When God Reversed the Order Carrying and Clothing Israel

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beshalach 10:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation: AND GOD DID NOT LEAD THEM (Exodus 13:17) — He did not lead them according to the way of all the earth. How so? It is the way of the earth that the servant carries his master; would his master carry him? The Holy One, blessed be He, did not behave with them in this way. Rather: AND IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOU SAW HOW THE LORD YOUR GOD CARRIED YOU, and so forth (Deuteronomy 1:31). And it says: AND I CARRIED YOU ON EAGLES' WINGS, and so forth (Exodus 19:4). It is the way of the earth that the servant washes his master, but here the Holy One, blessed be He, washed us, as it is said: AND I WASHED YOU WITH WATER (Ezekiel 16:9). It is the way of the earth that the servant clothes his master, but here the Holy One, blessed be He, clothes them, as it is said: AND I CLOTHED YOU WITH EMBROIDERED CLOTH (ibid., verse 10). It is the way of the earth that the servant puts shoes on his master, but here: AND I SHOD YOU WITH TACHASH LEATHER (ibid.). It is the way of the earth that the servant gives light to his master, but here the Holy One, blessed be He, gives light to Israel, as it is said: AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM, and so forth (Exodus 13:21). Thus, AND GOD DID NOT LEAD THEM according to the way of all the earth. And why all this? BECAUSE IT WAS NEAR (Exodus 13:17) — for they are near to the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said: AND HE HAS RAISED UP A HORN FOR HIS PEOPLE, [A PRAISE FOR ALL HIS FAITHFUL ONES,] FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, A PEOPLE NEAR TO HIM (Psalms 148:14).

Themes

ExodusRedemption

Biblical References

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