"At the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, Rabbi Elazar HaKappar said that in the merit of four things, Israel went out of Egypt: they did not change their names, they did not change their language, they did not engage in immoral behavior, and they did not reveal secrets. The word of their departure was entrusted to them twelve months before, as it is stated (Exodus 3:22), 'And you shall borrow from your neighbors,' and a woman was asked about her possessions, and no one revealed the matter.

Regarding immoral behavior, only one person was guilty, and the scripture publicized it, as it says (Leviticus 24:10), 'And the son of an Israelite woman went out' [and committed a sin with a non-Jewish man]. Another explanation of what merit they were redeemed in: Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Nechemia. Rabbi Yehuda says they were redeemed in the merit of the blood of the Passover sacrifice and the blood of circumcision, as it is stated (Ezekiel 16:6), 'And I said to you, "In your blood, live!"'

Rabbi Nechemia says they were redeemed in the merit of the Torah, as it is stated (Exodus 2:25), 'And God saw the children of Israel,' and at the giving of the Torah it is written (ibid. 20:15), 'And all the people saw the voices.' There is another place to learn from this, as it is written (ibid. 3:12), 'When you take the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain.' Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says they were redeemed in the merit of the Tabernacle, as it is stated (Exodus 39:43), 'And Moses saw all the work,' and there is another place to learn from (ibid. 29:46), 'That I may dwell among them.'

Rabbi Elazar says they were redeemed in the merit of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, as it is stated (Exodus 2:25), 'And God saw the children of Israel,' and regarding them it is written (Isaiah 29:23), 'They shall sanctify My Name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob.' What is meant by 'My Name'? [It refers to] children who have no blemish, as it is stated (Daniel 1:4), 'Children in whom there is no blemish.'

Rabbi Abba bar Kahana says they were redeemed in the merit of the generation of Isaiah, as it is stated (Isaiah 29:23), 'The work of My hands in their midst.' And when David saw how many merits Israel had in their exodus from Egypt, he began to praise them with Hallelujah (Psalms 114-118)."