The Garment of Glory Engraved With Every Then

Rabbi Akiva said: At the hour when Israel said "then sang Moses," the Holy One, blessed be He, put on a robe of glory upon which were engraved all the instances of "then" in the Torah: "then shall the virgin rejoice"; "then shall the lame leap like a deer" (Isaiah 35:6); "then shall the eyes of the blind be opened"; "then spoke Joshua" (Joshua 10:13); "then you shall see and be radiant" (Isaiah 60:5); "you have declared the LORD this day, and the LORD has declared you this day." But once they sinned, He tore it again, as it is said, "He has carried out His word" (Lamentations 2:17). And the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to restore it, as it is said, "then was our mouth filled with laughter" (Psalms 126:2). The rabbis say: All of Moses's dealings were only with "then." The saving of his life was with "then": "so He let him alone; then she said, A bridegroom of blood" (Exodus 4:26). His complaint was with "then": "and ever since I came to Pharaoh." His song was with "then": "then sang Moses." Even the setting apart of the cities was with "then": "then Moses set apart three cities" (Deuteronomy 4:41).