Israel Cries Against Moses Like a Lamb Between Wolf and Shepherd

"And they met Moses and Aaron standing" (Exodus 5:20) -- these are Dathan and Abiram, of whom it is written, "they came out and stood" (Numbers 16:27). "And they said to them, May the LORD look upon you and judge" (Exodus 5:21). Rabbi Yehudah the Levite said: Israel said to him, To what are we like? To a single lamb that the wolf came and snatched from the flock, and the shepherd went after it. What did the wolf do? He sought to keep the lamb; between the shepherd and the wolf, the lamb came into danger. So Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Between Pharaoh and You we are dying, as it is said, "And Moses said, why have You dealt ill?" (Exodus 5:22). And this is what Scripture says, "Did we not say to you in Egypt, Leave us alone that we may serve Egypt?" (Exodus 14:12). "Now you shall see" (Exodus 6:1) -- this is written in the portion Va'era, in the verse, "For with a strong hand he shall send them out, and with a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land."