Another matter, “there was a small city” – this is Egypt, “and few men in it” – these are the Israelites, as it is stated: “With seventy people your ancestors descended to Egypt…” (Deuteronomy 10:22). “And a great king came against it” – this is Pharaoh. “And surrounded it and built a great siege upon it” – as he issued edicts, one harsher than the one before: He prevented them from engaging in marital relations, he pulled their foreskins,95He forced the Israelite men to conceal their circumcisions. and had them grow a forelock.96This was a hairstyle common among the Egyptians.
Pharaoh was trying to force the Israelites to assimilate into Egyptian culture. “He found in it a poor, wise man” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “Moses said: So said the Lord: About midnight…” (Exodus 11:4).97God had stated that the plague of the firstborn would take place at midnight. Moses, when warning Pharaoh of the impending plague, said it would take place “about midnight.” This was due to his wisdom, as he reasoned that if the Egyptians would err in calculating exactly when midnight was, they might rationalize that this was not performed by God, or that Moses did not know exactly what God would do (Midrash HaMevoar, based on Berakhot 4a).
“And he saved the city in his wisdom” – as he said: “They shall take of the blood…” (Exodus 12:7).98By instructing the Israelites as to the performance of the paschal offering, Moses caused them to be saved from the plague of the firstborn. “But no one remembered that poor man”99The Israelites complained about Moses in the wilderness and did not take into account that he had saved them in Egypt. – the Holy One blessed be He said: You did not remember him; I remember him, as it is stated: “He remembered the days of old, Moses, His people” (Isaiah 63:11).