The Blessing No Israelite Had Yet Spoken

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 18:10

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD" (Exodus 18:10). Rabbi Pappias [taught]: It is a disgrace to Moses and his company, for the Omnipresent brought out sixty myriads from Egypt, and there was not one among them who opened his mouth and blessed the Omnipresent until Jethro came and blessed Him. "Who has delivered you from the hand of Egypt." Why does it say "and from the hand of Pharaoh"? From the hand of the one who is called "the great sea-monster," as it is said, "Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh, the great sea-monster" (see Ezekiel 29:3). "Who has delivered you" - this is Moses and Aaron. "Who has delivered the people" - these are Israel. "From under the hand of Egypt" - from under the burden of Pharaoh and of Egypt.

Themes

EgyptPrayerRedemption

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