Pharaoh Mocks Israel as Lazy and the Earth Has a Woman's Body

And Pharaoh too was gnashing his teeth against Moses, and he said to them (the Israelites), "You are lazy, you are lazy!" (Exodus 5:17). Rabbi Judah son of Rabbi Simon said: What is "lazy"? He said to them, "You are holy; that is why you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD' (ibid.)." The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Rise early in the morning and make it known to Pharaoh that he is nothing (behold, he goes out to the water). 'Thus says the LORD, [the God of the Hebrews]: Let My people go, that they may serve Me; for at this time' etc. (Exodus 9:13-14)." He said to him, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me; thus it will be well for you. And if not, 'for at this time' etc." It is written, "Who is a teacher like Him" (Job 36:22) — for He teaches the wicked to do repentance. He said to Pharaoh, "Now therefore send, bring your livestock under shelter" etc. (Exodus 9:19). And what is written? "Behold, at this time tomorrow I will cause it to rain" etc. (ibid. v. 18). And after it I bring the locust, as it is said, "Behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory, and they shall cover the eye of the land" (Exodus 10:4-5). Our Rabbis said: Just as a woman has a head, so the land has a head, as it is said, "and the head of the dusts of the world" (Proverbs 8:26). And just as a woman has ears, so the land has ears, as it is said, "and give ear, O land" (Isaiah 1:2). And just as a woman has eyes, so the land has eyes, as it is said, "and they shall cover the eye of the land" (Exodus 10:5). And just as a woman has a mouth, so the land has a mouth, as it is said, "and the land opened its mouth" (Numbers 16:32). And just as a woman has arms, so the land has arms, as it is said, "and behold, the land is broad of arms" (Genesis 34:21). And just as a woman has a navel, so the land has a navel, as it is said, "who dwell upon the navel of the land" (Ezekiel 38:12). And just as a woman conceives and gives birth, so the land, as it is said, "Can a land be brought forth in one day? Can a nation be born at one time?" (Isaiah 66:8). These are Israel, whom the Holy One, blessed be He, brings and gathers into Jerusalem at one time, and Jerusalem is astonished, as it is said, "And you will say in your heart, 'Who has borne me [these]?'" (Isaiah 49:21). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to her, "By your life, in a brief moment I gather your exile," for thus said Isaiah, "Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you" (Isaiah 49:18).