Another matter, “it was when Pharaoh let the people go” – that is what is written: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates” (Song of Songs 4:13). Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to one who had a field in which there was a pile of pebbles. He arose and sold it to another. The person who bought it arose and removed the pile from it and found spring water beneath it.
He planted grapevines in rows, planted various spices, planted pomegranate trees, and suspended them on reeds. He constructed a tower and positioned a guard in it. Everyone who passed by it would praise it. The person who sold it passed by it and saw that it was filled with everything good; he said: ‘Woe is me that I sold it that way, woe is me that I divested it in this way.’
So, too, Israel in Egypt was like a pile [gal] of pebbles, as it is stated: “A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountain [gal], a sealed spring” (Song of Songs 4:12). Once they departed, they became a pomegranate orchard, as it is stated: “Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates.” They became like a grapevine, as it is stated: “He transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9). They formed rows [by tribe]: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and the rest of them.
He planted various types of spices, as it is stated: “Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon” (Song of Songs 4:14).” He planted apples in it, as it is stated: “Under the apple tree I awakened you” (Song of Songs 8:5). He suspended it on reeds, these are the branches of the Candelabrum. He found in it spring water, as it is stated: “A spring of gardens, a well of spring water” (Song of Songs 4:15).
He built a tower in it, as it is stated: “And built a tower in its midst, and also hewed out a winepress” (Isaiah 5:2). He situated a guard in it, as it is stated: “The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shadow on your right hand” (Psalms 121:5). All the days that people would see Israel, they would praise them. Who was praising them?
The wicked Bilam, as it is stated: “How goodly are your tents, Jacob…like valleys outstretched” (Numbers 24:5–6). Bilam saw them and was astounded. Pharaoh saw them in rows of priests, Levites, and Israelites, and divided into flags. He began screaming and said: ‘Woe is that man9A reference to Pharaoh himself. who let this [great nation] out from his auspices’ – therefore it is stated: “It was [vayhi] when Pharaoh let the people go.”