Pharaoh Cried Out by Night and Begged Israel to Go Serve the LORD

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 12:31

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he called for Moses and Aaron by night" (Exodus 12:31). I might think they came to him; but has it not already been said, "And as for you, none of you shall go out from the door of his house until morning" (Exodus 12:22)? Rather, it teaches that they [Pharaoh and his people] peered down at him from atop a balcony and said to him, "By night we do not go out; we will go out at midday." "Go forth from among my people" (Exodus 12:31) — I might think with delay; therefore it says, "Rise up." "You" — I have only "you"; from where do I include the converts and the slaves? Therefore it says, "both you." "Both the children of Israel" — to include the women and the little ones. "And go, serve the LORD as you have spoken" (Exodus 12:31) — your own stance, as it is said, "And Moses said: With our young and with our old we will go" (Exodus 10:9).

Themes

PassoverRedemptionExodus

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