“God saw the children of Israel, and God knew” (Exodus 2:25). “God saw the children of Israel,” as it is stated: “I have seen the affliction of My people” (Exodus 3:7). “And God knew” (Exodus 2:25); “as I know its pains” (Exodus 3:7). Alternatively, “God saw” that they did not have good deeds for which their redemption would be warranted.
Likewise, it is explicated by Ezekiel: “I rendered you as numerous as the plants of the field [and you increased and grew, and you came to great beauty: Breasts developed and your hair grew, but you were naked and bare]” (Ezekiel 16:7). It should have said “and your hair grew” and only then “breasts developed,” as the lower sign of puberty precedes the upper one. Rather, what is “breasts developed [nakhonu]”?
These are Moses and Aaron, who were prepared [nekhonim] to redeem them, as it is written: “Your two breasts76This phrase is expounded as referring to Moses and Aaron. are like two fawns” (Song of Songs 4:5). “And your hair grew,” the time of the redemption has arrived.77Pubic hair serves as the sign of the culmination of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. “But you were naked and bare,” bereft of good deeds; therefore, it states: “God saw” that they did not have any good deeds for which their redemption would be warranted.