The Night of Watching When the LORD Redeemed His Children

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 210:2

"It is a night of watching unto the LORD" (Exodus 12:42). On this night they were redeemed, and on this night they are destined to be redeemed; these are the words of Rabbi Yehoshua, as it is said, "this same night is a night unto the LORD." Rabbi Eliezer says: On this night they were redeemed, but in the time to come they will be redeemed only in Tishrei, as it is said, "Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast day" (Psalms 81:4); and why? "For it is a statute for Israel" (ibid.). And what does Scripture teach by "this same night is a night unto the LORD"? Rather, it is the night on which the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, "On this night I will redeem your children." And when the appointed time arrived, He did not delay them even for the blink of an eye. "A watching unto all the children of Israel throughout their generations." This teaches that all Israel must keep watch on this night.

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