Another matter, “it was when Pharaoh let the people go” – that is what is written: “Say to God: How awesome are your actions. Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies will dwindle before You” (Psalms 66:3). Rabbi Yoḥanan in the name of Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: Say to the good laborer: ‘Well done.’ How [astounding it is that] those who were [set to be] hanged, hang those who [would have] hanged them; those [set to be] executed, execute those who [would have] executed them.
Haman thought to hang Mordekhai and they hanged him and his sons. Pharaoh said: “Every son that is born, you shall cast him into the river” (Exodus 1:22), and he was cast into the sea, as it is stated: “Pharaoh’s chariot and his host He cast into the sea” (Exodus 15:4). That is: “Say to God: How awesome are your actions.” What is: “Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies will dwindle [yekhaḥeshu] before You”?
Rabbi Berekhya said: Their words will render them liars, like the matter that is stated: “And he lies [vekhiḥesh] to his counterpart” (Leviticus 5:21). You find that Nebuchadnezzar said: “And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of gods” (Daniel 3:25).11When Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya (known also by their Babylonian names, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Abednego) were thrown into the fiery furnace, they were able to walk around in the flames without being harmed.
Nebuchadnezzar described seeing them, as well as a fourth being, an angel. What did the Holy One blessed be He do to him? He delivered him to the accusing angel, who began flogging him and saying to him: ‘Evil one from a putrid drop, say what you saw.’ He began saying: “Blessed be the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Abednego, who sent His angel, and delivered His servants” (Daniel 3:28). [Son of gods] is not written but rather “His angel.”
That is: “Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies will dwindle before You.” And Nebuchadnezzar also said: “None can stay His hand [or say to Him: What have you done]” (Daniel 4:32). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Wicked one from a putrid drop, are you suggesting that I perform injustice against any person?’ [Nebuchadnezzar] then said: “For all His works are truth” (Daniel 4:34).
That is: “Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies will dwindle before You.” Pharaoh, because he said: “Who is the Lord [that I should heed Him…?]” (Exodus 5:2), he then said: “The Lord is righteous” (Exodus 9:27). Because he said: “And I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2), he circled among the entrances of the Israelites and said to them: ‘Go in peace, depart in peace’ – that is: “Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies will dwindle before You.”