The Torah tells us that Pharaoh rose in the night, after the plague of the firstborn. But the Legends of the Jews, drawing on various midrashic sources, paints an even more vivid picture. It wasn't just a regal awakening; Pharaoh, consumed by panic, didn't even wait for his servants. He sprang from his bed and roused them himself!
According to Ginzberg, Pharaoh knew Moses never lied, so he couldn't expect Moses to come to him after declaring, "I will see thy face again no more." So, a desperate Pharaoh went out searching for Moses. Imagine this powerful king, wandering through the streets of Egypt, frantically seeking the man he once enslaved! And, adding insult to injury, mischievous Hebrew children deliberately misled him. He wandered lost, weeping and crying out, "O my friend Moses, pray for me to God!" What a reversal of fortune.
Meanwhile, where were Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites? They were celebrating the first Pesach, the Passover! As Ginzberg notes, they were reclining, drinking wine, and singing songs of praise – the very first Hallel. Can you picture it? Amidst the chaos and death surrounding them, they were finding solace and strength in community and praise.
When Pharaoh finally found Moses' house, Moses, with perhaps a hint of irony, asked, "Who art thou, and what is thy name?" and "Why dost thou come to me thyself? Is it the custom of kings to linger at the doors of common folk?" Talk about a power shift! Pharaoh pleaded with Moses to intercede, fearing for the lives of everyone in Egypt. Moses, citing God's command, couldn't leave his house until morning. So Pharaoh begged him to just appear at the window.
Pharaoh, in his despair, then tells Moses that nine-tenths of the population have perished! This is where the story gets even more interesting. Bithiah, Pharaoh's daughter and Moses’ adoptive mother, was with him. She rebuked her father for his ingratitude. Moses, according to the legend, pointed out that none of the plagues had affected her. And he reassured her that she would be safe. But Bithiah, showing remarkable empathy, replied that her own safety meant little when she saw her brother, the king, and his household suffering so greatly.
Then, in a truly remarkable turn, Moses offered Pharaoh a way out. He instructed him to proclaim: "Ye children of Israel, ye are your own masters. Prepare for your journey, and depart from among my people... Serve the Lord your God!" The legend tells us Moses made him repeat this declaration three times, and God amplified Pharaoh's voice so that everyone in Egypt heard it. Imagine the Israelites hearing those words, finally free!
The Egyptians, terrified and desperate, urged the Israelites to leave immediately. However, Moses refused to leave under the cover of darkness, stating they were not thieves.
In a final twist, Moses, according to Ginzberg's retelling, then told Pharaoh that there was worse in store for him. This filled the Egyptians with dread, and they begged Moses to take the Israelites away. God then revealed that their end would come not in Egypt, but in the Yam Suf, the Red Sea.
What does this all mean? It's more than just a story about a miraculous escape. It's a story about the turning of the tables, about the power of faith in the face of adversity, and about the unexpected compassion that can arise even in the midst of chaos. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, hope and redemption are always possible. And perhaps, most importantly, it reminds us that freedom isn't just about physical liberation, but about choosing to serve something greater than ourselves.