Pharaoh's Astrologers Saw Water and Misread the Sign

"This is one of the children of the Hebrews" (Exodus 2:6): how did she know? Because she saw him circumcised. This teaches that she prophesied without knowing it: this one falls, but no other falls. And this is what Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written, "And when they say to you, Inquire of the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter" (Isaiah 8:19)? They peer but do not know what they peer at; they mutter but do not know what they mutter. They saw that the savior of Israel would be smitten through water, so they arose and decreed, "Every son that is born" (Exodus 1:22) you shall cast into the river. And once he was cast into the water, they said, We no longer see that sign, and they annulled their decree, not knowing that it was through the waters of Merivah that he would be smitten. And this is what is written, "These are the waters of Merivah" (Numbers 20:13): "these" the astrologers of Pharaoh saw, and they erred. And this is what Moses said, "about six hundred thousand on foot" (Numbers 11:21). Moses said to Israel, On my account you were all saved. Rabbi Chanina bar Pappa said: That day was the twenty-first of Nisan; the ministering angels said before the Holy One, blessed be He, Master of the universe, shall the one who is destined to recite song before You at the sea on this day be smitten on this day? Rav Acha bar Chanina said: That day was the sixth of Sivan; the ministering angels said before the Holy One, blessed be He, shall the one who is destined to receive the Torah from Sinai on this day be smitten on this day? It works out well for the one who says the sixth of Sivan, for you find three months, as the master said: On the seventh of Adar Moses was born and on the seventh of Adar Moses died, and from the seventh of Adar to the sixth of Sivan is three months. But according to the one who says the twenty-first of Nisan, how do you find it? That year was a leap year: most of the first month and most of the last and the middle one complete. "And his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call for you a nursing woman from the Hebrew women" (Exodus 2:7): why specifically from the Hebrew women? This teaches that they passed him among all the Egyptian women and he would not nurse. He said, A mouth that is destined to speak with the Divine Presence shall it nurse what is impure? And this is what is written, "Whom shall He teach knowledge, and whom shall He make understand the message? Those weaned from milk, those drawn from the breasts" (Isaiah 28:9). "And the maiden went" (Exodus 2:8): that she went with alacrity. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmeni said: that she concealed her words. "And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Take him away [heilikhi]" (Exodus 2:9): she prophesied without knowing what she prophesied: here is yours [ha likhi] this is what is yours. "And I will give your wages": it is not enough for the righteous that their lost ones are returned to them, but they are even given a reward. "And Miriam the prophetess took" (Exodus 15:20) and so forth, until her father arose and tapped her on the head and so forth, what would be the end of her prophecy.