And even though He spoke with them outside the land in the merit of the fathers, He did so only in a clean place, one of water. As it is written (Daniel 10:4) "And I was by the stream Ulai," (Ibid. 10:4) "and I was by the great river, the Tigris," (Ezekiel 1:3) "The word of the L–rd came to Ezekiel … by the river Kevar."
Even Though He Spoke with Them Outside the Land
Mekhilta Tractate Pischa 1:13