plagues had come upon him, did he begin to let them go. The Holy One said: Alas (WY), when he let them go. (Exod. 13:17): ALAS (WY), WOE (HY),¹⁰Thus the midrash interprets NOW IT CAME TO PASS (WYHY) as ALAS, WOE by understanding WYHY as two words. WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE > GO.

Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): [ALAS (WY), WOE (HY),¹¹See the previous note. WHEN <PHARAOH> HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.]¹²PRK 11:7. Who cried ALAS (WY)? Pharaoh cried ALAS (WY). R. Jonathan ben Eleazar said: To what is the matter comparable? To one who had cedar timbers. He sold them for a little money. The buyer went and made boxes, turret-shaped chests, and a lot of <other> things from them. When the one who sold the < timbers > saw these things, he began to {be angry} [lament] and said: Woe to that person! What has he sold? So it was in the case of Pharaoh. When Israel was enslaved to him with clay and bricks, it was not known that they were a people. As soon as they had left Egypt, when they went and became troops by the sea, Pharaoh went out and saw that these very ones had become troops. At that time he began to cry out ALAS (WY). (Exod. 13:17): ALAS (WY), WOE (HY), WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.

[Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): ALAS (WY), WOE (HY),¹³See above, note 10. WHEN <PHARAOH > HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.] Who cried ALAS (WY)? Resh Laqish said: The Egyptians cried ALAS (WY). To what is the matter comparable? To a physician who was in the district. Now when someone was injured, he healed him. When one {was} [became] sick, he healed him. As soon as the physician left the district, the people of the district cried: ALAS (WY). So {it was} [when] Israel [was] in Egypt. When the plague came over Egypt, they would come to Moses and seek <help> from him. Then he would pray and heal the plague. When Israel left Egypt, at that moment the Egyptians said: ALAS (WY), for Pharaoh has let the people go. (Exod. 13:17:) ALAS (WY), WOE (HY), WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.

When the Lord cuts down (Deuteronomy 12:29): The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, "By your lives, I will conduct your wars and write about you that you killed them." Come and see, the acts of the Holy One, blessed be He, are not like the acts of a king of flesh and blood: [When] a king of flesh and blood goes out to war, his legions go out in front of him. If they are victorious, they come and make a crown and crown him. But the Holy One, blessed be He, does not do like this, but rather He conducts the war, and give the crown to Israel, as it is stated (Psalms 136:17-20), "Who struck down great kings, [...]. Sihon, king of the Amorites,[...]. Og, king of Bashan." But He gave the crown to Israel, as it is stated (Joshua 12:5), "Moshe, the servant of God, and Israel smote them." And so [too], with Yehoshua, what is written? "And the Lord hurled huge stones on them from the sky" (Joshua 10:11). And [yet] it is stated (Joshua 12:7), "And these are the kings of the land that Yehoshua and the Children of Israel slew." So that we inherit their land, He cut them down from the world, in order that we would enter and inherit houses filled with all good things. As all the days that Israel was present, they were swept and wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Yet they had been fitting to go up [to the Land of Israel] immediately, as it is stated (Exodus 3:17), "I will take you out of the misery of Egypt," to a good and spacious land. But they did not go in immediately. As when they left from Egypt, the seven nations [inhabiting the land] heard that [the Israelites] were coming to inherit [the land]. What did they do? They cut down the trees, stopped up the springs and destroyed the homes, such that if [the Israelites] would enter, they would find nothing [worthwhile there]. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "If I bring them in right away, they will find it desolate, and I promised them that they would find it full of all of good things." What did He do? He held them up in the wilderness forty years, such that the Canaanites disregarded Israel, saying they are not coming. [Hence] they rose and planted trees, they fixed the wells and the cities, such that Israel would come when it was built, to fulfill that which is stated (Deuteronomy 6:11), "Houses full of all good things." This is [the meaning of] that which is written (Exodus 13:17), "God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines." Once they fixed everything, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moshe, "Why are you standing? 'Go up from here, you and the people' (Exodus 33:1). Make war with them and cut them down." And Israel said to Moshe, "When do we enter the land." [His answer was:] When the Lord, your God cuts down the nations within it shall you enter.

Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): ALAS (WY), WOE (HY),¹⁴See above, note 10. WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO. Who cried ALAS (WY)? The Canaanites [cried: ALAS (WY)]. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had a small son. He also had an ousia {i.e., an orchard}.¹⁵Among other things the Greek word means “real property” or “real estate.” Now he wanted to go away overseas, <so> he told a certain tenant to take care of it and eat of its fruit until his son became mature.¹⁶Cf. Sifre to Deut. 32:9 (312); Mark 12:1–9 and parallels. When the king's son grew up, he sought the ousia. The tenant immediately began to cry: ALAS (WY). Similarly, while Israel was in Egypt, the Canaanites dwelt in and took care of the land of Israel. They also ate of its fruits. As soon as they heard that Israel had left Egypt they began yelling: ALAS (WY). (Exod. 13:17:) ALAS (WY), WOE (HY), WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.

Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): NOW IT CAME TO PASS WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.¹⁷Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Beshallah 2; PRK 11:3. Elsewhere it says (in Exod. 5:2): AND MOREOVER I WILL NOT LET ISRAEL GO; yet here he is letting them go. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who gave his servant some cash and said to him: Buy me one fish. So he went and bought him one stinking fish. The king said to him: By your life, you shall not leave without one of three <punishments >. You shall eat the fish, or you shall pay for it, or you shall be flogged with a hundred lashes. He said to him: I will eat it. He had not finished eating a little of it before it nauseated him. He said: I will be flogged with a hundred lashes. He {was not used to eating} [had not finished being flogged] with fifty [lashes] before he was in danger of dying. He said I will pay for it. It turned out that he ate a stinking fish, was flogged, and paid for it. So it was with Pharaoh. His enslavement of Israel in Egypt was excessive. The Holy One said to him (in Exod. 5:1: LET MY PEOPLE GO. He said (in Exod. 5:2): I DO NOT KNOW THE LORD. He brought ten plagues¹⁸Heb.: makkot. This word can mean “lashes” as well as “plagues.” upon him, but he did not let them go. The Holy One said to him: By your life, you have to give them compensation. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 12:36): AND THE LORD GAVE THE PEOPLE FAVOR <IN THE EYES OF THE EGYPTIANS TO GIVE THEM LOANS. THUS THEY DESPOILED THE EGYPTIANS >. When they had received the plagues and given them compensation, after that he let them go. It is therefore stated (in Exod. 13:17): NOW IT CAME TO PASS WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET <THE PEOPLE> GO.

[(Exod. 13:17, cont.:) THAT GOD DID NOT HAVE COMPASSION (NHM).] <One should read the verse in this way,>¹⁹The Masoretic Text reads NHM as naham (LEAD THEM), but the midrash understands the word as niham (HAVE COMPASSION). because the Holy One said to the Prophet (Ezek. 32:18): SON OF ADAM, LAMENT OVER THE MASSES OF EGYPT…. Pharaoh began vaunting himself, and he said: Am I going down to them (in the grave)? He said to him (in Ezek. 32:19): WHOM DO YOU SURPASS IN LOVELINESS? Whom do you surpass in beauty? Are you better than the king of Assyria or the king of Tyre and Sidon? (Ibid., cont.:) GO DOWN AND BE LAID WITH THE UNCIRCUMCISED. (Vs. 22:) THERE IS ASSYRIA WITH ALL ITS COMPANY. (Vs. 24:) THERE IS ELAM AND ALL ITS MASSES. (Vs. 26:) THERE ARE MESHECH AND TUBAL WITH ALL THEIR MASSES. (Vs. 29:) THERE IS EDOM WITH ITS KINGS AND ALL ITS PRINCES. (Vs. 30:) THERE ARE THE PRINCES OF THE NORTH. When Pharaoh saw them, he was consoled (rt.: NHM), as stated (in vs. 31): [THESE] SHALL PHARAOH SEE, AND HE SHALL BE CONSOLED (NHM) [OVER ALL THESE MASSES SLAIN BY THE SWORD, PHARAOH AND ALL HIS ARMY.] The Holy One said to him: Pharaoh, you shall not be consoled because of what you did to my children. [Ergo:] GOD DID NOT HAVE COMPASSION (NHM).

[(Exod. 13:17, cont.:) THAT GOD DID NOT LEAD THEM <IN THE WAY OF THE EARTH (derekh-erets)>. He did not lead them according to the way of the whole earth.²⁰The biblical text reads: GOD DID NOT LEAD THEM IN THE WAY OF THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES. By interpreting WAY OF THE LAND (OR EARTH) separately from OF THE PHILISTINES, the midrash can understand the expression idiomatically to mean ACCORDING TO UNIVERSAL CUSTOM. See PRK 11:8; Exod. R. 20:11. In what manner <did he lead them>? According to custom the slave carries his master.²¹On such customs, see Exod. R. 25:6; also Qid. 22b; yQid. 1:3 (59b); BB 53b. Would his lord carry him? The Holy One did not lead his people in such a way. Rather (according to Deut. 1:31) AND IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOU SAW HOW THE LORD YOUR GOD CARRIED YOU…. And it says (in Exod. 19:4): I CARRIED YOU ON EAGLES' WINGS…. According to custom (derekh-erets) the slave bathes his master, but in this case the Holy One washed us, as stated (in Ezek. 16:9): AND I WASHED YOU WITH WATER. According to custom the slave dresses his lord, but in this case the Holy One dressed them, as stated (in Ezek. 16:10): I CLOTHED YOU WITH EMBROIDERED GARMENTS. According to custom the slave puts shoes on his master, but in this case (ibid., cont.): I SHOD YOU WITH SEALSKIN. According to custom the slave gives light to the master, but in this case the Holy One gave light to Israel, as stated (Exod. 13:21): AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM <BY DAY IN A PILLAR OF CLOUD TO GUIDE THEM ON THE WAY AND BY NIGHT IN A PILLAR OF FIRE TO GIVE THEM LIGHT>…. Ergo, he did not lead them in the manner of the whole earth. And why all this? (Exod. 13:17:) BECAUSE HE WAS NEAR,²²A more traditional translation would read: ALTHOUGH IT (the way of the Philistines) WAS NEARER. because they were near to the Holy One. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 148:14): HE HAS RAISED UP A HORN FOR HIS PEOPLE, [PRAISE FOR ALL HIS SAINTS,] EVEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, A PEOPLE NEAR TO HIM.

“A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountainhead, a sealed spring. Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates, with delicious fruit, henna with nard” (Song of Songs 4:12–13).
“A locked garden is my sister, my bride” – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: [This is analogous] to a king who had two daughters, one older and one younger, and he did not devote attention to arranging their marriages. The king left them for many years and went overseas. The girls arose and asserted themselves and married themselves to men. Each of them would take her husband’s seal and his signet. Years later, the king returned from overseas and he heard the voices of the people slandering his daughters and saying that the king’s daughters had engaged in licentiousness. What did he do? He issued a proclamation and said: The entire people shall go out to the assembly hall. He came and sat in the vestibule. He said to them: ‘My daughters, is this what you have done; have you tainted yourselves?’ Immediately, each of them produced her husband’s seal and his signet. He called his son-in-law and said to him: ‘To whom are you a bridegroom?’ He said to him: ‘I am your first son-in-law, [married] to your older daughter.’ He said to him: ‘What is this?’ He said to him: ‘This is my seal and this is my signet,’ and likewise [occurred with] the second [son-in-law].
At that moment, the king said: My daughters are sheltered from immorality and you slander and demean them? By your lives, I will administer justice against you. So it is with the nations, because they would taunt Israel and say: “Egypt enslaved the children of Israel [with harshness]” (Exodus 1:13); if they compelled them to perform labor, all the more so [they must have dominated] their bodies and their wives. At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He said: My sister, My bride, a locked garden. What is a locked garden? The Holy One blessed be He said: My garden is locked and it is being condemned?¹³³This is a metaphor meaning: The women of Israel have not had relations with anyone other than their husbands, and yet they are being maligned? Rabbi Pinḥas said: At that moment the Holy One blessed be He called the angel appointed over pregnancy and said: Go and shape [the children] with all the features of their fathers. Who did the fathers themselves resemble? The paterfamilias of the families. That is what is written regarding Reuben: “The families of the Reubenites [haReuveni]” (Numbers 26:7). Rabbi Hoshaya said: Reuben, Reubenite [haReuveni], Simeon, Simeonite [haShimoni].¹³⁴See Numbers 26:14. The members of the tribes are referred to in this way in order to imply that they looked like Reuben and Simeon. This was proof that they were actually the descendants of their fathers. Rabbi Marinos ben Rabbi Hoshaya said: Like you say: Baronite, Savronite, Sivoyite.¹³⁵These were names common at the time of the writing of the midrash. Just as Baronite means a member of the Baron family, the same is true of Reubenite. Alternatively, Rabbi Marinos is disputing Rabbi Hoshaya’s point and saying that just as members of any family can be referred to in this manner, the term Reubenite does not mean anything special (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Idi: Heh at the beginning of the word and yod at the end; God [yod-heh] attests for them that they were indeed the sons of their fathers.
Rabbi Pinḥas said: “A locked garden” – these are the virgins. “A locked fountainhead” – these are the non-virgins.¹³⁶Although there is an opening – gal means door in Aramaic – it remains locked before men other than her husband. “A sealed spring” – these are the males.¹³⁷They did not engage in illicit sexual activity. It was taught in the name of Rabbi Natan: “A locked garden, a locked fountainhead” – why was it [written] twice? Rather, it connotes two acts of intercourse for the woman; one in the typical manner and one in the atypical manner.¹³⁸Vaginal intercourse and anal intercourse.
Rabbi Huna said in the name of bar Kappara: By virtue of four matters, Israel was redeemed from Egypt: That they did not change their name, they did not change their language, they did not speak slander, and not one of them was steeped in licentiousness. They did not change their name: Reuben and Simeon descended [to Egypt]; Reuben and Simeon ascended. They did not call Reuben Rufus, they did not call Simeon Luleyani, Joseph, Listis, or Benjamin, Alexandra.
They did not change their language. There, it is written: “The survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13), and here it is written: “The God of the Hebrews has called upon us” (Exodus 5:3), and it is written: “That it is my mouth speaking to you” (Genesis 45:12), in the sacred tongue.
They did not speak slander, as it is stated: “Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask each man from his neighbor” (Exodus 11:2). You find that this matter had been entrusted to them for twelve months, and not one of them was found to have informed on his counterpart.¹³⁹The Israelites knew twelve months before the Exodus that they would ask to borrow goods from the Egyptians and that they would then leave Egypt never to return. Nonetheless, none of them told the Egyptians about this plan.
Not one of them was steeped in licentiousness, as it is stated: “The son of an Israelite woman, [whose father was an Egyptian.…] the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed” (Leviticus 24:10–11), to apprise in praise of Israel that not one of them was found except for this one, and the verse publicized her.¹⁴⁰The verse specifies that this woman had conceived from an Egyptian man in order to emphasize that she was the exception; no other Israelite women had intercourse with Egyptian men.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Sarah descended to Egypt¹⁴¹See Genesis 12:10–20. and sheltered herself from licentiousness, and all the [Israelite] women were sheltered by her merit. Joseph descended to Egypt and sheltered himself from licentiousness, and all the males were sheltered by his merit.
Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya: The sheltering from licentiousness was itself sufficient that by its merit Israel would have been redeemed from Egypt. What is the reason? “A locked garden is my sister, my bride.” What is written thereafter? “Your branches [shelaḥayikh]¹⁴²They merited to be sent [lehishalaḥ] from Egypt. are an orchard of pomegranates.”
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: [This is analogous] to one to whom an inheritance fell at the site of a garbage dump. The heir was indolent and he sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and industriously excavated there and found a treasure. He built a large palace. The purchaser began walking in the marketplace with servants following him [all due] to the treasure that he had purchased there. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent (Exodus 13:17).¹⁴³Pharaoh shouted woe [vay] is me.
Rabbi Yonatan said: [This is analogous] to one who had a field capable of producing a kor, and he went and sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and excavated springs and planted gardens and orchards there. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent” (Exodus 13:17).
Rabbi Yosei said: [This is analogous] to one who had chopped-down cedars, and he sold it at a minimal price. The purchaser went and crafted from them trunks, closets, chests, and wagons. The seller saw and was sorrowful, saying: Woe is me over what I lost. So too, when Israel was in Egypt, they were enslaved in mortar and bricks and they were contemptible in the eyes of the Egyptians. When they saw their flags encamped at the sea in the array of a royal army, the Egyptians became sorrowful, saying: Woe are we, what did we send from our land? This is as it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh sent” (Exodus 13:17).

... “Moab is my washbasin…” (Tehillim 60:10) When Israel entered into their land in order to inherit it, the Holy One forbid them to conquer these three nations, as it says “Do not distress the Moabites…” (Devarim 2:9) So too regarding Edom it is written “You shall not provoke them…” (Devarim 2:5) From where do we learn that they were not to conquer the land of the Pelishtim? Because it is written “God did not lead them [by] way of the land of the Philistines for it was near…” (Shemot 12:17) The oath which Avraham swore to Avimelech was still near in time, “And now, swear to me here by God, that you will not lie to me or to my son or to my grandson…” (Bereshit 21:23) His grandson was still alive. In the future the Holy One will permit Israel to conquer all three, as it says “And they shall fly of one accord against the Philistines in the west, together they shall plunder the children of the East; upon Edom and Moab shall they stretch forth their hand, and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” (Yeshayahu 11:14) And it is translated as ‘they will join shoulder to shoulder as one to wipe out the Phillistines.’ Therefore it says “…Philistia, join me…” (Tehillim 60:10), Edom and Moav are their occupation as it says “Moab is my washbasin; on Edom I will throw my lock…” (ibid.)

Rabbi Hun stated in the name of Bar Kappara: Israel were redeemed from Egypt on account of four things; because they did not change their names, they did not change their language, they did not go tale-bearing, and none of them was found to have been immoral. 'They did not change their name', having gone down as Reuben and Simeon, and having come up as Reuben and Simeon. They did not call Reuben 'Rufus' nor Judah 'Leon', nor Joseph 'Lestes', nor Benjamin 'Alexander'. 'They did not change their language', as may be inferred from the fact that it is written elsewhere, 'And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew' (Genesis 14:13), while here it is written, 'The God of the Hebrews has met with us' (Exodus 15:3), and it is written 'It is my mouth that speaks unto you' (Genesis 45:12), which means that he spoke in Hebrew.

Rabbi Phineas said: After twenty years, when all of them had been slain in Babylon, the Holy Spirit rested upon Ezekiel, and brought him forth into the plain of Dura, and called unto him very dry bones, and said to him: Son of Man ! What dost thou see? He answered: I see here dry bones. (The Spirit) said to him: Have I power to revive them? The prophet did not say: Sovereign of all the worlds ! Thou hast power to do even more than (this) here; but he said: "O Lord God, thou knowest" (Ezek. 37:3), as though he did not believe; therefore his own bones were not buried in a pure land, but in an unclean land, as it is said, "And thou shalt die in a land that is unclean" (Amos 7:17). "Prophesy over these bones" (Ezek. 37:4). He said before Him: Sovereign of all the worlds ! What ! will the prophecy bring upon them flesh and sinews and bones? Or will the prophecy bring upon them all the flesh and bones which cattle, beast, and bird have eaten, and they (also) have died in the land? Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, caused His voice to be heard, and the earth shook, as it is said, "And as I prophesied there was a thundering, and behold an earthquake" (Ezek. 37:7), || and every animal, beast, and bird which had eaten thereof and died in another land the earth brought together, "bone to his bone" (ibid.).

Rabbi Joshua ben Ḳorchah said: There came down upon them the quickening dew from heaven, which was like a fountain, which was bubbling and bringing forth water; so likewise (the bones) were moving and bringing forth upon themselves flesh, (other) bones and sinews, as it is said, "And I beheld, and lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above" (Ezek. 37:8). He said to him: Prophesy unto the wind, as it is said, "Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind.… Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live" (Ezek. 37:9). In that hour the four winds of the heaven went forth, and opened the treasure-house of the souls, and each spirit returned to the body of flesh of man, as it is said, "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived,… an exceeding great army" (Ezek. 37:10); and it is written about Egypt, "And the children of Israel were fruitful,… and waxed exceeding mighty" (Ex. 1:7). What is the meaning of "exceeding"? Just as in the latter case there were 600,000 (men), so in the former case there were 600,000 (men), and they all stood upon their feet except one man. The prophet said: Sovereign of all the worlds ! What is the nature of this man? He answered him: He gave out money for usury, and he took with interest. || As I live, he shall not live. In that hour the Israelites were sitting and weeping, and saying: We hoped for light, and darkness came. We hoped to stand up with all Israel at the resurrection of the dead, and now "our hope is lost" (Ezek. 37:11). We hoped to arise so as to be gathered with all Israel, and now "we are clean cut off" (ibid.). In that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the prophet: Therefore, say to them, As I live, I will cause you to stand at the resurrection of the dead in the future that is to come, and I will gather you with all Israel to the land, as it is said, "Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves… and I will bring you into the land of Israel.… And I will put my spirit in you, and ye shall live" (Ezek. 37:12, 14).

THE EXODUS
"AND it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go" (Ex. 13:17). This is what the Scripture says, "Thy shoots are a garden of pomegranates" (Cant. 4:13). Just as this garden is full of (various) kinds of trees, each one bearing according to its kind, so the Israelites, when they went forth from Egypt, were full of all good, (endowed with) the various kinds of blessings, as it is said, "Thy shoots are (like) a garden of pomegranates" (ibid.).

Rabbi Eliezer said: During all those years, when the Israelites abode in Egypt, they dwelt securely and peacefully at ease until Ganoon, one of the grandchildren of Ephraim, came and said to them, The Holy One, blessed be He, has revealed Himself to me, to lead you out of Egypt. The children of Ephraim, in the pride of their heart, for they were of the royal seed, and mighty men in battle, took their wives and their sons, || and they went forth from Egypt. The Egyptians pursued after them, and slew of them 200,000, all of them mighty men, as it is said, "The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle" (Ps. 78:9).

And the children of Israel lifted up their eyes and behold, the Egyptians marched after them, ‎and they were afraid, and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And the children of ‎Israel divided themselves into four parties in their views concerning the Egyptians, for they ‎were afraid of the Egyptians, and Moses spoke to every one of those parties. The first party ‎consisted of the children of Reuben, and Simeon and Issachar, who thought to cast ‎themselves into the sea, so exceedingly afraid were they of the Egyptians, and Moses said ‎unto them: . Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to ‎you to-day. The second party consisted of the children of Zebulun, and Benjamin and Naphtali ‎and they thought they would return unto Egypt with the Egyptians, and to them Moses said: ‎Fear ye not, for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more ‎forever. The third party consisted of the children of Judah and Joseph, and they thought to go ‎against the Egyptians to fight with them, and to them Moses said: Maintain your position, the ‎Lord will fight for you and ye hold your peace. And the fourth party consisted of the children of ‎Levi, and Gad, and Asher and they thought to go among the Egyptians and confound them, ‎and to them Moses said: Maintain your position and fear ye not, only call upon the Lord to ‎deliver you from the hand of the Egyptians. And after this Moses stood up in the midst of the ‎people, and he prayed unto the Lord, saying: Oh Lord, God of all the earth, deliver now thy ‎people, whom thou hast brought forth from Egypt and let not all the Egyptians say that they ‎have a powerful hand ' And the Lord said unto Moses: Wherefore cryest thou unto me? speak ‎unto the children of Israel that they go forward. But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thine ‎hand over the sea, and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the ‎sea. And Moses did so, and he lifted up his rod over the sea and he divided it. And the waters ‎of the Red Sea were divided into twelve sections, and the children of Israel passed through ‎the sea on foot, and in their shoes, as a man walketh over a beaten road, and the Lord thus ‎showed unto the children of Israel his wonders, through Moses and Aaron, both in Egypt and ‎on the sea. And when the children of Israel had come unto the sea the Egyptians followed ‎them, and the waters of the sea returned upon them and they sank all into the water; and ‎there was not left of them one man, save Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who rendered thanks unto ‎the Lord and confessed his belief in him, and therefore the Lord did not cause him to die at ‎that time with the Egyptians, but the Lord commanded one of his angels, and he cast him into ‎the land of Ninevah, where he reigned for many days. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from ‎the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore, and Israel ‎saw the great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians and in the sea.