שִׂמְח֬וּ בַֽיהוָ֣ה וְ֭גִילוּ צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝הַרְנִ֗ינוּ כָּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
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Shemot Rabbah
“Consecrate to Me every firstborn; the first issue of any womb among the children of Israel, whether man or animal, is Mine” (Exodus 13:2).
“Consecrate to Me every firstborn” – Rabbi Natan says: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Just as I made Jacob the firstborn, as it is stated: “Israel is My firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22), so I will make the messianic king the firstborn, as it is stated: “I also will appoint him firstborn” (Psalms 89:28). So, “consecrate to Me every firstborn.”12The midrash is explaining that the superfluous word “every” teaches that there is another firstborn who will be consecrated in the future – the messiah. Caution Israel, just as I created the world and I said to Israel to remember the Sabbath day to commemorate the act of Creation, as it is stated: “Remember the Sabbath day,” (Exodus 20:8), so you should remember the miracles that I performed on your behalf in Egypt, and remember the day that you departed from there, as it is stated: “Remember this day that you departed from Egypt” (Exodus 13:3). Why? “Because with strength of hand the Lord took you from Egypt” (ibid.).13The midrash has “took you from Egypt.” The actual verse is “took you from this.”
“No leaven shall be seen with you [in all your borders] for seven days” (Deuteronomy 16:4), corresponding to the seven days between the redemption and the splitting of the Red Sea. Just as initially there were seven days of Creation and just as Shabbat takes place once every seven days, so shall these seven days be observed each and every year, as it is stated: “You shall observe this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year” (Exodus 13:10). It is analogous to a king who married a woman who was overseas.14The marriage took place remotely, while she was still abroad. Waves reached her [i.e. she encountered a storm] before she came to him. He said to her: ‘Do not remember all the waves that passed over you, but rather, on that day that you were spared from them, remember me and make a celebration every year.’ So with regard to Israel, the Holy One blessed be He appeared to them to redeem them, and some harsh waves passed over them, but He provided salvation for them. That is why He cautioned them that they should celebrate every year, as it is stated: “Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, righteous ones” (Psalms 32:11).
“Consecrate to Me every firstborn” – Rabbi Natan says: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Just as I made Jacob the firstborn, as it is stated: “Israel is My firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22), so I will make the messianic king the firstborn, as it is stated: “I also will appoint him firstborn” (Psalms 89:28). So, “consecrate to Me every firstborn.”12The midrash is explaining that the superfluous word “every” teaches that there is another firstborn who will be consecrated in the future – the messiah. Caution Israel, just as I created the world and I said to Israel to remember the Sabbath day to commemorate the act of Creation, as it is stated: “Remember the Sabbath day,” (Exodus 20:8), so you should remember the miracles that I performed on your behalf in Egypt, and remember the day that you departed from there, as it is stated: “Remember this day that you departed from Egypt” (Exodus 13:3). Why? “Because with strength of hand the Lord took you from Egypt” (ibid.).13The midrash has “took you from Egypt.” The actual verse is “took you from this.”
“No leaven shall be seen with you [in all your borders] for seven days” (Deuteronomy 16:4), corresponding to the seven days between the redemption and the splitting of the Red Sea. Just as initially there were seven days of Creation and just as Shabbat takes place once every seven days, so shall these seven days be observed each and every year, as it is stated: “You shall observe this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year” (Exodus 13:10). It is analogous to a king who married a woman who was overseas.14The marriage took place remotely, while she was still abroad. Waves reached her [i.e. she encountered a storm] before she came to him. He said to her: ‘Do not remember all the waves that passed over you, but rather, on that day that you were spared from them, remember me and make a celebration every year.’ So with regard to Israel, the Holy One blessed be He appeared to them to redeem them, and some harsh waves passed over them, but He provided salvation for them. That is why He cautioned them that they should celebrate every year, as it is stated: “Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, righteous ones” (Psalms 32:11).
Midrash Tehillim
"Blessed is the man who does not think the Lord counts his sins. Rabbi Yosei bar Yehuda said that if a person makes complete repentance, the Holy One, blessed be He, is merciful and forgives him. Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov said that sins for which one has already given thanks in this year should not be given thanks for in another year. Concerning this, the verse says (Proverbs 26:11), "Like a dog that returns to its vomit." The Sages say that for sins for which one has given thanks in this year, one must give thanks for them in another year, in order to fulfill what is said (Psalms 51:5), "My sin is always before me." What did Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov do with this? He answered that one should keep them in mind, but not mention them aloud. Rabbi Pinchas said in the name of Rabbi Abba bar Papa, "Since you have no disgrace of this year's sins, do not speak falsehood. Do not boast about not having any sins this year." Rabbi Huna bar Abba said, "I wrote about myself as if I had forgotten, as it says (Micah 7:18), 'Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?' They are like debtors. It also says (Isaiah 49:15), 'Can a woman forget her nursing child?' Therefore, David said, 'Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered' (Psalms 32:1). He has no deceit in his spirit, and he does not pray with deceit. 'The Lord's loving-kindness surrounds him' (Psalms 32:10). 'Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous ones' (Psalms 32:11). Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Berachiah, "Let not the righteous say, 'We have been excluded from the ranks of the upright.' Even the righteous are given rejoicing, as it says (Psalms 33:1), 'Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous ones.' Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said, 'There are 248 limbs in a person, and there are 248 positive commandments in the Torah. If you fulfill one of the 248 commandments in the Torah, I fulfill one of the 248 limbs in your body, as it says (Psalms 34:21), 'He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.' Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov said in the name of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair, 'The Holy One, blessed be He, said (Isaiah 43:24), 'I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.'"