“No foreigner shall eat of it” – to fulfill what is stated: “He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances unto Israel” (Psalms 147:19). The Holy One blessed be He said to them that they should not intermingle with another nation, and they should not know its secrets, but rather you shall remain by yourselves. In this world, when Israel partook of the paschal offering, they ate it hastily, as it is stated: “So you shall eat it…[and you shall eat it hastily]” (Exodus 12:11), commemorating: “For in haste you departed from the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 16:3).
However, in the future: “For you shall not go out hastily, and you shall not go in flight” (Isaiah 52:12). To what is this matter comparable? To a merchant who came to stay at an inn. He stayed there all day, and at night, he arose and took everything that was his and set out on the way.
The innkeeper arose in the morning and began screaming: ‘Look – this merchant arose at night and took everything that was mine and departed!’ That merchant heard and said: ‘What caused me to hear this? It is only because I departed at night. Therefore, I swear that I will no longer depart at night.’
So, Israel prepared themselves at night, to leave early in the morning. The Egyptians arose after they went and said: ‘Let us pursue them, because they took everything that was ours,’ as it is stated: “The Egyptians pursued them” (Exodus 14:9). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘What caused you all this? It is the haste in which you departed.
From now on, “for you shall not go out hastily.”’ In the past, I and My court would go before them, as it is stated: “The Lord went before them by day [in a pillar of cloud, to guide them on the way, and by night in a pillar of fire…]” (Exodus 13:21). However, in the future, it will be I alone, as it is stated: “For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).