The Holy One blessed be He performed many miracles on behalf of Israel. He killed the firstborn of Egypt, who were likened to an animal, as it is stated: “Whose flesh is the flesh of donkeys” (Ezekiel 23:20). He killed the firstborn of the captives, as they [the Egyptians] would say to the [non-Israelite] captive who was incarcerated in prison: ‘Is it your wish to be freed and Israel will be redeemed?’ he would say: ‘We will never leave here, so that Israel will not leave.’
Therefore, He judged them with [the Egyptians]. ”From the firstborn of Pharaoh…to the firstborn of the captive” – this is analogous to a king who made a celebration for his son and killed his enemies. The king said: Let anyone who is happy for me come to the celebration of my son, and anyone who hates me will be killed with the enemies. Similarly, God made a celebration for Israel when He redeemed them.
God said: Let anyone who loves My son come and celebrate with My son. The virtuous Egyptians came and performed the paschal offering with Israel, and departed with them, as it is stated: “A mixed multitude ascended with them” (Exodus 12:38). Anyone who wanted Israel not to be redeemed died with the firstborn, as it is stated: “He smote all the firstborn in Egypt” (Psalms 78:51). “Pharaoh rose during the night, he, all his servants, and all of Egypt; and there was a great cry in Egypt, as there was no house in which there was no one dead” (Exodus 12:30).
They all screamed, as it is stated: “There was a great cry in Egypt.” They all came to kill Pharaoh.23They blamed him for what had happened. At that moment, “the Egyptians urged the people, [to hastily send them from the land]” (Exodus 12:33). [The Israelites] were reciting hallel, and Pharaoh announced to his warriors: ‘Come, let us call Moses and Aaron.’ God said to him: ‘Will you expel My children at night?
You will not expel My children at night, but rather they will depart overtly at noon.’ Israel dispersed throughout Egypt at that time, as it is stated: “The children of Israel acted in accordance with the word of Moses; and they asked from the Egyptians…” (Exodus 12:35). Moses was occupied with Joseph’s bones and the Tabernacle vessels that our patriarch Jacob had prepared.24Jacob had prepared materials for use in the Tabernacle.
See Shemot Rabba 33:8. So, [King] David said: “The righteous shall rejoice when he sees vengeance” (Psalms 58:11).25The Israelites saw that their oppressors were being punished as they were being redeemed, and they rejoiced.