Shemot Rabbah Reader

“The Lord said to Moses: Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; behold, he is going out to the water; and say to him: So said the Lord: Let My people go, and they will serve Me” (Exodus 8:16). “The Lord said to Moses: Rise early in the morning” – that is what is written: “Have you seen a man diligent in his work? [He will stand before kings; he will not stand before the dark]” (Proverbs 22:29), as it is written [on the verse: “All the work was finished” (I Kings 7:51)].1This is a reference to Pesikta Rabati 6, which, commenting on the verse from Kings, states that Moses and other individuals were diligent in their work and therefore stood before kings.

Alternatively: “Have you seen a man diligent in his work” – this is Moses, who was diligent in the labor of the Tabernacle; therefore, “he will stand before kings.” Rabbi Yehuda says: “Have you seen a man diligent in his work” – this is Moses, who was diligent in bringing plagues upon Pharaoh. “He will stand before kings” – “stand before Pharaoh.” “He will not stand before the dark” – this is Yitro.

Rabbi Neḥemya said to him: According to your statement, you have rendered the sacred profane. Rather, “he will stand before kings” – he will stand before the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights” (Exodus 34:28). “He will not stand before the dark” – this is Pharaoh, for whom and for whose land the Holy One brought darkness, as it is stated: “There was a thick darkness” (Exodus 10:22).

“Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh” – why early? Rabbi Berekhya said: It is because the wicked Pharaoh would say: This son of Amram comes and goes to us each and every morning. Rather, before he comes, I will go and depart from here. But the Holy One blessed be He, who examines hearts, said to Moses: ‘Know that this is what this wicked one is planning in his heart; rather, precede him and appear to him before he departs.’

That is why it says: “Rise early in the morning.” Rabbi Pinḥas HaKohen bar Rabbi Ḥama said: That is what is written: “The impious of heart will arouse wrath; [they do not cry out when He binds them]” (Job 36:13). After the Holy One blessed be He waits for the wicked to repent, but they do not, even if ultimately they want to do so, He takes their heart so they will not repent. What are “the impious of heart”?

They are those who come and are initially impious in their heart; they ultimately bring wrath upon themselves. What is “they do not cry out when He binds them”? Even though they wish to repent to the Holy One blessed be He, and they come and engage in prayer, they are unable to do so. Why?

It is because “He binds them”; He locks the door before them. So, Pharaoh wished to engage in prayer, and the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Go stand before him before he departs.’2Announce the next plague before he has the opportunity to pray.

Another interpretation: “Rise early in the morning” – the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘This wicked one hardened his heart during the first three. The fourth plague is more severe than the previous ones; go and forewarn him that he should let My people go so the plague will not come upon him.’ “For, if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms upon you, upon your servants, upon your people, and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms, and also the ground on which they are.

I will distinguish on that day the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms will be there; so that you will know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth” (Exodus 8:17–18). “For, if you do not let My people go, behold, I will send…upon you…” – from where did they come upon them? Some say from above and some say from below. Rabbi Akiva says: From above and from below.

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘You made many multitudes over My children; I, too, will make upon you many multitudes of birds of the heavens and beasts of the land,’ as it is stated: “Behold, I will send swarms upon you” – beasts and birds intermingled. However, in the land of Goshen, in which Israel was residing, there were no swarms, as it is stated: “I will distinguish on that day the land of Goshen.”

Rabbi Ami says: It is like a person who says to another: ‘So-and-so will not be included in this penalty, as his patron, so-and-so, is standing over him.’3He is protecting them. “I will place a division between My people and your people, tomorrow this sign will be” (Exodus 8:19). “I will place a division between My people [and your people]” – this teaches that Israel was fit to be afflicted with this plague, but the Holy One blessed be He placed the Egyptians as their ransom.

In the future, too, the Holy One blessed be He will bring (ancient)4This word, which appears in some editions, was added by the non-Jewish censor. idolaters and cast them into Gehenna in place of Israel, as it is stated: “For I am the Lord your God, Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt as your ransom, Kush and Seva in your stead” (Isaiah 43:3).

“The Lord did so; and heavy swarms came into the house of Pharaoh, and into the house of his servants; and throughout the land of Egypt the land was ruined due to the swarms” (Exodus 8:20). “The Lord did so; and heavy swarms came into the house of Pharaoh” – he was afflicted first, as he began with the wicked counsel first, as it is stated: “Pharaoh commanded…” (Exodus 1:22), and then, “the house of his servants.”

“Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: Go sacrifice to your God in the land. Moses said: It is not proper to do so, as we will sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God; behold, were we to sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, would they not stone us?” (Exodus 8:21–22). “Pharaoh called.… Moses said: It is not proper to do so” – because the Egyptians prostrate themselves to these animals as a god.

“We will go on a three-day journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He will command us” (Exodus 8:23). “We will go on a three-day journey into the wilderness” – in order to mislead them. “Pharaoh said: I will let you go, and you will sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; just do not go very far; entreat for me. Moses said: Behold, I am leaving you, and I will entreat the Lord, and the swarms will depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only let Pharaoh not continue to be deceitful by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord” (Exodus 8:24–25).

“Pharaoh said: I will let you go.… Moses said: Behold, I am leaving you” – what is “behold”? The prayer will be immediate, so that the swarm will depart from you tomorrow. That is what is written: “The swarms will depart…[tomorrow].” “Moses left Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord.

The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and He removed the swarms from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; not one remained” (Exodus 8:26–27). “Moses left.… The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and He removed the swarms” – why did He bring swarms upon them? It is because they would say to Israel: ‘Go out and bring us bears, lions, and leopards,’ in order to torment them; therefore, He brought upon them swarms of beasts; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda.

Rabbi Neḥemya said: [They were] species of hornets and mosquitoes. The statement of Rabbi Yehuda appears correct, as regarding the frogs it is written: "The frogs died” (Exodus 8:9), because there was no benefit from their skins; however, regarding the swarms there was [potential] benefit from their hides; therefore, “not one remained.” Had they been hornets or mosquitoes they could have been left to reek.

“For if you refuse to let them go, and continue to hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon your cattle that are in the field, upon the horses, upon the donkeys, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks; there will be a very severe pestilence” (Exodus 9:2–9:3). “Pharaoh hardened his heart.… The Lord said to Moses.… For if you refuse.… Behold, the hand of the Lord is” (Exodus 8:28–9:3) – why did He bring pestilence upon them?

It is because they tasked Israel to be herders of cattle and herders of flocks, and [of] all animals in the mountains and the wildernesses, so they would not procreate. The Holy One blessed be He said: I will bring upon them a fine herder,5This is pestilence that will kill their animals, which will no longer require herding. as it is stated: “Behold, the hand of the Lord is [upon your cattle].” “The Lord will distinguish between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt; and nothing of all that belongs to the children of Israel will die” (Exodus 9:4).

What is “and nothing of all that belongs to the children of Israel will die”? Even an animal that was in the possession of an Egyptian, and an Israelite had a grievance that he owns part of it, would be spared, and that would prove the claim of the Israelite. “Pharaoh sent, and behold, not even one of the cattle of the Israelites died. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he did not let the people go” (Exodus 9:7).

“The Lord set an appointed time.… The Lord did this matter.… Pharaoh sent…” (Exodus 9:5–7) – what is “not even one”? Even an animal [that] half of it belonged to an Israelite and half of it belonged to an Egyptian did not die.

“The Lord said to Moses and to Aaron: Take for you handfuls of soot of the furnace, and Moses will throw it heavenward before the eyes of Pharaoh” (Exodus 9:8). “The Lord said to Moses and to Aaron: Take for you handfuls of soot of the furnace” – a great miracle was performed with the boils, as both Moses and Aaron took their handfuls, and Moses’s hand held his handful and Aaron’s handful; from here, a small area can have a large capacity.6If God wills it.

This plague came upon them through the Holy One blessed be He, Moses, and Aaron, as both Moses and Aaron took the soot of the furnace, and Moses threw it heavenward, and the Holy One blessed be He transformed it into boils above, and it fell upon them. “It will become dust over the entire land of Egypt, and will be boils erupting into blisters upon man and upon animal, throughout the land of Egypt” (Exodus 9:9).

“It will become dust over the entire land of Egypt” – why did He bring boils upon them? It is because they tasked Israel to heat hot water for them and to cool cold water for them;7The Israelites prepared water for them to bathe. therefore they were afflicted with boils so they would be unable to touch their bodies. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: A great miracle was performed with the boils, as when a person shoots an arrow upward it does not travel one hundred cubits, and Moses threw a handful of the soot of a furnace, which lacks substance, and Moses threw it heavenward and it reached the Throne of Glory.

Another miracle was performed with the boils, that what Moses’s hand held was two handfuls. Another miracle was performed with the boils: When a person scatters a kav of dust, it scatters only four cubits, but Moses took a handful8A handful is considerably less than a kav. and scattered it throughout the land of Egypt.

“They took soot of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it heavenward; and it became boils erupting into blisters upon man and upon beast” (Exodus 9:10). “They took soot of the furnace…erupting [pore’aḥ]…upon man and upon beast” – what is pore’aḥ? It is that they were afflicted with leprosy along with it, as it is stated: “If the leprosy will erupt [paro’aḥ tifraḥ] [in the skin]” (Leviticus 13:12).

“The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, as the boils were upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians” (Exodus 9:11). “The magicians could not…” – why could they not stand before Moses? It is because they counseled Pharaoh to cast every son that is born into the Nile, so that Moses would die.9See Shemot Rabba 1:24. Moreover, they condemned him to death because he removed the crown from Pharaoh’s head and placed it on his head.10See Shemot Rabba 1:26.

Therefore, “the magicians could not [stand before Moses because of the boils, as the boils were upon the magicians].” “The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not heed them; as the Lord had spoken to Moses” (Exodus 9:12). “The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh” – when the Holy One blessed be He saw that he did not relent from the first five plagues, from that point on, the Holy One blessed be He said: Even if he wishes to repent, I will harden his heart so that I may exact his entire punishment against him; “as the Lord had spoken to Moses” – as it is written: “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus 7:3).

“The Lord said to Moses: Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him: So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, and they will serve Me. For this time, I will send all My plagues against your heart and upon your servants and against your people, so that you will know that there is none like Me on the entire earth” (Exodus 9:13-14). “The Lord said to Moses: Rise early in the morning” – that is what is written: “Behold [hen], God is exalted in His power, who teaches like Him?” (Job 36:22).

Rabbi Berekhya said: Hen means one, as in the Greek language, one is called hen. In other words, our God is one. “Exalted in his power” – He increases the strength of the righteous to perform His will. And “who teaches like Him?” – as He teaches the path of repentance.

So you find with Moses, whom the Holy One blessed be He strengthened to go on His mission and perform His commands. He taught the wicked Pharaoh to repent because He did not want to send the plague until he forewarns him to [allow him to] repent, as it is written: “Rise early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh.” He would give Moses strength to rise early and stand before Pharaoh, and he taught the wicked Pharaoh about the path of repentance, as it is written: “And say to him: So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews….

For this time…” “Why isn’t it stated here “behold, he is going out to the water” (Exodus 8:16)?1This was the previous place where Moses was instructed to “rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh.” Once Pharaoh saw that when he would go out to the water, Moses would precede him on the path, he refrained and did not go out, so that Moses would not encounter him. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: Go to him early, before he leaves his house.

“For I could have now extended My hand and afflicted you and your people with pestilence, and you would be eliminated from the earth” (Exodus 9:15). “For this time (Exodus 9:14)…For I could have now extended My hand…” The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Woe, wicked one, do you believe that I am unable to eradicate you from the world? Learn from the plague of pestilence. When I sent that pestilence, had I sent it upon you and on your people, you would have been eradicated from the land.

However, I only sent it upon you in order to show you the power of My might, and so that you would tell of My strength throughout the land.’ That is what is written: “However, for this I have sustained you [in order to show you My power, and so that My renown will be told of throughout the earth]” (Exodus 9:16). “You continue to oppress My people, not letting them go” (Exodus 9:17). “You continue to oppress [mistolel]2The word mistolel is obscure.

The midrash understands it to be derived from the root s-l-l, and thus it means literally to cause to be crushed, i.e., in the manner that a road is levelled. Others understand it to be derived from the root s-l-s-l, with mistolel therefore meaning “exalt oneself.” My people.” He would make them like a road [mesila] on which everyone treads, as you say: “…who said to your soul: Bow down, so we may pass, and set down your body like the ground” (Isaiah 51:23).

“Behold, I will rain down tomorrow at this time very severe hail, that there has not been like it in Egypt since the day it was founded until now” (Exodus 9:18). “Behold…tomorrow at this time…very severe hail.” Zavdi ben Levi said: He scratched a mark on the wall. He said to him: ‘When the sun reaches here, the hail will fall tomorrow.’

“That there has not been like it in Egypt” – to tell you that there had not been like it in the world and not in Egypt. It does not say that there will not be like it, like it said about the plague of the firstborn: “Nor will be like it any more” (Exodus 11:6). “That there has not been like it” – in other words, in the past there has not been, but there is destined to be in the future. When?

In the days of Gog and Magog; that is what is written: “Which I have reserved for a time of trouble, for a day of battle and war”3The previous verse concludes with a mention of storehouses of hail. (Job 38:23), and so it says: “Torrential rain and hailstones” (Ezekiel 38:22). “Now, send and gather your livestock and everything that is yours in the field; every man and animal that will be found in the field and will not be gathered into the house, the hail will fall upon them and they will die” (Exodus 9:12).

“Now send, and gather your livestock” – come and see the mercy of the Holy One blessed be He; even at the time of His anger, He had mercy on the wicked and on their animals, as He did not send the plague of hail upon them, but only on the crops of the land. He cautioned them that they preserve themselves and their animals, so they would not be stricken with the hail. He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh drove his servants and his livestock into the houses.

And he who disregarded the word of the Lord, he left his servants and his livestock in the field (Exodus 9:20-21). “He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh.” Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: That was Job; “and he who disregarded,” that was Pharaoh, and his people.

“The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand toward the heavens, and there will be hail throughout the land of Egypt, upon man, upon animal, and upon all the grasses of the field, in the land of Egypt (Exodus 9:22). “The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand toward the heavens” – that is what is written: “Whatever the Lord wished, He has done…” (Psalms 135:6). David said: Even though the Holy One blessed be He decreed: “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord and the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psalms 115:16) [it is to be understood in this way].

To what is this matter comparable? It is [comparable] to a king who decreed and said that Romans may not go down to Syria and Syrians may not go up to Rome. Similarly, when the Holy One blessed be He created the world, He decreed and said: “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; but the earth He has given to the children of men.” When He sought to give the Torah, He cancelled the first decree and said: Those below will ascend to those above, and those above will descend to those below, and it is I who begins, as it is stated: “The Lord descended onto Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20), and it is written: “To Moses He said: Ascend to God” (Exodus 24:1).

That is: “Whatever the Lord wished, He has done, in the heavens and on the earth.” Likewise, when He sought to, He said: “Let the waters be gathered” (Genesis 1:9), and when He sought to act, He made the dry land into sea and the depths, as it is stated: “Who summons the water of the sea” (Amos 5:8; 9:6), and it says: “All the fountains of the great deep burst” (Genesis 7:11). When He sought to do so, he made the sea and the depths into dry land, as it is stated: “And the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea” (Exodus 14:29), and it says: “He led them through the depths, as through a wilderness” (Psalms 106:9).

Likewise in Egypt, regarding Moses, who was on the land, He gave him license to control the actions of the heavens, as it is stated: “The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand toward the heavens…” Why did He bring hail upon them? It is because they [the Egyptians] set Israel to be planters of vineyards, gardens, orchards, and trees; therefore He brought hail upon them and broke everything. “Upon man, upon animal” – when the Holy One blessed be He saw that they did not heed His words that He had said to them: “Now send, gather [your livestock…every man and animal that will be found in the field… will die]” (Exodus 9:19), the Holy One blessed be He said: They deserve that the hail shall fall upon everything.4Since they did not listen to God’s warning.

“Moses extended his staff toward the heavens and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the ground, and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt” (Exodus 9:23). “Moses extended his staff toward the heavens.” These plagues – three by Aaron, three by Moses, three by the Holy One blessed be He, and one by means of all of them. Blood, frogs, and lice, which were on the earth, were by Aaron.

Hail, locusts, and darkness, by Moses, because they were in the air, as Moses had control over the earth and the heavens. Swarms, pestilence, and the plague of the firstborn by the Holy One blessed be He. And boils were by all of them.5See above, Shemot Rabba 11:5. “And the Lord [vaY-H-V-H] sent thunder and hail.”

Every place that vaY-H-V-H is stated, it is He and His heavenly court, as it is stated: “And the Lord [vaY-H-V-H] remembered Sarah” (Genesis 21:1), He and His advisory council. And the Lord [vaY-H-V-H] sent thunder and hail, He and His advisory council. “And fire ran down to the ground.” They were sentenced to the judgment of the wicked in Gehenna.

If he was sitting, he was burned by the hail;6There was“fire flaming within the hail” (Exodus 9:24). if he was standing, he was burned by the fire. “There was hail, and fire flaming within the hail, very severe, that there had not been in Egypt since it became a nation” (Exodus 9:24). “There was hail, and fire flaming within the hail” – a miracle within a miracle. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, one said: Like the seed of a pomegranate, whose pit can be seen from the outside; and one said: Like that lantern in which water and oil are mixed as one, and the fire burns within.

To what is this matter comparable? To two hardened legions that were fighting each other. Eventually, the time arrived for the king’s war, and the king made peace between them, and they performed the king’s mission together. Fire and hail are hostile to each other, but when the time for the war with Egypt arrived, the Holy One blessed be He made peace between them and they struck Egypt.

That is: “There was hail, and fire flaming [mitlakaḥat] within the hail.” What is mitlakaḥat? It means “to take the dead [met lakaḥat].” After the hail would strike him, the fire would take him and burn him.

“The hail struck throughout the land of Egypt, everything that was in the fields, both man and animal; and the hail struck all the vegetation in the fields, and broke every tree of the fields” (Exodus 9:25). “The hail struck throughout the land of Egypt.” The hail fell and it was arranged in piles surrounding their livestock, so they were unable to go out. An Egyptian would come with a knife and slaughter [one of] them and a bird would descend upon it from above and eat it, as it is stated: “He consigned [vayasger]7Vayasger can also mean to hand over to be imprisoned. their cattle to the hail, and their livestock to fiery bolts [lareshafim]” (Psalms 78:48).

What is “and their livestock lareshafim? These are birds, as it is stated: “As the sparks [uvnei reshef] fly upward” (Job 5:7). “And the hail struck all the vegetation in the fields, and broke every tree of the fields” Midrash Tehilim.> “He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost [baḥanamal]” (Psalms 78:47). Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Shalom said: What is baḥanamal?

It came [ba], rested [ḥana], cut [mal]. Rabbi Pinḥas said: It would descend like an axe and would hew the trees. “Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail” (Exodus 9:26). “Only in the land of Goshen” – why was it spared? It is because its patron protected it; that is what is written: “Where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.”

“Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them: I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones” (Exodus 9:27). “Pharaoh sent” – what he said: “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one [hatzaddik], and I and my people are the wicked ones.” Because the Holy One blessed be He had said to him: “Now send, gather [your livestock…every man and animal that will be found in the field…will die]” (Exodus 9:19).

He [God] acted righteously [tzedaka] with them by warning them, “and I and my people are the wicked ones,” as they disregarded the word of the Lord and left their people and their livestock in the field and they all died. Entreat the Lord; there has been enough of this mighty thundering and hail, and I will let you go, and you will stay no longer. Moses said to him: As I leave the city, I will spread my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail; so that you will know that the earth is the Lord's (Exodus 9:28-29).

“Entreat the Lord… Moses said to him: As I leave the city, I will spread my hands…” From here [we learn] that Moses did not want to pray in Egypt because it was filthy with idols and abominations. “And as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God” (Exodus 9:30). “And as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” Do not think that I do not know what you are destined to do afterward.

Rather, I know that you will not fear the Omnipresent afterward, just as you did not fear Him beforehand. Yet, I will do so [stop the hail], so you will acknowledge the greatness of the Holy One blessed be He.

The flax and the barley were stricken, as the barley was ripe, and the flax was in stalk. But the wheat and the spelt were not stricken; for they ripen late (Exodus 9:31–32). “The flax and the barley were stricken, as the barley was ripe, and the flax was in stalk. But the wheat and the spelt were not stricken; for they ripen late [afilot hena].”

Rabbi Pinḥas and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Shalom, Rabbi Pinḥas said: What is afilot hena? The Holy One blessed be He performed wonders [pela’im] with them.8The hail should have destroyed them, but God miraculously spared them. Rabbi Yehuda says: They were late [to ripen].9Wheat and spelt ripen later than barley and flax. At the time of the hail the stalks of the former were still green and not fully grown and therefore less vulnerable to the hail.

Rabbi Pinḥas said to him: But isn’t it written: “And the hail struck all the vegetation of the field” (Exodus 9:25), and you say that [it was] because they were small and were not stricken? Rather, the Holy One blessed be He performed wonders with them.

“Moses emerged from the city, from Pharaoh, and spread his hands to the Lord; the thundering and hail ceased, and the rain did not pour upon the earth” (Exodus 9:33). “Moses emerged from the city, from Pharaoh” – he was still in the vicinity of the city; he did not delay praying on their behalf, but rather, he immediately “spread his hands to the Lord,” and the Holy One blessed be He accepted his prayer.

“The thundering and hail ceased, and the rain did not pour upon the earth.” He suspended it [the hail] loosely. When did it fall? In the days of Joshua, upon the Emorites, as it is stated: “It was as they fled…the Lord cast upon them great stones from the heavens” (Joshua 10:11).

The rest is destined to fall in the days of Gog and Magog. “Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thundering had ceased, and he continued to sin, and he hardened his heart, he and his servants” (Exodus 9:34). “Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thundering had ceased, and he continued to sin.” The wicked are thus – as long as they are in distress, they subjugate themselves; when the distress passes, they return to their corruption.

Likewise Nebuchadnezzar, when he was in distress, he would laud the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, extol, and honor the King of the heavens, as all His works are truth…” (Daniel 4:34). When he saw himself in his greatness, he began boasting: “The king spoke, and said: Isn’t this great Babylon, which I have built as a royal residence, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:27).

Pharaoh, too, did the same: “Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thundering had ceased, and he continued to sin…”

“The Lord said to Moses: Come to Pharaoh, as I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, in order to place these signs of Mine in their midst” (Exodus 10:1). “The Lord said to Moses: Come to Pharaoh” – that is what is written: “The heft of a stone and the weight of sand, but the anger of a fool is heavier than both” (Proverbs 27:3). Avnimos the weaver asked our Rabbis, of blessed memory; he said to them: ‘The earth, how was it created initially?’

They said to him: ‘No one is expert in these matters, but go to Abba Yosef the builder.’ He went and found him standing on scaffolding. He said to him: ‘I have a question to ask you.’ He said to him: ‘I cannot descend because I am a day laborer,1And my time is not my own. but ask what you want to ask.’

He asked: ‘How was the earth created initially?’ He said to him: ‘The Holy One blessed be He took dirt from beneath the Throne of Glory and cast it on the water, and it became earth. The small pebbles that were in the dirt became mountains and hills, as it is stated: “When the dirt turns into a mass, and the clods cleave together”’ (Job 38:38). This is clear in the ears of people,2It is readily understood. as it is stated: “The heft of a stone and the weight of sand.”

What is “the heft of a stone”? One who sees the mountains and the hills, does he not say: How did the Holy One blessed be He create these? What is “the weight of sand”? The sand upon which the water stands from above, and it is under it and bears it.

The Holy One blessed be He says: It appears heavy in the eyes of people, and they view it as though it is wearying for Me, but it is not wearying, as it is stated: “He does not tire and does not weary” (Isaiah 40:28). What wearies Me? One who angers me with idle chatter, as it is stated: “You wearied the Lord with your words” (Malachi 2:17). That is “but the anger of a fool is heavier than both.”

Another interpretation: “The heft [koved] of a stone” – the Holy One blessed be He said: I honored [kibadti] Israel, who are called stone, as it is stated: “From the Shepherd of the stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24). “The weight [netel] of sand” – this is Israel, who were analogized to sand, as it is stated: “The number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea” (Hosea 2:1), and I have elevated them in the world, and I said: One who touches them touches the pupil of his eye.3Based on the verse in Zechariah (2:12): “One who touches you touches the pupil of his eye.”

Rabbi Yehoshua says: It is a textual emendation; “My eye” is written.4The verse means to say: “One who touches you touches the pupil of My eye,” but out of respect for God, the verse was phrased “his eye.” They arose and angered Me and I sought to eliminate them and to cast them from before Me, but I said [I will not destroy them,] so that Pharaoh the wicked will not say: He was unable to deliver them so he stood against them and killed them. That is “but the anger of a fool is heavier than both.” That is “as I have hardened his heart.”

Another interpretation: “As I have hardened his heart” – that is what is written: “I said I will eliminate them [afeihem]” (Deuteronomy 32:26). What is afeihem? I said in my wrath [be’api]: Where are they [ayeh hem]? Alternatively: Afeihem – I said in My wrath [be’af] that they angered Me: Where are they [ayeh hem]? They will be nothing other than: “I will cease their memory from man” (Deuteronomy 32:26). Who caused them to emerge from there? “Were it not that I dreaded the enemy's provocation” (Deuteronomy 32:27).

Another interpretation: “As I have hardened his heart” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From here there is an opening for the heretics to say that he had no [opportunity] to repent, as it is stated: “As I have hardened his heart.” Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said to him: Let the mouths of the heretics be sealed; rather, “to the scorners He scorns” (Proverbs 3:34). The Holy One blessed be He forewarns a person the first time, the second, and the third, and if he does not relent, He locks his heart from repentance in order to exact retribution for his sins.

The same is true regarding the wicked Pharaoh. Once the Holy One blessed be He sent [him warnings] five times, and he disregarded His words, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: You were stubborn and hardened your heart; behold. I will add impurity to your impurity. That is: “As I have hardened [hikhbadti] his heart.”

What is hikhbadti? The Holy One blessed be He rendered his heart like this liver, which, when it is cooked twice, becomes hard. Thus, Pharaoh’s heart became like that liver, and he did not accept the words of the Holy One, blessed be He. That is: “As I have hardened his heart.”

“And so that you will relate in the ears of your son, and of your son's son, what I have wrought upon Egypt, and My signs that I have performed among them; and you will know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 10:2). “And so that you will relate in the ears of your son” – the Holy One blessed be He revealed to Moses what plague He would bring upon them, and Moses wrote it in an allusion: “And so that you will relate in the ears of your son” – this is the plague of locusts, as it is stated: “Relate to your children about it” (Joel 1:3).5What is to be related appears in the following verse – locusts.

“Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and said to him: So said the Lord, God of the Hebrews: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, and they will serve Me. For if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your border” (Exodus 10:3–4). “Moses and Aaron came.… For if you refuse to let My people go…” – what is “behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your border”?

But not in the borders of the descendants of Ḥam. In this regard it is stated: “For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants [of the world] learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). Through the plague of locusts, they recognized until where the border of Egypt is. “And your houses will be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; that neither your fathers nor your fathers' fathers have seen, from the day that they were on the earth until this day.

He turned, and exited from Pharaoh” (Exodus 10:6). “They will cover the face of the earth.… And your houses will be filled…He turned, and exited from Pharaoh” (Exodus 10:5–6) – what is this?6Why does the Torah state that “he turned, and exited”? That does not appear in the account of any other plague. It is because he saw that they were looking at each other and believing his words, and he left there so they would take counsel and repent.

“He said to them: So let the Lord be with you, when I will let you and your children go; see that evil is facing you” (Exodus 10:10). “Pharaoh's servants said.… Moses and Aaron were returned.… Moses said: We will go with our young and with our old.… He said to them: So let the Lord be with you…” (Exodus 10:7–10) – what is “evil facing you”? He said to them: ‘It is the way of youths and elders to sacrifice, but the young and the children?

One who says this, his intention is only to flee, not as you are saying: “A three-day journey” (Exodus 5:3, 8:23). Therefore, see that what you are thinking, that you intend to flee, will return against you, so you will not depart from here.’ “Not so; let the men go now and serve the Lord; for that is what you seek. He drove them out from Pharaoh's presence” (Exodus 10:11).

That is what is written: “Let the men go now” – he said to him: ‘If you say: Our intent is not to flee, prove your assertion: “Let the men go now.” Since the children are not fit to serve, why do you need them? Rather, “for that is what you seek” – you are seeking to perform evil, you wish to flee. Therefore, I will not listen to you at all.’

Immediately, he issued a command and drove them from there; that is what is written: “He drove them out from Pharaoh's presence.”

“The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, and they will ascend on the land of Egypt, and eat every grass of the land, everything that the hail left” (Exodus 10:12). “The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand” – why did He bring locusts upon them? It is because they tasked Israel to be sowers of wheat and barley; therefore, he brought locusts upon them, and they ate everything that the Israelites had sown.

“Moses extended his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all the night; it was morning, and the east wind brought the locusts” (Exodus 10:13). “Moses extended his staff” – why would the Holy One blessed be He give a time for the plagues, “tomorrow” (Exodus 10:4), and not bring them upon them immediately? It was so they would relent and repent.

Pharaoh hastened to call Moses and Aaron, and he said: I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you (Exodus 10:16). “The locusts ascended…they covered the surface of the entire land… Pharaoh hastened to call Moses and Aaron…” (Exodus 10:14–16) – what is “I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you”? “I have sinned against the Lord your God,” in that I did not let Israel go, “and against you,” in that I drove you out from before me and I thought to curse you, as I said: “So let the Lord be with you” (Exodus 10:10).

“Now, please, forgive my sin [just this once, and entreat the Lord your God, and He will remove this death only from me].… He exited from Pharaoh” (Exodus 10:17–18).

“The Lord turned an exceedingly strong west wind, and it carried the locusts, and deposited them into the Red Sea; there did not remain even one locust within the entire border of Egypt. The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go” (Exodus 10:19–20). “The Lord turned…a west wind…there did not remain even one locust” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: When the locusts came, the Egyptians rejoiced.

They said: Let us fill barrels with them. The Holy One blessed be He said: Wicked ones, are you rejoicing over the plague that I brought upon you? Immediately, “the Lord turned an exceedingly strong west [yam] wind”; this is the west [maaravit] wind. “It carried the locusts…” – what is “there did not remain even one locust”?

Even what was salted in the pots and in the barrels flew and went away. “The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart.”7It is possible that this last line expresses that once Pharaoh saw that even the locusts in the barrels disappeared, he concluded that the plague had been the result of sorcery, as this would not have happened with real locusts. Consequently, he hardened his heart (Etz Yosef).

“The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand toward the heavens, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, and the darkness will be tangible” (Exodus 10:21). “The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand toward the heavens.” That is what is written: “He sent darkness, and it was dark; and they did not defy [maru] His word” (Psalms 105:28). Our Rabbis said: It is because they did not accept the authority [marut] of the word of the Holy One blessed be He over them.

Alternatively, the Holy One blessed be He said to the angels: ‘The Egyptians deserve to be afflicted with darkness,’ and they all immediately agreed as one, and did not defy. What is: “He sent darkness, and it was dark”? To what is this matter similar? It is similar to a master whose servant sinned against him.

He said to someone: ‘Go and strike him fifty beatings.’ He went and struck him one hundred beatings, adding some of his own. So, the exalted Holy One blessed be He sent darkness upon the Egyptians, and the darkness added on its own; that is: “He sent darkness, and it was dark [vayaḥshikh].”1This could be translated as “and it made it dark.” “And the darkness will be tangible.”

What were the dimensions of the darkness? Our Rabbis said: It was as thick as a dinar,2A coin. as it is stated: “And the darkness will be tangible [veyamesh],” that it had substance [mamash].

“Moses extended his hand toward the heavens, and there was a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, and no one rose from his place for three days; but for all the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings” (Exodus 10:22-23). “Moses extended his hand toward the heavens, and there was a thick darkness.” From where did this darkness come?

Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: From the heavenly darkness, as it is stated: “He made darkness His secret place, His pavilion around Him” (Psalms 18:12). Rabbi Neḥemya said: From the darkness of Gehenna, as it is stated: “A land of darkness, like blackness, the shadow of death3This is a reference to Gehenna. and disorder, [where the light is like darkness]” (Job 10:22). Woe to a house whose windows open into darkness, as it is stated: “Where the light is like darkness.”

And so it says: “On the day he descended to the grave I caused the deep to mourn [he’evalti], and cover itself for him” (Ezekiel 31:15), hovalti4Because mourning has little to do with depths, the midrash interprets the word he’evalti as hovalti, meaning: I led him into the depths. is written. Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi said: With what are the wicked covered in Gehenna? With darkness. Ḥizkiyya said: This tub, with what does one cover it?

With an earthenware vessel, with the same substance; just as it is of earthenware, so too, one covers it with an earthenware vessel. The same is true of the wicked, as it is stated: “Their deeds are in the dark” (Isaiah 29:15); therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, covers them with the depths, which is dark, as it is stated: “And darkness on the surface of the depths” (Genesis 1:2). One may [therefore] say: The darkness that came upon Egypt was from within Gehenna.

Why did the Holy One, blessed be He, blessed is His name, before whom there is no favoritism and who examines the innermost thoughts and feelings, bring darkness upon them? It is because there were sinners among the Israelites who had Egyptian patrons, had wealth and honor, and did not want to leave. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: If I bring a plague upon them publicly and they die, the Egyptians will say: Just as it5The plague of the firstborn befell us, so it befell them.

Therefore, He brought darkness upon the Egyptians for three days so they6The Israelites could bury their dead and their enemies would not see them, and they would praise the Holy One, blessed be He, for it. What is thick darkness? Rabbi Avdimi of Haifa said: It was darkness many times over.7It was exceptionally dark. Our Rabbis said: There were seven days of darkness.

How so? The first three days, one who was sitting and sought to stand, stood, and one who was standing and sought to sit, sat. Regarding those days, it is stated: “There was a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another.”

Three other days, one who was sitting was unable to stand, one who was standing was unable to sit, and one who was crouching was unable to straighten up. In their regard it is stated: “and no one rose from his place three days.” [Through the events that transpired] during the three days of thick darkness,8At the conclusion of the three days of thick darkness, the Israelites would ask the Egyptians to borrow the items. the Holy One, blessed be He, granted the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and they lent them.

For [during these days] Israelites would enter the houses of Egyptians, and would see in them silver vessels, gold vessels, and garments. [When the Egyptians were asked to lend these items,] if they would say: ‘We do not have anything to give you,” the Israelites would say to them: ‘Behold, it is in such and such place.’ At that moment, the Egyptians would say: Had they sought to deceive us, they would have taken them during the days of darkness and we would not have sensed it, as they had already seen them.

Since they did not touch them without our knowledge, likewise, they will not keep them. They lent to them, in fulfillment of what is stated: “Then they will emerge with great property” (Genesis 15:14). That is what is written: “But for all the children of Israel there was light…” It is not stated [that there was light] in the land of Goshen, but rather “in their dwellings,” as everywhere that a Jew would enter, light would enter and illuminate for him what was in the barrels, the boxes, and the treasure chests.

And in their regard it is stated: “Your word is a lamp to my feet [and a light to my path]” (Psalms 119:105). These are six days of darkness that were in Egypt. The seventh [day] of darkness was the day of darkness at the sea, as it is stated: “There was the cloud and the darkness and it illuminated the night” (Exodus 14:20). So, the Holy One, blessed be He, dispatched a cloud and darkness and darkened for Egypt and illuminated for Israel, as He had done in Egypt, and in this regard it is stated: “The Lord in my light and my salvation” (Psalms 27:1).

Likewise, in the future, the Holy One, blessed be He, will bring darkness, as it is stated: “For, behold, darkness will cover the earth…” (Isaiah 60:2).

“Pharaoh summoned Moses and said: Go serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds remain; even your children will go with you. Moses said: You, too, will give into our hand feast offerings and burnt offerings, and we will sacrifice to the Lord our God” (Exodus 10:24-25). “Pharaoh summoned Moses, and said: Go serve the Lord…Moses said: You, too, will give into our hand feast offerings and burnt offerings.”

Moses said to him: ‘Do not think that we will sacrifice anything of ours; rather, you, too, will give into our hand feast offerings and burnt offerings that we will sacrifice to the Holy One blessed be He in your name.’ “Our livestock, too, will go with us” (Exodus 10:26).9You will give us animals for immediate sacrifice on your behalf, and we will take our livestock for the purpose of any additional offerings.

“Pharaoh said to him: Go from me, beware, do not see my face anymore, the moment you look upon my face you shall die. Moses said: You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore” (Exodus 10:28-29). “Pharaoh said to him: Go…. Moses said: You have spoken well.”

You have projected the truth, as “I will not see your face anymore,” as the Holy One blessed be He said to me as you have said.

“The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:1–2). “The Lord spoke to Moses.… This month shall be for you the first of months” – that is what is written: “The voice of my beloved, behold, he is coming” (Song of Songs 2:8),1In standard editions of Shemot Rabba, there is an obscure reference inserted here into the text.

There are in fact similar midrashim to what follows in Pesikta deRav Kahana, Pesikta Rabbati, and Shir HaShirim Rabba. as it is stated: “My beloved spoke and said to me” (Song of Songs 2:10): ‘What are you doing here in the place of the impure, “whose flesh is the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses”’ (Ezekiel 23:20)? “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and go” (Song of Songs 2:10).

He [Moses] said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, You said that we would be enslaved four hundred years,2A reference to Genesis 15:13, where God informs Abraham that his descendants will be slaves in a land not theirs for four hundred years. but they have not yet been completed.’ He said to him: ‘They have already been completed, as it is stated: “For behold, the winter has passed”’ (Song of Songs 2:11); immediately, the righteous uncovered their heads, which had been covered,3They were covered as a sign of mourning. as it is stated: “The blossoms have appeared in the land” (Song of Songs 2:12) – these are the [members of the] tribe of Levi, all of whom were righteous.

Alternatively, “the blossoms [hanitzanim]” – these are the priests, “the sons of Aaron, Elazar his son, Pinḥas his son” (I Chronicles 6:35).4The reference is to the High Priests, who wear the sacred diadem [tzitz]. Alternatively, “the blossoms” – these are the kings: David, Solomon, Reḥavam, Asa, Aviya. Alternatively, these are the Levites: “Asaf the leader and his deputy Zekharia” (I Chronicles 16:5).

Once the Holy One blessed be He saw that it was so, He said: “The time of the songbird has come” (Song of Songs 2:12) – the time has arrived for the Levites to recite songs and psalms before Me. Another matter: “The time of the songbird has come” – when the Holy One blessed be He heard Israel reciting the song,5I.e., the Song of the Sea, Exodus 15:1–18. Alternatively, the psalms said while eating the paschal lamb.

He said: “The sound of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:12) – that He heard the voice of Israel due to the merit of Abraham, who sacrificed a turtledove and a young pigeon.6See Genesis 15:9–10. What is written thereafter? “The fig tree has formed its unripe figs” (Song of Songs 2:13) – these are the righteous and the upright. “The vines in blossom give scent” (Song of Songs 2:13) – these are the middling who repented.

From that point on: “Arise my love, my fair one, and go” (Song of Songs 2:13). When the children of Israel left Egypt, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘You have no other month that is greater than this one; it is therefore called first, as it is stated: “The first of months.”’ Another interpretation: “It shall be the first [month of the year] for you” – as it were, the Holy One blessed be He is called first, as it is stated: “I am first and I am last” (Isaiah 44:6).

Zion is called first, as it is stated: “Throne of glory, exalted from the first, the place of our Temple” (Jeremiah 17:12). Esau is called first, as it is stated: “The first emerged…” (Genesis 25:25). The messiah is called first, as it is stated: “The first to Zion, behold they are here” (Isaiah 41:27). May the Holy One blessed be He, who is called first, come and build the Temple that is called first, and exact retribution from Esau, who is called first; and let the messiah, who is called first, come during the first month, as it is stated: “This month shall be for you the first of months…”

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – the ministering angels said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, when are You going to set the festivals, as it is written: “The matter came about by the decree of the messengers, [the question by the word of the holy ones]?”’ (Daniel 4:14).7“The messengers” and “the holy ones” are the angels. He said to them: ‘I and you will ratify what Israel decides and [how they] intercalate the year, as it is stated: “I call to God Most High, to God who completes for me” (Psalms 57:3), and so it says: “These are the festivals of the Lord [that you shall proclaim them] holy convocations…”’ (Leviticus 23:37).

You [shall proclaim them], whether at the proper time or not at the proper time; I have no festivals other than these. The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘In the past, it was in My hands, as it is stated: “He made the moon for the festivals…” (Psalms 104:19),8The Jewish calendar is lunar, and the beginning of the months is determined by the new moon. but from here onward, it is given into your hands and is your prerogative; if you say yes, yes, if you say no, no.

In any case, “this month shall be for you.” Moreover, if you seek to intercalate the year I will confirm it for you.’ That is why it is written: “This month shall be for you.”

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “These are the two anointed ones, who stand by the Lord of all the land” (Zechariah 4:14). Rabbi Levi said: This teaches that the Holy One blessed be He was continuously seeking something to redeem Israel. He was unable to find anything until He found the merit of Moses and Aaron, which stood for them; that is what is written: “These are the two anointed ones [benei yitzhar].”

To what is this matter comparable? To a king who sought to marry a woman, and they came to him and said: She is poor and has nothing in the world other than two nose rings. So, the Holy One blessed be He said: It is sufficient for Israel to be redeemed due to the merit of Moses and Aaron. That is why it is stated: “The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron.”

Another interpretation: “The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron” – that is what is written: “The voice of my beloved, behold, he is coming” (Song of Songs 2:8). When Moses went and said to Israel: ‘So said the Holy One blessed be He to me: “Today you are leaving, in the month of spring”’ (Exodus 13:4), they said to him: ‘Where is He?’ He said to them: ‘He is about to arrive: “The voice of my beloved, behold, he is coming, [leaping upon the heights, bounding upon the hills]”’ (Song of Songs 2:8).

Rabbi Yehuda said: What is “leaping upon the heights?” The Holy One blessed be He said: If I scrutinize the actions of Israel they will never be redeemed. Rather, at whom will I look? At their saintly forefathers, as it is stated: “Moreover, I have heard the cry of the children of Israel…[and I have remembered my covenant]” (Exodus 6:5)9The covenant was made with the patriarchs. – on the merit of their forefathers I am redeeming them.

Therefore, it is written: “Leaping upon the heights,” and heights mean nothing other than the forefathers, as it is stated: “Hear, O heights, the Lord’s grievance [and the mighty ones, foundations of the earth]” (Micah 6:2).10 Eitanim, meaning mighty ones, is a term that the Sages used for the patriarchs. Another interpretation: Rabbi Neḥemya said: What is “leaping upon the heights?” [It is not to be understood literally.]

Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: Israel does not have deeds that would warrant their being redeemed, except by the merit of the elders, as it is stated: “Go, and gather the elders of Israel” (Exodus 3:16), and heights are nothing other than the elders, as Yiftaḥ’s daughter says to her father: “I will go down in the heights” (Judges 11:37). Was she going to the heights? Rather, she was saying: To the elders, as she was going to show the elders that she was a pure virgin.11She therefore did not deserve the fate decreed for her by her father’s vow.

That is why it is written: “Leaping upon the heights.” Another interpretation: Rabbi Elazar said: What is “leaping upon the heights”? The Holy One blessed be He said: I arranged for Esau that he would establish kings, as it is stated: “These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom” (Genesis 36:31). If I allow Esau to establish more kings, how will Israel survive?

Rather, I will supplant them and render them chieftains, as it is stated: “These are the chieftains of the sons of Esau” (Genesis 36:15).12The midrash is reading the verses out of chronological order, as if the chieftains came after the kings. Heights mean nothing other than idolaters, as it is stated: “Behold, four chariots13The chariots represent four idolatrous nations. are emerging from between the two heights” (Zechariah 6:1).

“The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying” (Exodus 12:1). “In the land of Egypt” – why does it not say: “In Egypt”? Rabbi Ḥanina said: The Holy One blessed be He said: It is written in the Torah: “You shall stand outside” (Deuteronomy 24:11).14The debt collector must stand outside and cannot enter the debtor’s house to seize his property. I, too, will do so – “in the land of Egypt,” but not in Egypt.15I.e., within the borders but not in the population centers.

Likewise, Moses said: “As I leave the city” (Exodus 9:29). Rabbi Shimon said: Great is the love for Israel, as the Holy One blessed be He revealed Himself in a place of idol worship, a place of filth, and a place of impurity in order to redeem them. This is analogous to a priest whose teruma fell into a cemetery. He says: What shall I do?

To impurify myself is impossible, and to leave my teruma there is impossible. It is preferable that I render myself impure one time and then purify myself, and [thus] I will not lose my teruma. So, our ancestors were the teruma of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Israel is holy to the Lord, [the first of His crop]” (Jeremiah 2:3).16Teruma is also described as the first of a crop (see Deuteronomy 18:4).

They were among the graves, as it is stated: “As there was no house in which there were none dead” (Exodus 12:30), and it says: “And Egypt was burying [those whom the Lord had smote]” (Numbers 33:4). The Holy One blessed be He said: How do I redeem them? To leave them there is impossible. It is preferable to come down and redeem them, as it is stated: “I came down to deliver them from the hand of Egypt” (Exodus 3:8).

When He took them out, He summoned Aaron, and he purified Him, as it is stated: “He shall atone for the Holy of Holies [mikdash hakodesh]” (Leviticus 16:33), “He shall atone for the Sanctuary [hakodesh]” (Leviticus 16:16).17Hakodesh is homiletically understood to refer to the Source of sanctity.

“This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:2). Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn [shaḥar], [beautiful as the moon, pure as the sun, fearsome as banners of a host?]” (Song of Songs 6:10). There are four terms of praise of Israel here, corresponding to the four exiles.

For during the four exiles that Israel experienced, they did not deny the Holy One blessed be He. In the Babylonian exile, from where [can this be seen]? It is as it is stated: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?” Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself to the sun, as it is stated: “How have you fallen from the heavens, glowing morning [shaḥar] star” (Isaiah 14:12).18“Morning star” refers to Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel19Daniel lived during the Babylonian exile. would rise early [shoḥer] and pray to the Omnipresent, as it is stated: “And windows were open for him in his upper chamber facing Jerusalem” (Daniel 6:11), evening, morning, and noon. Why would he rise early and pray? It was so the Holy One blessed be He would have mercy upon Israel. In his regard, Solomon said: “He who seeks [shoḥer] good seeks favor” (Proverbs 11:27).

God was present for them in their time of distress, as it is stated: “I love those who love me…” (Proverbs 8:17). Likewise, we find, when Daniel was cast into the lions’ den, he was not harmed, as it is stated; “God sent His angel and closed the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me” (Daniel 6:23). Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were cast into the fiery furnace and were not harmed, as it is stated: “The hair of their heads was not singed [...] and the odor of fire did not cover them” (Daniel 3:27).

Rather, they illuminated the world like the dawn, which illuminates the world. Therefore, “who appears like the dawn.” They caused the idolaters to acknowledge the Holy One blessed be He and to praise Him, as Nebuchadnezzar said when Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya emerged from the furnace: “Blessed is the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego” (Daniel 3:28),20These are the Babylonian names of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. “the servants of the exalted God” (Daniel 3:26).

Likewise, Darius said after Daniel fell into the lions’ den “to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, who is the living God” (Daniel 6:27); therefore, it is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?” “Beautiful as the moon” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in the Median [Persian] exile; you find during the night that if the moon is not seen in the sky, there is darkness in the world, and a person is unable to walk, even in the city.

When the moon is seen in the sky, everyone is glad, and they walk on the road. So, during the days of Aḥashverosh, when they decreed against the Jews to “destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13), and Esther came and illuminated for Israel, as it is stated: “The Jews had light and gladness, [and joy and honor]” (Esther 8:16); that is why it is written: “Beautiful as the moon,” about the Median exile.

If your wish is to know why Esther was likened to the moon: Just as the moon is reborn after thirty days, so too, Esther said: “But I have not been summoned to the king these thirty days” (Esther 4:11); that is why “beautiful as the moon” is in the Median exile. “Pure as the sun” (Song of Songs 6:10) – during the Greek kingdom. Sandrios eim Ulios:21This phrase is in corrupted Greek, and two interpretations of it have been given. (1) The Sanhedrin against the sun, i.e., the Jewish Sanhedrin stands in opposition to the Greeks, represented by the sun (Mirkin); and (2) Alexander, son of Helios, i.e., Alexander the original Macedonian emperor, is the son of the god of the sun, Helios (Jastrow).

The sun [ḥama] is its name, and the sun is called a strong man [gibor], as it is stated: “Rejoices as a strong man [gibor] to run its course” (Psalms 19:6).22The verse is referring to the movement of the sun on its course. During the summer, who can withstand the sun; everyone flees from it, as it is stated: “And nothing hides from its heat [meḥamato]” (Psalms 19:7). So, with regard to the Greek kingdom, everyone fled from it, and Matitya the priest and his sons were steadfast in their faith in the Holy One blessed be He, and the troops of Greece fled from before them and were all killed.

So, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; the weak will say: I am mighty [gibor]” (Joel 4:10). And it says: “So may all Your enemies perish, Lord…” (Judges 5:31), to fulfill what is stated: “Pure as the sun.” “Fearsome as banners” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in [reference to the hegemony of] Edom [Rome]; why is it [Israel] called fearsome?

It is because it remains steadfast in a kingdom that inspires fear, as it is stated: “And behold a fourth beast, dreadful and fearsome, and strong” (Daniel 7:7). What is “fearsome as banners?” You find that there are twelve constellations in the sky. Just as the heavens cannot endure without the twelve constellations, so, the world cannot endure without the twelve tribes, as it is stated: “If [these] statutes depart [from before Me, says the Lord, then the descendants of Israel will also cease from being a nation before Me forever]” (Jeremiah 31:35).

“Fearsome as banners” – banners are nothing other than armies, as it is stated: “The banner of the camp…and their host and their numbered” (Numbers 2:3–4). Likewise, the banners of the heavens are the angels, and the banners of the earth are Israel. The hosts of the heavens are angels, as it is stated: “And the entire host of the heavens standing…” (II Chronicles 18:18). The hosts of the earth are Israel, as it is stated: “All the hosts of the Lord emerged from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:41).

The Master of them both is the Holy One blessed be He. Just as everyone fears the Holy One blessed be He and the angels, so too, the idolaters fear Israel, as it is stated: “And all the peoples of the land will see that the name of the Lord [is called upon you, and they will fear you]” (Deuteronomy 28:10). This is why it is stated: “Fearsome as banners,” because the Holy One blessed be He likened Israel to the angels.

Regarding angels it is stated: “Seraphim were standing above Him” (Isaiah 6:2), and regarding Israel it is stated: “You are standing today” (Deuteronomy 29:9). The angels say each day: “Holy, holy, holy [is the Lord of hosts]” (Isaiah 6:3), and Israel says: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.23At the beginning of the Amida prayer. Both the angels and Israel praise God with a threefold prayer.

Angels are called fire, as it is written: “The flaming fire His servants” (Psalms 104:4), and Israel likewise, as it is written: “The house of Jacob will be fire” (Obadiah 1:18). Angels are renewed every morning, and praise the Holy One blessed be He and then return to the river of fire from which they emerged; and the Holy One blessed be He again renews them and restores them as they had been initially, as it is stated: “They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23).

So, [the people of] Israel sink into iniquities due to the evil inclination that is in their bodies, and they repent. Each year, God forgives their iniquities and renews their hearts to fear Him, as it is stated: “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). That is why it is written: “Fearsome as banners.”

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you [the first [rosh] of months]” – what is written in this passage: “You shall take a bunch of hyssop…the Lord will pass to smite Egypt” (Exodus 12:22–23)? That is what is written: “For from the top [rosh] of the rocks I see him” (Numbers 23:9) – these are the patriarchs, as it is stated: “Hear, O heights, the Lord’s grievance” (Micah 6:2). We find that the Omnipresent initially sought to establish the world, but was unsuccessful until the patriarchs arose.

This is analogous to a king who was seeking to build a city. He issued a decree, and they searched for a place to build the city. He came to lay the foundation, and water was rising from the depths and did not allow him to lay the foundation. He sought to lay the foundation again in a different place, and the water would overturn it. [He kept looking] until he came to a certain place and found there an enormous rock.

He said: Here, I will establish the city, upon these rocks. So was the world originally only water mixed with water. God sought to establish worlds, but the [presence of the] wicked did not allow it. What is written regarding the generation of Enosh?

“Then invoking the name of the Lord began” (Genesis 4:26).24This is an unconventional reading of the verse. The verse is usually understood as a positive assertion of the beginning of religious life. The midrash, following Bereshit Rabba 23:7, reads it as negative, as the beginning of human disrespect for the Divine. Water rose and inundated them, as it is stated: “Who made Ash, Kesil and Kima…” (Job 9:9).25These are usually identified as the constellations Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades.

This is perhaps based on the legend that God caused the Flood by removing two stars from the constellation of Pleiades and stopped the rain by taking two stars from Ursa to replace them (Berakhot 59a). Alternatively, the text should be emended to say just Kima and Kesil, and the reference is to Amos 5:8 where the verse refers to flooding: “He made Kima and Kesil…calls the waters of the sea and pours them upon the face of the earth; the Lord is His name.”

Likewise, the generation of the Flood was wicked; what is written about them? “Who say to God: Leave us” (Job 22:17). The water rose and did not enable them to lay a foundation upon it, as it is stated: “Their foundation poured like a river” (Job 22:16). And it is written: “On that day, all the fountains of the great depths were breached” (Genesis 7:11).

When the patriarchs came and exhibited merit, the Holy One blessed be He said: Upon these I will establish the world, as it is stated: “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He set the world upon them” (I Samuel 2:8). That is why it is written: “For from the top of the rocks I see him.” “Behold [hen], a people that will dwell alone” (Numbers 23:9) – what is hen [heh nun]? All the letters can be paired other than these two.

How so? Alef tet are ten; bet ḥet are ten; gimmel zayin are ten; dalet vav are ten; heh remains by itself.26Each letter has a numerical value, in order: alef = 1, bet = 2, etc. From yod, they are multiples of ten: yod = 10, kaf = 20, etc. The last four letters of the alphabet are multiples of one hundred: kof = 100, resh = 200, etc. Likewise, the letter nun does not have a pairing; yod tzadi are one hundred; kaf peh are one hundred; lamed ayin are one hundred; mem samekh are one hundred; nun remains by itself.

The Holy One blessed be He said: Just as these letters cannot be paired with other letters, but are by themselves, so too, Israel cannot cleave to all the ancient worshippers of stars and constellations; rather, they are by themselves. Even when an enemy decrees against them to desecrate Shabbat, to abolish circumcision, or to worship idols, they are killed and do not assimilate among them, as it is stated: “Behold, a people that will dwell alone and will not be reckoned among the nations” (Numbers 23:9).

And what do I do to every foe or enemy that will makes a decree against them? I will kill him, as it is stated: “Behold, a people that will rise like a lion” (Numbers 23:24). From here you learn: You find that Amalek came upon them and they killed them, as it is stated: “Joshua weakened Amalek and his people by sword” (Exodus 17:13). Sisera came and they killed him, as it is stated: “The Lord confounded Sisera” (Judges 4:15), and likewise all their enemies.

Likewise, when Israel emerged from Egypt, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “And you shall not emerge [each from the entrance of his house until morning]” (Exodus 12:22). They were in their houses, and He was killing their enemies, as it is stated: “And the Lord will pass to smite Egypt” (Exodus 12:23) – that is what is written: “Behold, a people that will rise like a lion.” That is why the Holy One blessed be He said: Since I performed miracles for you during this month, you too shall render it the first month, as it is stated: “This month shall be for you the first of months.”

It is analogous to a king who had a son whom he placed in charge of all his property. The son said to his father: ‘If you do not give me your throne, how will everyone know that you are fond of me? Only if you give to me the place of your throne will everyone show appreciation for me.’ Thus God gave Abraham the world, as it is stated: “And the Lord said: Will I conceal [something] from Abraham” (Genesis 18:17).

Once He gave him everything, he said to Him: If You do not give me the Temple, five hundred cubits by five hundred cubits, You have not given me anything. The Holy One blessed be He gave him everything that he asked, as it is stated: “And I have given you one portion more than your brothers” (Genesis 48:22). When Abraham heard this, what did he say? “God spoke in His holiness, I exulted” (Psalms 60:8).

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you the first of months” – it is analogous to a king to whom a son was born, and he made a celebration. The son was taken captive and was there [in captivity] for a long time. After that time, the son was redeemed, and the king made a birthday celebration27The day of his redemption was celebrated like a new birthday. for him. So, until Israel descended to Egypt, they would count toward the enslavement.28God had told Abraham that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land for four hundred years and that they would be enslaved there (see Genesis 15:13).

Once they went down and were enslaved there, and the Holy One blessed be He performed miracles on their behalf and they were redeemed, they began counting the months, as it is stated: “This month shall be for you the first of months.”

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “[He brought out His people with joy and his chosen ones with gladness.] He gave them lands…so that they would observe His statutes” (Psalms 105:43–45). God brought the plagues upon the Egyptians: “He sent darkness, and it was dark” (Psalms 105:28); He gradually lowered [the darkness] until it reached Egypt. “Egypt rejoiced at their departure” (Psalms 105:38) – it is analogous to a king whom everyone honored.

To what degree did they honor him? To the extent that they would bring him gifts and would present their gods with them. So, Pharaoh ruled from one end of the world to the other end, and they would bring him gifts and present their gods with them. Then Moses and Aaron came, as it is stated: “Then Moses and Aaron came…” (Exodus 5:1).

He took out his lists29Lists of the names of all the gods. and searched them but did not find this [God’s] name.30See Exodus 5:2: “Pharaoh said: Who is the Lord, that I should heed His voice to send forth Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I also will not send forth Israel.” This is analogous to a servant who was walking with his master…as cited above.31Shemot Rabba 5:14 But the Holy One blessed be He is living and everlasting, as it is stated: “But the Lord God is the true God, He is the living God, and the eternal King” (Jeremiah 10:10).

It is analogous to a poor person who was in the city and stood before the king [to ask for assistance], but he was indifferent [to the poor person’s suffering]. When the affliction affected his own body he said: There is nothing like this. So, the Holy One blessed be He brought plagues upon the Egyptians, but Pharaoh was indifferent. When it afflicted his body, he was affected and began screaming: “The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked” (Exodus 9:27).

Could the Holy One blessed be He not have rescued Israel from the hand of Egypt with the first plague? Rather, it was to fulfill what is stated: “He exalts the nations and eliminates them” (Job 12:23), and it is written: “He removes the heart of the leaders of the people of the land” (Job 12:24). Why did he say: “The Lord is righteous?” When the plagues came, they came only in the land of Egypt.

Even if a plague was introduced there and entered like [the size of] an almond, the plague would fill all of it but would not touch another field [outside of Egypt]. About this it is stated: “For when Your judgments are on the earth, [the inhabitants of the world] learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). To what was the congregation of Israel comparable? To a king who had a beloved daughter, who was located across the river; the king extended his hand and brought her over and seated her in his chariot, as it is stated: “How beautiful are your steps” (Song of Songs 7:2); “I did not know myself; he placed me on the chariots of my noble people” (Song of Songs 6:12); “He rained meat upon them like dust” (Psalms 78:27); “He led them through the depths” (Psalms 106:9); “the Lord was going before them by day” (Exodus 13:21).32All these verses express ways that God expresses his care for Israel.

All this was due to the merit of Abraham, as it is stated: “For He remembered His holy word unto Abraham His servant; He took out His people with gladness…and He gave them the lands of the nations” (Psalms 105:42–44). Why? “So they would observe His statutes and keep His laws” (Psalms 105:45).

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “Happy is the nation that the Lord is its God” (Psalms 33:12). When the Holy One blessed be He chose [to create] His world, He set in it months and years. When He chose Jacob and His descendants, He set the beginnings of the months of redemption, during which Israel would be redeemed from Egypt and during which they are destined to be redeemed, as it is stated: “Like the days of your departure from the land of Egypt, I will show it wonders” (Micah 7:15).

In it [the month of redemption], Isaac was born and was bound, and in it Jacob received the blessings. In it, He intimated to Israel that it is the beginning of salvation for them, as it is stated: “It shall be the first month of the year for you.” It is analogous to a king who got his son out of prison, and he said: Establish it as a festival for always, since on it [that day] my son emerged from darkness to light, from an iron yoke to life [as a free man], from slavery to freedom, from enslavement to redemption.

So did the Holy One blessed be He take Israel out of prison, as it is stated: “He takes out prisoners from chains” (Psalms 68:7). From darkness and the shadow of death, as it is stated: “He took them from darkness and the shadow of death” (Psalms 107:14); from an iron yoke to the yoke of Torah, from slavery to freedom, as it is stated: “You are children to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1); from enslavement to redemption, as it is stated: “Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name” (Jeremiah 50:34).

Therefore, He assigned it [the month] for them to rejoice that He exacted retribution against their enemies on their behalf, as it is stated: “I will give men in your stead” (Isaiah 43:4).33Those who mistreated you will be mistreated instead of you.

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – Rabbi Meir says: The redemption is for Me and for you. As it were, I was redeemed with you, as it is stated: “Whom You redeemed from Egypt, the nation and its God” (II Samuel 7:23). Establish this month for Me and for you, as I will see the blood of the paschal offering and it will atone for you, as it is stated: “Speak to the entire congregation of Israel […they shall take for them each man a lamb…a lamb for each household” (Exodus 12:3) – and your rejoicing will be complete, even for one who is poor.

“An unblemished lamb, a male in the first year, from the sheep or from the goats you shall take it. You shall hold it in safekeeping until the fourteenth day of this month; and the entire assembly of the congregation of Israel shall slaughter it in the afternoon” (Exodus 12:5–6). “An unblemished lamb, a male in the first year” – “a lamb,” corresponding to: “God will see to the lamb for Him…” (Genesis 22:8);34This is Abraham’s response to Isaac when asked where the lamb was for the sacrifice. “unblemished [tamim],” corresponding to: “The Rock, His actions are perfect [tamim]” (Deuteronomy 32:4); “a male,” as He killed all the firstborn of Egypt and spared the firstborn of Israel.

“From the sheep or from the goats you shall take it” – just as I kill man and animal, the captive and the maidservant, so do you have license to take from any place that you wish, and should guard it [the lamb], and it shall be for you a great festivity, as it is stated: “You shall hold it in safekeeping.” “Shall slaughter it” – you slaughter the paschal offering and I slaughter the firstborn. “They shall take of the blood and place it on the two doorposts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they will eat it.

They shall eat the meat on that night, roasted with fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it” (Exodus 12:7–8). “They shall take of the blood and place it on the two doorposts” – as I will pass over you and protect you. You shall be careful with it, as it is eaten [only] at night, as it is stated: “They shall eat the meat on that night, roasted with fire,” corresponding to Abraham, whom I rescued from the fiery furnace.35See Bereshit Rabba 38:5.

“And unleavened bread” – corresponding to Sarah, who prepared loaves for the ministering angels, but they did not taste the bread (see Genesis 18:6). “Bitter herbs,” corresponding to Jacob; just as his descendants were pursued in Egypt, so did Esau pursue him. “You shall not leave any of it until morning; and what remains of it until morning you shall burn in fire” (Exodus 12:10). “You shall not leave any of it until morning” – just as I will not leave any soul of the Egyptian firstborn, so, “you shall not leave any of it until morning.”

It is analogous to a king who told his sons: Know that I judge capital cases and convict [the guilty]. Offer a gift to me, so that if you come before my tribunal I will transfer [aavir] your verdict to others. So, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: I am dealing in capital cases, and I hereby inform you how I can spare you with mercy – with the blood of the paschal offering and the blood of circumcision; and I will grant atonement to your souls, as the passage [haavara] that I will make is severe, as it is stated: “I will pass in the land of Egypt [on that night]” (Exodus 12:12).36The verse continues: “And I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man to animal; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments; I am the Lord.” Likewise, Israel says: “The Lord also will be a haven for the oppressed, a haven for times of trouble” (Psalms 9:10).

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – Solomon said: “Through me kings reign” (Proverbs 8:15). Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to a duke to whom the legions cast a purple cloak [of royalty]. What did he do? He cancels tax debts, burns the promissory note, and brings out the legions [on parade or on leave], and that is called the beginning of his reign.

So did the Holy One blessed be He reign for twenty-six generations37Since Creation. in Egypt, and then He cancelled the debt, as it is stated: “And the children of Israel went out triumphantly” (Exodus 14:8); He burned the promissory note, as it is stated: “The residence of the children of Israel that they lived in Egypt [was four hundred and thirty years]” (Exodus 12:40);38In fact, God took them out of Egypt after only two hundred and ten years.

He took out the legions, and it was called the beginning of His reign, to realize what is stated: “Through me kings reign.”

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – that is what is written: “I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you” (Micah 6:4). That is what Scripture states: “Send Your light [orekha] and Your truth [amitekha]; they will lead me” (Psalms 43:3) – that is Moses and Aaron, as it is stated: “To Levi He said: Your Tumim [tumekha] and Your Urim [ve’urekha]” (Deuteronomy 33:8),39The Urim and the Tumim, which were oracular talismans that were part of the vestments of the High Priest, can be literally translated as ‘lights and virtues,’ which is close to the light and truth of the verse in Psalms. and it is written: “The Torah of truth was in his mouth” (Malachi 2:6).

“I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you” (Micah 6:4) – this teaches that he [Moses] was not seeking to redeem Israel; rather, Moses said to the Holy One blessed be He: ‘“Who am I [that I should go]?” (Exodus 3:11). Is this what You promised to their ancestors, that You would take out their descendants by means of flesh and blood? “Who am I that I should go?” “And that I should take the children of Israel out” (Exodus 3:11) – is it about me that it is written: “I will judge” (Genesis 15:14), that You are sending me to deliver them?

Did You not promise Abraham and say to him: “And also that nation whom they will serve, I will judge” (Genesis 15:14)? Did You not say to Jacob: “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely take you up” (Genesis 46:4), and You say to me [to do it]? “Who am I?”’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, I will go down and deliver them. One woman went down to Egypt, and for her sake, I went down and rescued her.

When? It was when Pharaoh abducted Sarah, as it is stated: “The Lord afflicted Pharaoh” (Genesis 12:17). If, for the sake of one woman I came down, for six hundred thousand men, six hundred thousand women, and six hundred thousand children will I not come down and deliver them? Rather, you go first and inform My children that I am redeeming them and then I will deliver them.’

That is why it is written: “Send Your light and Your truth; they will lead me.” That is why He said: “I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you.”

Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – that is what is written: “He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen” (Psalms 105:26). When the Holy One blessed be He entered, as it were, He afflicted all their firstborn and their gods, as it is stated: “I afflicted Egypt” (Joshua 24:5), and likewise: “Upon their gods the Lord administered judgments” (Numbers 33:4).

When He afflicted them with the plague of the firstborn, what did they do? They took their sons and concealed them in their temples of idol worship. Rabbi Berekhya said: The Egyptians were seeking and searching how to escape the plague but could not find [a way]. Why?

It is as it is stated: “And the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape is lost from them” (Job 11:20). “The wicked” – these are the Egyptians, as it is stated: “And I and my people are wicked” (Exodus 9:27). What caused them to be afflicted by each plague? It was because they put their trust in their false gods.

What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He smote their gods with them. Those that were made of wood rotted; [those] of stone dissolved; [those] of silver and of gold, He melted them into what they were originally, as it is stated: “Upon their gods the Lord administered judgments” (Numbers 33:4). All the idols in the world were eliminated except for their Baal Tzefon.

Why? It was in order to mislead them; that is why it is written: “He exalts the nations and eliminates them” (Job 12:23). Likewise, Isaiah says: “Who makes a way in the sea.… Who takes out chariot and horse, army and a mighty force” (Isaiah 43:16–17). When Israel departed from Egypt, the Holy One blessed be He said: “That they should return and encamp before Pi Haḥirot” (Exodus 14:2).

“Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel: They are confused in the land; [the wilderness has closed in [sagar] on them]” (Exodus 14:3). He called all his armies and said to them: ‘Do you not know that Baal Tzefon has gathered all the lions in the wilderness against Israel, similar to the matter that is stated: “He sent an angel and closed [usegar] the mouth of the lions”’ (Daniel 6:23). Immediately, the angel of Egypt came down to eliminate them [the Israelites], as it is stated: “Behold, Egypt was traveling after them” (Exodus 14:10).

It is not stated: Pharaoh traveling after them, but rather, “Egypt” – that is their angel. Immediately, [the Israelites] “were very frightened” (Exodus 14:10). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Do not fear” (Exodus 14:13). The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “Extend your hand over the sea” (Exodus 14:26).

Immediately, “Moses extended his hand” (Exodus 14:27). “Egypt was fleeing toward it [the sea]” (Exodus 14:27) – it should have said: Egypt was fleeing from it. Is there a person who flees from an entity and flees toward it? Rather, the Holy One blessed be He misled them, and they could not find where to flee, and they were fleeing toward it until the depths were reestablished, as it is stated: “The Lord tossed Egypt in the midst of the sea” (Exodus 14:27), while the Divine Spirit was crying: “And the eyes of the wicked will fail and escape is lost from them” (Job 11:20).

Regarding Baal Tzefon, upon which they relied, it is stated: “And their hope will turn into despair” (Job 11:20). So, in the future, when all the idolaters will enter [for judgment], bringing their false gods with them to rescue them, as it is stated: “For all the peoples will walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God, for ever and ever” (Micah 4:5). When they come, what does the Holy One blessed be He do with them [the idols]?

He melts them. And they see and are embarrassed, and they cast them away, and they go and conceal themselves in caves and among the boulders. Likewise, Isaiah says: “For it is a day for the Lord of hosts against everyone proud and lofty” (Isaiah 2:12) – these are their priests. “The false gods shall utterly pass away” (Isaiah 2:18) – what will they [the priests of the false gods] do?

They will go and conceal themselves, as it is stated: “They will come into caves of rocks, and into tunnels of dirt” (Isaiah 2:19). And it is written: On that day a person will cast away the idols of his silver and the idols of his gold” (Isaiah 2:20). The Holy One blessed be He will say to them: ‘Are you fleeing? Look what I have caused to be written: “Though they hide themselves on top of Carmel, I will search from there” (Amos 9:3). Ḥiel, who concealed himself for the Baal on Mount Carmel and [attempted] to ignite the wood, did not I smite him?40According to a midrash, when Elijah challenged the priests of the Baal on Mount Carmel (I Kings, chap. 18), Ḥiel hid in order to kindle the Baal’s sacrifice surreptitiously and was bitten by a snake.

See addendum to Devarim Rabba (Lieberman). “Though they hide from before My eyes…[from there I will command the serpent and it will bite them]” (Amos 9:3). And it says: “If they dig into the grave, [from there My hand will take them, and if they ascend heavenward, from there will I take them down]”’ (Amos 9:2). At that moment: “And the eyes of the wicked will fail” (Job 11:20). But regarding the righteous it says: “The name of the Lord is a tower of strength” (Proverbs 18:10).

Another interpretation: “The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying” (Exodus 12:1) – what is the Holy One blessed be He doing in Egypt? It is for the sake of Israel. Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa said: This is analogous to a noblewoman who provoked the king. The king put her in prison and went with her and was with her in prison.

People said to him: ‘Why do you care?’ He said to them: ‘All the time that I am with her, she will not acquire a bad name.’ So, Israel was enslaved in Egypt, and the Holy One blessed be He, as it were, was exiled with them, as it is stated: “I will go down with you to Egypt” (Genesis 46:4). Similarly with [the exile to] Babylonia, it is stated: “For your sakes, I sent [shilaḥti]41The Masoretic text has shilaḥti but the midrash reads it shulaḥti, I was sent. to Babylon” (Isaiah 43:14).

Likewise, with [the hegemony of] Media, as it is stated: “I will place My throne in Elam” (Jeremiah 49:38), and Elam is nothing other than Media, as it is stated: “Go up, Elam; besiege, Media” (Isaiah 21:2). With the [hegemony of] Greece, the Holy One blessed be He was with them, as it is stated: “[I will rouse your children, Zion, against your children, Greece, and will set you like the sword of a mighty man.]

The Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will emerge like lightning” (Zechariah 9:13–14). They [the angels] said to the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Why all this?’ He said to them: ‘All the time that I am with them, they will not acquire a bad name. I was with them in Egypt, and they were found whole, as it is stated: “A locked garden, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:12).42They were not corrupted by the surrounding licentiousness.

I was with them in Babylon, and they were found whole, as it is stated: “Behold our God whom we serve [is able to deliver us]” (Daniel 3:17). I was with them in Media and they were found whole, as it is stated: “Mordecai would not bow and would not prostrate himself” (Esther 3:2). In Greece, they refused to write on the horn of an ox that they have no portion in the God of Israel.43The midrash is relating to a tradition that the Greek-speaking rulers decreed that they must do so.

See Bereshit Rabba 2:4. With regard to Edom [Rome], if the Holy One blessed be He says yes, who will say no, as it is stated: “Who is this, coming from Edom” (Isaiah 63:1).’44This is the beginning of a prophecy about the destruction of Edom. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: This is analogous to a wealthy man who went out during the summer. People said that he was at the threshing floor.

What did he do? He came in with a branch of a grapevine, so that everyone would know that he had come from the vineyard. So, the idolaters said to Israel: Where is your God? As it is stated: “Where is their God” (Deuteronomy 32:37).

“Now, hear this, pampered one, who sits securely…” (Isaiah 47:8)45This verse refers to the idolaters. – what is the Holy One blessed be He destined to do to them? “I will make My arrows drunk with blood” (Deuteronomy 32:42). Not only that, but He is destined to trample them, as it is stated: “I have trodden a winepress alone” (Isaiah 63:3), and He us destined to tread with His shoe on all the great ones of Edom, as it is stated: “I cast My shoe upon Edom” (Psalms 60:10).