Midrasz do Wyjścia 14:30

(Numb. 2:2:) [“The Children of Israel shall camp,] each with his standard, under the banners for their fathers' houses….” This text is related (to Ps. 20:6), “Let us shout for joy in your salvation, and in the name of our God let us set up our standards….” “Let us shout for joy in your salvation,” as is stated (in Exod. 14:30), “So the Lord saved.” (Ps. 20:6, cont.:) “And in the name of our God let us set up our standards,” for God has inserted His name]⁴⁵The whole bracketed section which ends here began in section 3 and represents a missing page in Buber’s primary Oxford Ms. among our names⁴⁶E.g., the El (“God”) in “Israel.” and has appointed us standards, as stated (in Numb. 2:2), “each with his standard, under the banners.” The Holy One, blessed be He, cherished Israel with great love,⁴⁷Numb. R. 2:3. in that He appointed them standards like [those of] the ministering angels, so that they would be recognizable, the Children of Reuben by themselves, the Children of Simeon by themselves, [etc.]; but where is it shown that He loved them? Where it is stated (in Cant. 2:4), “He brought me unto the banquet house, and His standard over me is love.” To what is the matter comparable? To a rich person who had a storehouse full of wine. He went in to inspect it and found it to be vinegar. [When] he went to leave the storehouse, he found there one cask of [good] wine. He said this cask is worth as much to me as the full storehouse. Similarly the Holy One, blessed be He, has created seventy nations, but of them all He has found pleasure only in Israel, as stated (in Cant. 2:4), “He brought me unto the banquet house (literally: house of wine [yyn]). [Now] y (yod) plus y (yod), [which] equals twenty, plus n (nun), [which stands for] fifty, results in seventy; and of all those [seventy nations] He loved only Israel. It is so stated (ibid., cont.), “and His standard over me is love.” It also says (in Cant. 6:8-9), “There are sixty queens…. One is My dove, My perfect one.” (Cant. 2:4), “He brought me unto the house of wine.” R. Judah says, “He brought me to the great wine cellar, namely Sinai; and from there He taught me Torah, which is expounded in forty-nine ways to render pure and in forty-nine ways to render impure.⁴⁸Cant. R. 2:4:1. And the numerical count (gematria) of (ibid., cont.) “and His standard (wdglw)” is forty-nine. [Another interpretation (of Cant. 2:4),] “He brought me unto the house of wine. R Hunya said, “In the past whoever pointed his finger at a likeness⁴⁹Gk.: eikonion. of the king was put to death; but when the children go to school and point a finger at the [likenesses of] the Divine Name [in the book], the Holy One, blessed be He, says (ibid., cont.), ‘and His standard (wediglo)⁵⁰The midrash interprets HOUSE OF WINE as the equivalent of “house of the book”; and (according to Numb. R. 2:3 and Cant. R. 2:4:1) wediglo (AND HIS STANDARD) is the equivalent of wegodlo (“and his thumb”). over me is love.’” Even though, when sitting and studying the Torah, [one skips (rt.: dlg)] from precept (halakhah) to precept and from verse to verse, the Holy One, blessed be He, says, “He is dear to Me (literally: over Me), ‘and His standard (rt.: dgl) over me is love,’ [and his skipping (rt.: dlg) over Me is love].” Another interpretation (of Cant. 2:4), “and His standard over me is love.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “The nations of the world have standards, but only the standard of Jacob is dear to Me, as stated (ibid.), ‘and His standard over Me is love--.’”

(Numb. 2:2:) <THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL CAMP,> EACH WITH HIS STANDARD, UNDER THE BANNERS FOR THEIR FATHERS' HOUSES…. This text is related (to Ps. 20:6 [5]): LET US SHOUT FOR JOY IN YOUR SALVATION, AND IN THE NAME OF OUR GOD LET US SET UP OUR STANDARDS…. Israel said: Lord God, we are shouting for joy IN YOUR SALVATION,⁶⁰Tanh., Numb. 1:10; Numb. 2:2. which you have brought about for us in your name. (Ibid.:) LET US SHOUT FOR JOY IN YOUR SALVATION. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 14:30): SO THE LORD SAVED WYWSh', voweled as (wayyosha') ISRAEL ON THAT DAY.⁶¹Above, Lev. 6:13, 18, and the notes there. The written text (ketiv) reads {WYSh'} SO <THE LORD> WAS SAVED (WYWSh, voweled as wayyiwwasha' in the passive). Israel, as it were, was redeemed; and like them God was redeemed. (Ps. 20:6 [5], cont.:) AND IN THE NAME OF OUR GOD LET US SET UP OUR STANDARDS, for God has inserted his name]⁶²The whole bracketed section which ends here began in section 3 and represents a missing page in Buber’s primary Oxford Ms. among our names⁶³E.g, the El (“God”) in “Israel.” and has appointed us standards, as stated (in Numb. 2:2): EACH WITH HIS STANDARD, UNDER THE BANNERS. The Holy One cherished Israel with great love,⁶⁴Numb. R. 2:3. in that he appointed them standards like <those of> the ministering angels, so that they would be recognizable, the children of Reuben by themselves, the children of Simeon by themselves, <etc>; but where is it shown that he loved them? Where it is stated (in Cant. 2:4): [HE BROUGHT ME UNTO THE BANQUET HOUSE,] AND HIS STANDARD OVER ME IS LOVE. To what is the matter comparable? To a rich person who had a storehouse full of wine. He went in to inspect it and found it to be vinegar. <When> he went to leave the storehouse, he found there one cask of [good] wine. He said this cask is worth as much to me as the full storehouse. Similarly the Holy One has created seventy nations, but of them all he has found pleasure only in Israel, as stated (in Cant. 2:4): HE BROUGHT ME UNTO THE BANQUET HOUSE (literally: HOUSE OF WINE [YYN]). <Now> Y (yod) plus Y (yod), <which> equals twenty, plus N (nun), <which stands for> fifty, results in seventy; and of all those <seventy nations> he loved only Israel. It is so stated (ibid., cont.): AND HIS STANDARD OVER ME IS LOVE. It also says (in Cant. 6:8-9): THERE ARE SIXTY QUEENS…. ONE IS MY DOVE, MY PERFECT ONE.

And since the great Hallel, [which is the more important] is recited, why must we [on happy occasions] recite also the [ordinary] Hallel? Because it contains the following five things: The exodus from Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Torah to Israel, the resurrection of the dead, and the sufferings of the Messianic period. It contains the exodus from Egypt, as it is written (Ps. 114, 1) When Israel went forth out of Egypt; the splitting of the Red Sea, as it is written (Ib. ib., 3) The sea beheld it, and fled; the giving of the Torah, as it is written (Ib. ib., 6) Ye mountains, that ye skip like wethers. Ye hills like lambs; the resurrection of the dead, as it is written (Ib. 116, 9) I will walk before the Lord in the land of life; and the suffering during the Messianic period, as it is written (Ib. 115, 1) Not for our sake, O Lord, not for our sake, etc. Upon which R. Jochanan said: "This refers to the subjugation in exile," and, according to others, R. Jochanan said that this refers to the time of the war of Gog and Magog. R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "Because it contains the saving of the righteous souls from Gehenna [it is recited on a holiday], as it is said (Ib. 116, 4) I beseech thee, O Lord, release my soul [from Gehenna]." Hezekiah said: "Because in it is mentioned that the righteous (Chananiah, Mishael and Azariah) were thrown into the fiery furnace and came out alive." Not for our sake, Lord, was said by Chananiah; But unto Thy name give glory, was said by Mishael; iud For the sake of Thy kindness, for the sake of Thy truth, was said by Azariah; but they all said the next passage, Wherefore should the nations say, where now is their God. And when they came out from the furnace, Chananiah said (Ib. 117) Praise God, all ye nations; Mishael said, Praise Him, all ye peoples; and Azariah said, For His mercy is great towards us. And the truth of the Lord endureth forever, was said by all three. And according to some, 'Gabriel said the passage. And the truth of the Lord, etc.; for at the time when Nimrod, the wicked, had cast Abraham, our patriarch, into the fiery furnace, Gabriel said unto the Holy One, praised be He! "Sovereign of the Universe, let me, I pray thee, go down, and cool the furnace, and deliver that righteous one from that fiery furnace." Then the Holy One, praised be He! said unto him: "I am One in my world, and he is one in his. It behooves that He who is one should deliver him who is one." But as the Holy One, praised be He! doth not deprive any creature of reward, He said to Gabriel: "For this, thy good intention, thou wilt be privileged to rescue three of his grand-children"; as R. Simon, of Shiloh, expounded: "At the time when Nebuchadnezzar, the wicked, cast Chenaniah, Mishael and Azariah into the fiery furnace Yurkami, the chief of the hail, said unto the Holy One, praised be He! "Sovereign of the Universe, let me, I pray thee, go down and cool off the fiery furnace, and rescue these righteous men.' Whereupon Gabriel interposed and said: 'The greatness of the Holy One, praised be He! will not be demonstrated in such a way, for thou art the chief of hail, and everybody knows that water quencheth fire; but I, the chief of fire, will go down and cool the flames within (Ib. b) and intensify it without [so as to consume the executioners], and thus will I perform a miracle within a miracle.' Then the Holy One, praised be He! said to him: 'Go down.' Upon which Gabriel said, 'Verily, the truth of the Lord endureth forever.'" R. Nathan said: The verse, Verily the truth of the Lord endureth forever, was said by the fish in the sea, as R. Huna said: "The Israelites of that generation [that went out of Egypt] were wanting in faith [of God] and as Raba, the son of Mari, expounded: "What is the meaning of the passage (Ps. 106, 7) But they rebelled at the sea, even at the Red Sea; nevertheless he helped them for His name's sake. It is intended to teach us that [at the time when God divided the Red Sea and Israel passed through and the Egyptians were drowned] the Israelites rebelled and said: 'Just as we ascend from this side so do the Egyptians ascend from another side.' Whereupon the Holy One, praised be He! said to the angel of the sea: 'Spit them out upon the dry land.' 'Sovereign of the Universe,' the angel of the sea pleaded before Him, 'can there be found a servant to whom his master gave a present and who should later take it back from him?' 'Instead of this I shall give you one and a half,' the Lord said to him. The angel of the sea continued: 'Sovereign of the Universe! is it possible for a servant to summon his master before a court of justice?' 'The river Kishon shall guarantee for it,' was the Lord's reply. Immediately all of them were spit out and thrown upon the dry land. When Israel came to the place they saw them all dead and thus the passage becomes clear (Ex. 14, 30) And Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the shore of the sea. And how was it that the sea got one and a half in return? In connection with the incident of Pharaoh it is written (Gen. 14, 6) Six hundred chosen chariots, with that of Sissera, it is written (Jud. 40) Nine hundred iron chariots. And when Sissera came upon the Israelites with iron chariots, the Holy One, praised be He! sent forth upon them the stars in their paths, as it is written (Ib. 5) From heaven have fought the stars in their paths, etc. As soon as the stars descended upon them, the iron chariots became hot and they went to the river Kishon to cool themselves [where they were consequently drowned]. Then said the Holy One, praised be He! to the river Kishon, 'Go and pay off thy guarantee which thou hast secured to the sea.' Instantly they were swept out by the river Kishon and thrown into the sea, as it is said (Jud. 5, 21) The stream of Kishon swept them away, that ancient stream. What is meant by That ancient stream? The stream that became a surety from olden times. In that moment the fish broke forth and said 'Verily the truth of the Lord endureth forever.' "

(Lev. 17:3-4:) “If any single person from the House of Israel slaughters […]. And does not bring it unto the entrance of the tent of meeting.” Isaiah has said (in Is. 66:3), “One who slaughters the bull slays a human.” Whenever anyone steals his comrade's bull and slaughters it, it is as if he slays its owner. Another interpretation of “One who slaughters (shohet) the bull slays a human”: (Zev. 14:4:) Before the tabernacle was set up, all high places (bamot) were permitted and the service was with the firstborn; but since the tabernacle has been set up, the high places have been forbidden, and the service is with the priests. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Whoever sacrifices a bull apart from the tent of meeting is like one who slays a person, it is as though he has taken (shohet) a life. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 17:4), ‘bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man; he has shed blood.’ So whoever slaughters (shohet) at the tabernacle honors me, as stated (in Ps. 50:23), ‘Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me.’ Now what reward shall I repay to him? When I bring salvation to Israel, he will have the right to see it, as stated (ibid., cont.), ‘and to the one who sets his way aright I will show the salvation of God.’” R. Abbahu said, “All salvation that comes to Israel is of the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated (in Ps. 91:15-16), ‘I will be with him in distress … and show him My salvation.’” Israel said, “Master of the world, inasmuch as you said, ‘I will be with him in distress,’ (in the words of Ps. 60:7), ‘save with Your right hand and answer me.’” [Thus] if You answer us, salvation is Yours, as stated (in Ps. 80:3) “come to save us”; such that Your right hand not be behind, as stated (Lamentations 2:3), “He placed His right hand behind.” R. Berekhyah the Priest beRabbi said, “See what is written (in Zech. 9:9), ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion […]; behold your king comes to you righteous and saved.’⁷⁷A more traditional translation would read: VICTORIOUS AND TRIUMPHANT. [The active voice,] ‘saving’ is not written here, but [the passive] ‘saved.’⁷⁸Thus implying that God himself was saved. See Exod. R. 30:24, which interprets this verse and Ps. 91:15 to imply that even apart from good deeds, salvation comes for its own sake. And so it [says] (in Is. 62:11), ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation is coming.”’ ‘Your savior’ is not written here, but ‘your salvation.’ He, as it were, is saved.” R. Meir said, (concerning Exod. 14:30), “’So the Lord saved (wywsh', voweled as wayyosha') Israel on that day’: the written text (ketiv) [reads] ‘so [the Lord] was saved (wywsh', voweled as wayyiwwasha').’ As it were, He was saved [on that day] with Israel.”⁷⁹Above, 6:13; below, Numb. 1:10; and the notes in both places. R. Ammi said, “Moses praised the congregation of Israel (in Deut. 33:29), ‘Fortunate are you, O Israel; who is like you, a people saved through the Lord.’ ‘A people the Lord saved’ is not written here, but ‘a people saved through the Lord.’ It is comparable to a person who had a seah of wheat for a second tithe. What does he do? He gives coins to redeem it. So [it was] in the case of Israel. Through what were they redeemed? Through the Holy One, blessed be He, as it were, ‘a people saved through the Lord.’” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “In this world you are saved by means of flesh and blood: In Egypt by means of Moses and Aaron; in the days of Sisera by means of Barak and Deborah; among the Midianites by means of Shamgar ben Anath, as stated (Jud. 3:31), ‘and he also saved Israel’⁸⁰According to Jud. 3:31, Shamgar delivered Israel, not from Midianites, but from Philistines.; and likewise through the Judges. But because they were flesh and blood, you again became enslaved. However, in the world to come, I myself will redeem you, and you will never again be enslaved. Thus it is stated (in Is. 45:17), ‘Israel has been saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation.’”⁸¹Cf. above, Exod. 5:17; M. Pss. 31:2; 50:3; Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Shirata 1; Mekhilta d’Rabbi Simeon b. Johay, pp. 72, 78.

Our masters say: < It was > because their eyes strayed away from the Divine Presence. They (i.e., Nadab and Abihu) said: Moses did not do so, when (according to Exod. 24:9–10) he went into the firmament and beheld the Divine Presence; for he had no need of either eating or drinking. With us also, when we behold the Divine Presence, we shall have no need of either eating or drinking. Even so, (according to vs. 11): THEY BEHELD GOD, but they did need to eat and drink, as stated (ibid., cont.): AND THEY ATE AND DRANK. From that time the Holy One sought to stretch out his hand against them. The Holy One said: I shall wait until the Tabernacle is made. Then when they enter to sacrifice (rt.: QRB), I shall carry out the divine judgment upon them. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 16:1, cont.): WHEN THEY DREW NEAR (rt.: QRB) BEFORE THE LORD, THEY DIED. BEFORE THE LORD is written two times (in Numb. 3:4): BUT NADAB AND ABIHU DIED BEFORE THE LORD, WHEN THEY OFFERED ALIEN FIRE [BEFORE THE LORD]. Why two times? The Holy One said: Bring out the dead from before me, for so it is written (in Lev. 10:4): DRAW NEAR AND CARRY YOUR BROTHERS AWAY FROM BEFORE THE SANCTUARY. When Israel, as it were, is in trouble, he also is with them; for so it is written (in Is. 63:9): IN ALL THEIR TROUBLE, IT TROUBLED HIM. R. Meir said (concerning Exod. 14:30): SO THE LORD SAVED (WYWSh', voweled as wayyosha') < ISRAEL > ON THAT DAY: The written text (ketiv) < reads > SO < THE LORD > WAS SAVED (WYWSh', voweled wayyiwwasha') < ON THAT DAY WITH ISRAEL >.⁷⁰Below, 6:18; below, Numb. 1:10; Tanh. Lev. 6:12; Numb. R. 2:2; cf. Exod. R. 30:24. R. Abbahu said: See what is written (in Ps. 80:3 [2]): BEFORE EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH⁷¹The Masoretic Text reads: BEFORE EPHRAIM, BENJAMIN, AND MANASSEH. STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US. To you and to us belongs the redemption. The Holy One said: In the world to come I will redeem you. Then you shall be happy, and I will be happy. [It is so stated] (in Ps. 104:31): MAY THE LORD BE HAPPY IN HIS WORKS. (Ps. 149:2:) LET {THE LORD} [ISRAEL] BE HAPPY IN ITS MAKER.]

The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: When the Israelites departed Egypt, to what were they comparable? To a dove that was fleeing a hawk, entered the crevice of a rock, and encountered a nesting serpent. It was unable to enter, as the serpent was still nesting. It would be unable to reverse its course because the hawk was positioned outside. What did the dove do? It began shrieking and striking itself with its wings so that the owner of the dovecote would come and rescue it. This is what the Israelites were analogous to at the sea. They were unable to descend into the sea because the sea had not yet been split for them. They were unable to reverse their course because Pharaoh was approaching. What did they do? “They were very frightened and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10). Immediately, “The Lord saved [Israel] on that day” (Exodus 14:30).
Rabbi Yehuda [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥama of the village of Teḥumin: This is analogous to a king who had an only daughter, and he desired to hear her speak [to him]. What did he do? He issued a proclamation and said: The entire people shall emerge to the assembly grounds. When they emerged, what did he do? He signaled to his servants and they suddenly attacked her like bandits. She began screaming: ‘Father, father, save me!’ Similarly, when the Israelites were in Egypt, the Egyptians enslaved them and they began screaming and directing their eyes to the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “It was during those many days, and the king of Egypt died. The children of Israel sighed due to the work and they cried out” (Exodus 2:23). Immediately, “God heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:24). The Holy One blessed be He heard their prayer and took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. The Holy One blessed be He desired to hear their voices, but they were unwilling. What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he pursued them. That is what is written: “The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued…” (Exodus 14:8), and it is written: “Pharaoh approached” (Exodus 14:10). What is “approached [hikriv]”? He brought Israel closer [hikriv] to repentance. When they saw [Pharaoh and his army], they directed their sights to the Holy One blessed be He, and they cried out before Him, as it is stated: “The children of Israel raised their eyes and, behold, the Egyptians were traveling after them and they were very frightened; the children of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10) with the same cry that they cried out in Egypt. Once the Holy One blessed be He heard, He said: ‘Had I not done so to you, I would not have heard your voice.’ Regarding that moment, He said: “My dove, in the clefts of the rock.” “Let me hear a voice,” is not written here, but rather, “your voice,” the voice that I heard in Egypt. When the children of Israel cried out before the Holy One blessed be He, immediately, “The Lord saved [Israel] on that day” (Exodus 14:30).

(Lev. 17:3–4:) IF ANY SINGLE PERSON FROM THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL SLAUGHTERS…, AND DOES NOT BRING IT UNTO THE ENTRANCE OF THE TENT OF MEETING < TO OFFER IT AS A SACRIFICE >…, < BLOODGUILT SHALL BE IMPUTED TO THAT PERSON >. Isaiah has said (in Is. 66:3): ONE WHO SLAUGHTERS THE BULL SLAYS A HUMAN. Whenever anyone steals his comrade's bull and slaughters it, it is as if he slays its owner.⁹³Tanh., Lev. 6:12. Another interpretation of ONE WHO SLAUGHTERS (shohet) THE BULL SLAYS A HUMAN. (Zev. 14:4:) BEFORE THE TABERNACLE WAS SET UP, ALL {THE CATTLE} [HIGH PLACES] WERE PERMITTED < …; > BUT SINCE THE TABERNACLE HAS BEEN SET UP, [THE HIGH PLACES HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN.] The Holy One said: Whoever sacrifices a bull apart from the Tent of Meeting is like one who slays a person. [It is as though he has taken (shohet) a life.] Thus it is stated (in Lev. 17:4): BLOODGUILT SHALL BE IMPUTED [TO THAT PERSON: HE HAS SHED BLOOD]. So whoever slaughters (shohet) at the Tabernacle [honors me, as stated (in Ps. 50:23): WHOEVER SACRIFICES A THANK OFFERING] HONORS ME. Now what reward shall I repay to him? When I bring salvation to Israel, he will have the right to see it, as stated (ibid., cont.): AND TO THE ONE WHO SETS HIS WAY ARIGHT I WILL SHOW THE SALVATION OF GOD. R. Abbahu said: All salvation that comes to Israel is of the Holy One, as stated (in Ps. 91:15–16): I WILL BE WITH HIM IN DISTRESS […, AND SHOW HIM MY SALVATION]. Sovereign of the World, inasmuch as you said, I WILL BE WITH HIM IN DISTRESS, he is saved, as it were; < therefore > (in the words of Ps. 60:7 [5]), SAVE WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND AND ANSWER ME. Thus if you answer us, salvation is yours, as stated (in Ps. 80:2–3 [1–2]) < GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL,… > AND COME TO SAVE US. R. Berekhyah the Priest [Berabbi] said: See what is written (in Zech. 9:9): REJOICE GREATLY, O DAUGHTER OF ZION…; BEHOLD YOUR KING COMES TO YOU RIGHTEOUS AND SAVED.⁹⁴A more traditional translation would read: VICTORIOUS AND TRIUMPHANT. < The active voice, > "saving" is not written here, but < the passive > SAVED.⁹⁵Thus implying that God himself was saved. See Exod. R. 30:24, which interprets this verse and Ps. 91:15 to imply that even apart from good deeds, salvation comes for its own sake. And so it [says] (in Is. 62:11): SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION: BEHOLD, YOUR SALVATION IS COMING. "Your savior" is not written here, but YOUR SALVATION. [He, as it were, was saved.] R. Meir said: (concerning Exod. 14:30): SO THE LORD SAVED (WYWSh', voweled as wayyosha') < ISRAEL > ON THAT DAY: The written text (ketiv) < reads > SO < THE LORD > WAS SAVED (WYWSh', voweled as wayyiwwasha') < ON THAT DAY WITH ISRAEL>.⁹⁶Above, 6:13; below, Numb. 1:10; and the notes in both places. When Israel, as it were, was redeemed, < the Holy One > was redeemed. R. Meir said: Moses praised the congregation of Israel (in Deut. 33:29): BLESSED ARE YOU, O ISRAEL! WHO IS LIKE YOU, A PEOPLE [SAVED THROUGH THE LORD]. "A people the Lord saved" is not written here, but A PEOPLE SAVED THROUGH THE LORD. It is comparable to a person who had a seah of wheat for a second tithe. What does he do? He gives coins to redeem it. So < it was > in the case of Israel. Through what were they redeemed? Through the Holy One, as it were: A PEOPLE SAVED THROUGH THE LORD. The Holy One said to Israel: In this world you are saved by means of flesh and blood: in Egypt by means of Moses and Aaron, in the days of Sisera by means of Barak and Deborah; among the Midianites by means of Shamgar ben Anath,⁹⁷According to Jud. 3:31, Shamgar delivered Israel, not from Midianites, but from Philistines. and so on through the Judges. [But because they were flesh and blood, you again became enslaved]. However, in the world to come, I myself will redeem you, and you will never again be enslaved. Thus it is stated (in Is. 45:17): ISRAEL HAS BEEN SAVED BY THE LORD WITH AN EVERLASTING SALVATION.⁹⁸Cf. above, Exod. 5:17; M. Pss. 31:2; 50:3; Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Shirata 1; Mekhilta d’Rabbi Simeon b. Johay, pp. 72, 78.

Rabbi Simon said: On the fourth day the Israelites encamped by the edge of the sea, and to the south of the sea. The Egyptians were floating like skin-bottles upon the surface of the waters, and a north wind went forth and cast them opposite the camp of Israel, and the Israelites went and saw them, and they recognized them, and they said: These (here) were the officials of the palace of Pharaoh, and those (there) were the taskmasters, and they recognized every one, as it is said, "And Israel saw the Egyptians || dead upon the sea shore" (Ex. 14:30).

When Israel went out of Egypt, Moses said: ‘and God delivered Israel that day’ (Exodus 14:30); and when Israel went out of Jerusalem Jeremiah said: ‘God has put me into the hands of those I cannot withstand.’ (Lamentations 1:14)