The Elders Who Slipped Away on the Road to Pharaoh

(Exodus 5:1-2) "And Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the children of Israel." They said to them, "Thus said the Holy One, blessed be He, 'I have surely remembered you'" (Exodus 3:16). This was a sign for Israel: every redeemer who comes with this expression is a true redeemer. For so Joseph said to them, "God will surely remember you" (Exodus 13:19). Once they mentioned to them, "I have surely remembered," immediately "the people believed." Moses and Aaron said to them, "Come with us and let us go to Pharaoh." Immediately the elders of Israel accepted upon themselves and went with them. As they were going along, they slipped away by stealth, one by one and two by two, so that by the time they reached the palace of Pharaoh not one of them was found with them, as it is said, "And afterward Moses and Aaron came" (Exodus 5:1). And where were the elders? Rather, they had slipped off. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "Do you think I will not repay you? By your lives, when Moses and Aaron go up to receive the Torah, you will go up with them, and I will turn you back," as it is said, "And to the elders he said, Wait for us here" (Exodus 24:14).