When the Torah says "tomorrow," does it mean the next day or some distant point in the future? The Mekhilta demonstrates that the word carries both meanings, depending on context.
In (Exodus 13:14), the Torah states: "And it shall be if your son asks you tomorrow, saying: What is this?" This "tomorrow" refers to a future generation — children yet unborn who will one day ask their parents about the meaning of the Exodus.
But in (Exodus 17:9), when Moses tells Joshua, "Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill," the word clearly means the very next day. Moses was giving a battle plan against Amalek, not prophesying about a distant era.
And in (Joshua 22:24), the tribes of Reuben and Gad worry: "Tomorrow your children might say to our children: What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?" Here, "tomorrow" again means "in time to come" — a future generation that might question their loyalty.
The Mekhilta uses these three examples to establish that "tomorrow" in Scripture is not a simple word. It demands interpretation based on context. This principle matters enormously for the Passover Seder, where the Torah commands parents to answer their children's questions. The "tomorrow" of the Exodus narrative stretches across all of history — every generation must experience the telling as if it were happening to them right now.