Why Israel Alone Was Enslaved and Moses Before Kings

(Exodus 2:13:) "And he went out on the second day, and behold, two Hebrew men were striving together (nitzim)." Rabbi Abbahu said: their heels were striking heel against heel and bringing forth sparks (nitzotzin). (Ibid.:) "And he said to the wicked one, Why do you strike your fellow?" Rabbi Isaac said: From here you learn that anyone who raises his hand against his fellow is called wicked, as it is said, "And he said to the wicked one." (Ibid. 2:14:) "He said to him, Who appointed you?" Rabbi Judah the Levite son of Rabbi Shallum said: Moses was saying before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the universe, why is this nation enslaved? There are seventy nations in the world, and none of them is enslaved except this nation alone. "Surely this sin is known," as it is written, "Surely the matter is known" (Exodus 2:14), that it is not for nothing that you are enslaved. What did Moses do? "And Moses fled from before Pharaoh" (Exodus 2:15), and he went to Midian, to Jethro. "A man diligent in his work" (Proverbs 22:29) — this is Moses; "he shall stand before kings" — this is Pharaoh; "he shall not stand before obscure men (chashukhim)" — this is Jethro. For the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "Go, return to Egypt" (Exodus 4:19), and He said to him, "Rise early in the morning" (Exodus 9:13). Rabbi Nehemiah said: Behold, you have made the holy profane and the profane holy. "He shall stand before kings" — before the Holy One, blessed be He; "he shall not stand before obscure men (chashukhim)" — this is Pharaoh, as it is said, "And in Tehaphnehes the day shall be darkened (chashakh)" (Ezekiel 30:18).